Another Ripken Highlight

Cal Ripken, playing his first game at Camden Yards since getting his 3,000th hit, provided another highlight Wednesday night, hitting a home run in the ninth inning that lifted the Baltimore Orioles over Tampa Bay, 3-2.

Ripken led off the ninth by driving a 1-and-0 pitch from reliever Jim Mecir (2-1) into the left-field stands for his third homer, giving the Orioles their third consecutive victory.

“If you were trying to write a script, trying to get the next hit and trying to celebrate all over again, this would be a good way to do it,” Ripken said.

Before the game, Ripken was honored with a video recap of his career. He twice received standing ovations--before the Orioles batted in the first inning and before his first at-bat in the second. He got his 3,000th hit Saturday at Minnesota.

New York 5, Texas 4--Clay Bellinger hit a solo home run off Ranger reliever Jeff Zimmerman (0-2) in the 10th inning to lead the Yankees to their first three-game sweep at Texas since 1983.

The victory extended the Yankees’ winning streak to eight, their longest since they won nine in a row in August 1998. It started with two victories over the Rangers last week at New York.

Little-used Lance Johnson got four hits in his first start for the Yankees, and Roger Clemens pitched four-hit ball for seven-plus innings, his longest outing this season. Mariano Rivera (2-0) got the win.

Chicago 5, Seattle 2--Carlos Lee delivered a tiebreaking, bases-loaded single in the fifth inning, and the White Sox benefited when a potential game-tying home run by Alex Rodriguez was ruled foul at Chicago.

Rodriguez thought he tied the game, at 4-4, in the seventh with a two-run homer, but his long drive to left was ruled foul by third base umpire Fieldin Culbreth.

Culbreth asked for help and, after meeting with plate umpire Bill Welke and second base ump Mike Winters, the foul call stood.

Oakland 10, Cleveland 5--Miguel Tejada hit his first grand slam and the Athletics had a total of four home runs to back Kevin Appier (3-1) as the Indians fell to 1-4 at Jacobs Field.

Jason Giambi, Ben Grieve and Matt Stairs also hit homers for the A’s, who chased Jaret Wright (2-1) in the fourth inning.

After averaging 7.7 runs while going 7-2 on the road to open the season, the Indians have scored only 18 runs and batted .215 in five home games.

Boston 10, Detroit 0--Trot Nixon hit his first grand slam and four other Red Sox had home runs while Brian Rose (1-2) and three relievers combined toshut out the Tigers for the second consecutive night at Detroit.

Jose Offerman, Troy O’Leary, Mike Stanley and Nomar Garciaparra also hit homers for the Red Sox, who matched the total of homers in the first seven games at Comerica Park.

Minnesota 7, Kansas City 6--Butch Huskey singled home Matt Lawton with two out in the ninth inning at Minneapolis as the Twins handed the Royals their fifth consecutive loss.