Indians Lose, A’s Win and Take Wild-Card Lead

Mere moments after the Cleveland Indians lost to the Boston Red Sox, the Oakland Athletics won their fourth straight to take over the AL wild-card lead.

Yet, after receiving a team-record 15 walks in a 7-4 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday at Baltimore, the A’s were in a foul mood.

That’s because the commissioner’s office postponed the second game of the scheduled day-night doubleheader after more than five hours in rain delays caused the opener to run deep into the night.

The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader today.

“We’re playing two tomorrow, much to my chagrin,” Oakland Manager Art Howe said. “It doesn’t help our rotation.”

The A’s have to burn use two starting pitchers on the eve of a crucial four-game series in Seattle that gets underway Thursday night.

The scheduling snafu took the edge of a victory that enabled the A’s to move a half-game ahead of Cleveland in the wild-card race.

Oakland trailed, 4-2, before using three hits and four walks to take the lead in the seventh.

Jim Mecir (9-3) got the win by pitching two scoreless innings. Jason Isringhausen worked the ninth for his 29th save in 36 chances.

In Boston, a pair of two-run hits--Nomar Garciaparra’s triple and Dante Bichette’s homer--capped a four-run third inning as the Red Sox beat the Indians, 7-4.

Boston still is in the wild-card race too. With 13 games left, the Red Sox trail Oaklnd by 2 1/2 games and Cleveland by two. The Red Sox face the Indians in day-night doubleheaders today and Thursday.

So in a span of about 52 hours, the teams meet in five games that will have a major impact on the wild-card battle.

Toronto 16, New York 3--Steve Trachsel took a two-hitter into the eighth inning at Toronto and the Blue Jays sent the Yankees to their fifth loss in six games. Toronto is three games behind Oakland in the wild-card race.

Trachsel (8-13) started because David Wells was pushed back to Thursday because of gout in his right big toe.

Toronto right fielder Raul Mondesi, who had elbow surgery last month and has not played since late July, could be back in the Blue Jay lineup tonight, when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

Chicago 6, Detroit 2--Sean Lowe pitched five shutout innings and Chris Singleton hit a two-run homer as the White Sox reduced their magic number for clinching the AL Central title to seven with the win at Detroit.

Seattle 5, Tampa Bay 2--Mike Cameron homered, tripled and drove in two runs at St. Petersburg, Fla., as the Mariners won their seventh straight game.

The Devil Rays lost their ninth in a row, the longest skid in the AL this season.

Minnesota 15, Texas 7--Jacque Jones drove in a career-high five runs for the Twins at Minneapolis.