Everett Speaks, Then Lets the Bat Talk

Boston’s Carl Everett blamed--who else?--the media for his 10-game suspension, then took it out on Sidney Ponson.

Everett, suspended for twice bumping umpire Ronald Kulpa last weekend, hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat Thursday at Baltimore, sending the Red Sox winging toward an 11-7 victory over the Orioles in the first game of their day-night doubleheader.

Baltimore returned the favor in the second game with a 9-4 victory.

Everett learned that he had been suspended by Frank Robinson, vice president of on-field operations for major league baseball, before the game, and the players’ association immediately appealed.

That allowed Everett, a .317 hitter, to slam his 26th homer of the season for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

The blow followed his pregame diatribe about the media’s portrayal of the incident with Kulpa, who drew Everett’s ire for drawing the inside line of the batter’s box, indicating Everett was standing too close to the plate Saturday in a game against the New York Mets.

“The whole thing is that the majority of the media tried to make a monster out of a guy,” Everett said. “Everyone is quick to judge. I fault the media. . . . I would say I didn’t do the things people said I did.”

He certainly did confront Kulpa, making contact twice, the second time with a bump to the head that sent the umpire staggering. Everett was ejected from the game and continued his tirade.

He had to be restrained by teammates and coaches. When he reached the dugout, he tipped over a water cooler and threw a bat.

Everett, who leads Boston in homers and in RBIs with 74, was hardly remorseful Thursday, a day in which he followed his homer with four first-game strikeouts and went 0 for 3 in the second game.

“I could say some things that could ruffle some feathers,” he told reporters, “but I’d rather keep that to myself until I state my case [during the appeal].”

Oakland 5, Seattle 4--Matt Stairs broke up Aaron Sele’s no-hitter in the seventh inning with a single and added a two-run homer in the eighth for the Athletics, who won at Oakland.

Sele (11-5) and the Mariners led, 1-0, when he walked Ben Grieve with one out in the seventh. Stairs followed with Oakland’s first hit, which fell in front of right fielder Jay Buhner.

The seventh inning featured three Oakland runs and an injury for A’s Manager Art Howe, who pulled his hamstring bounding out of the dugout to protest a call at home plate.

Detroit 5, New York 3--Juan Encarnacion had three runs batted in, two of them on a single that capped a four-run sixth inning off Andy Pettitte in lifting the Tigers to a win at Detroit.

Willie Blair (6-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings to win for the third time in four decisions against New York. Deivi Cruz went three for four with an RBI and two runs scored and is batting .517 against the Yankees this season.

Pettitte (9-6), who shut out Detroit three weeks ago on three days’ rest, cruised through five innings then lost his control and a 3-0 lead in the sixth, when he walked the first two batters.

Minnesota 5, Chicago 1--Joe Mays gave up five hits in eight innings and Chad Allen had three hits and drove in three runs for the Twins, who won at Minneapolis and ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

Mays (5-11) is 4-0 against the White Sox in his two-year career, 7-22 against all other teams. He struck out six and gave up his only run on Jose Valentin’s home run in the eighth inning.

David Ortiz was three for three with a walk for the Twins. He has reached base nine consecutive times, two short of the team record.

Kansas City 10, Cleveland 6--Jeff Suppan pitched 7 1/3 innings for his first road victory this season, and six Royals drove in runs in their win at Cleveland.

Suppan (4-6), making his 12th start away from Kauffman Stadium, gave up four runs and nine hits in earning his second successive victory, and only his second win since May 24.

Johnny Damon had four hits and two RBIs for the Royals, who used a five-run third inning off rookie Jim Brower (2-3) in winning.

Toronto 6, Tampa Bay 5--Carlos Delgado homered twice and Tony Batista hit a go-ahead home run for the Blue Jays, who won at Toronto.

Batista’s 28th homer, a solo drive off Rick White (4-5) in the eighth inning, broke a 5-5 tie.

Tampa Bay dropped to 2-15 in Canada, including 2-13 at Toronto. The Blue Jays have homered in 19 consecutive home games, two short of the team record.