Branyan Swings Heavy Lumber

Standing in the middle of a barren Cleveland Indian clubhouse, Russell Branyan wondered if it might not be too late to call back the furniture movers.

Branyan hit a three-run homer to highlight Cleveland’s six-run fifth inning Wednesday night in the Indians’ 15-7 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland.

Branyan’s third homer in two games put the Indians up, 8-7, enabling them to come all the way back from a 5-0 deficit and sending Cleveland to its first three-game winning streak since June 5-7.

The Indians have won two in a row after Manager Charlie Manuel’s order to have two leather couches and a pingpong table removed from their clubhouse, a move he hoped would get his team focused.

“Can we get our couch back now?” Russell joked. “We got three in a row. Maybe we can get six or seven and we’ll get rid of this big-screen TV.”

Kenny Lofton, Roberto Alomar and Jim Thome each had two runs batted in for the Indians, who overcame a season-high 10 walks by scoring 15 runs on 15 hits in a four-inning span.

Cleveland scored four runs in the fourth, six in the fifth--four against Paul Quantrill (0-4)--and five more in the seventh for its highest run total since May 11.

Texas 9, Oakland 4--The Rangers scored seven unearned runs after Oakland starter Mark Mulder’s fielding error in the first inning at Arlington, Texas.

The error against Mulder (5-4) came on a questionable call. First-base umpire Brian Gorman ruled the pitcher never touched the base when taking a throw from second baseman Randy Velarde after Rusty Greer’s bouncer.

Manager Art Howe didn’t argue too much, even though Mulder beat Greer to the base by a couple of steps and a television replay indicated his foot did slide across the base.

After the error, seven of the next eight Texas hitters reached base.

Mulder said he got the base with the side of his foot, but then reached back to make sure, and that is when the call was made.

“I thought I’d go back and get it for sure,” Mulder said. “Obviously when the umpire sees me going back he is going to think that I missed it.”

Tampa Bay 4, Detroit 1--Ozzie Guillen broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-run homer at St. Petersburg, Fla., as the Devil Rays stopped the Tigers’ season-high winning streak at five games.

Tampa Bay’s Bobby Smith and Detroit’s Robert Fick collided on a third-inning play at first base, Smith suffering a sprained knee and Fick a separated shoulder. Each is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.

Smith hit a sharp grounder that third baseman Dean Palmer dove to stop before scrambling to his feet and throwing to first where Fick--by that time straddling the bag--caught the ball on one hop as Smith toppled over him.

Both players went down, but left the field on their own power. Smith was credited with an RBI single.

Chicago 6, Kansas City 3--Herbert Perry hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning and Mark Johnson followed with a solo shot, leading the White Sox over the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.

Kelly Wunsch (3-2) pitched two shutout innings for the victory. Doug Bochtler (0-1) lost for Kansas City, which outhit the White Sox, 17-13.

Rey Sanchez, who went four for seven, loaded the bases for Kansas City when he reached on a bunt single with one out in the 11th. With left fielder Carlos Lee brought in as a fifth infielder, Mike Sweeney hit a bouncer up the middle to second baseman Ray Durham, who stepped on second and threw to first for a double play.

Boston 11, Minnesota 8--Jeff Frye hit his first home run in more than a year and seldom-used Scott Hatteberg had a three-run homer at Minneapolis as the Red Sox overcame a third consecutive poor start by Jeff Fassero.

Fassero, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up four runs in 1 2/3 innings. He has given up 12 earned runs in seven innings over three starts. He had been sidelined since June 19 because of a cervical strain and weakness in his left shoulder.