This Time All Is Calm, and White Sox Win

Magglio Ordonez and the Chicago White Sox beat up the Detroit Tigers Sunday at Comiskey Park without throwing a punch.

Ordonez homered and drove in four runs, coming within a single of the cycle, as Chicago defeated Detroit, 9-4.

There were no flare-ups after Saturday’s two bench-clearing brawls, in which 11 players were ejected.

“We like to play the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said Ordonez, who had three hits in five at-bats. “We don’t like to fight.”

Chicago extended its winning streak to five game, while Detroit lost for the seventh consecutive time. The White Sox scored 14 runs Saturday and lead the American League in runs.

James Baldwin (3-0) won his first start since getting hit in the chest by Greg Vaughn’s comebacker April 12 against Tampa Bay, and Chicago roughed up Dave Borkowski for eight runs in the first two innings.

“It was nice to watch your young men respond early,” Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel said. “With what took place [Saturday], this was one of our biggest wins of the season.”

Recalled from triple-A Toledo before the game, Borkowski didn’t last long, giving up eight runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings as Chicago batted around in each of the first two innings.

“He didn’t get the ball down today at all,” Tiger Manager Phil Garner said. “If you don’t get the pitches where you want, they are whacking. They’re laying off balls an inch off the plate, you come on the plate and make good pitches and they foul them off and you get some to the plate and they whack them somewhere.”

Of Saturday’s brawls, Tiger batting coach Bill Madlock said: “I’ve never seen a fight so dangerous.”

Umpire Jerry Crawford’s crew will issue a report to Frank Robinson, who is vice president of on-field operations for baseball. Robinson likely will ask to review the tapes before determining penalties.

“I’m sure Frank Robinson will study the tape and make his decisions accordingly. He’s been involved in more than a few [brawls],” Manuel said.

Seattle 8, Kansas City 5--John Olerud hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Mariners handed the Royals their ninth consecutive loss.

The Royals finished a winless trip that began after they won four straight at home. Three of those wins came on game-ending homers.

After Jermaine Dye tied the game in the top of the ninth with his league-leading eighth homer, the Mariners rallied against Ricky Bottalico (2-1). Stan Javier and Alex Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning, bringing up Olerud. Rodriguez walked all five times he batted, tying a club record.

Minnesota 5, Texas 4--Brad Radke pitched eight strong innings, getting 18 outs on ground balls, to help the Twins get their second victory in the three-game series at Arlington, Tex.

Radke was in control before yielding a double to David Segui and walking Ruben Mateo to start the ninth. Bob Wells relieved and got two outs before Royce Clayton hit a three-run homer. After Luis Alicea doubled, Jason McDonald grounded out to second.

Oakland 3, Baltimore 2--Pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th inning snapped the Orioles’ six-game winning streak.

Ben Grieve led off the inning with a liner to right-center that center fielder Brady Anderson, who had just entered the game, misplayed into a triple.

After two intentional walks, Saenz drove a pitch from Tim Worrell (2-2) over the center-field fence on one bounce.

Cleveland at Boston, doubleheader, rain--The Red Sox and Indians were forced to postpone their entire weekend series because of a storm that drenched Boston.

Pedro Martinez, scheduled to start one of the games for the Red Sox, warmed up in the outfield for about 12 minutes and pushed his start back to Tuesday at Texas. Martinez’s brother, Ramon, will pitch the series opener.