Tigers Can’t Solve Parque, White Sox

Jim Parque combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout Wednesday night, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 1-0 victory over the punchless Detroit Tigers at Chicago.

“It was one of the better performances we’ve had really for a starting pitcher,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We had a guy who we needed to step up step up.”

Parque and Detroit’s Jeff Weaver were facing each other for the first time since a fight-marred game April 22 at Comiskey Park when 11 players and coaches were ejected.

“Like [Detroit’s] Dean Palmer said, the memory’s still there but the anger goes away,” Parque said. “The only time it did factor in my mind was when I threw in and tight at [Bobby] Higginson and everybody cheered.”

The Tigers have not forgotten the melee.

“Is there tension between the teams? Definitely,” Detroit’s Damion Easley said.

Palmer was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a called third strike.

Frank Thomas and Harold Baines hit consecutive doubles with two out in the first inning for the only run the White Sox needed as they won for the fifth time in seven games.

Cleveland 10, Boston 3--Bartolo Colon was finally the No. 1 starter Cleveland needs him to be and Manny Ramirez homered and drove in four runs at Cleveland.

The victory moved Cleveland 1 1/2 games ahead of Oakland and three games up on Boston in the wild-card race. And the timing couldn’t have been better for the Indians--Pedro Martinez will start for the Red Sox tonight.

Ramirez hit a three-run double off Tomo Ohka (3-5) in the fourth and later added his 29th homer. He has eight RBIs in the first two games of the series and 102 in only 97 games this season.

Russell Branyan and David Segui added two-run homers for the Indians, who play the Red Sox six more times in the next eight days.

Minnesota 7, Oakland 6--Jacque Jones homered and drove in three runs at Oakland as the Twins ended their three-game losing streak.

Eric Milton (13-9) pitched 5 1/3 strong innings to beat the A’s for the third time this season.

Gil Heredia (14-11), who pitched a complete games in his last start, pitched only four innings. He gave up four runs--three earned--and eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Baltimore 9, Texas 4--Cal Ripken had four hits and rookie Chris Richard drove in five runs at Arlington, Texas.

Seattle 2, Kansas City 1--Jay Buhner doubled home Mike Cameron with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning at Seattle.