Gonzalez Leads Indians Past Athletics, 9-7

Juan Gonzalez had three hits and drove in two runs as the Cleveland Indians emerged from their hitting slump, pounding Oakland ace Mark Mulder in a 9-7 victory Thursday at Oakland.

After losing the opener on Barry Zito’s four-hitter, Cleveland took three in a row from the Athletics, who had not lost that many in a row since mid-June.

The Indians opened a season-high 6 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the American League Central.

Charles Nagy (5-6) gave up one hit and one run in 2 1/3 innings to win in relief. Bob Wickman earned his 23rd save.

Mulder (15-7) was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings, losing for the first time since July 1.

Toronto 6, Minnesota 2--Roy Halladay (2-1) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings and rookie Felipe Lopez hit his first major league homer for Toronto at Minneapolis.

The Blue Jays sent Minnesota to its 12th loss in 14 games. The Twins, 11-30 since the All-Star break, had only five hits.

Halladay (2-1) had been 0-7 in 15 road starts and 12 relief appearances since winning at Detroit on May 25, 1999.

Raul Mondesi hit a two-run homer in the first inning against Kyle Lohse (4-6).

New York 5, Texas 2--Bernie Williams had four hits for New York and Derek Jeter snapped a 1-for-18 slump with two hits, including a homer, at Arlington, Texas.

Sterling Hitchcock (3-2), picked over Ted Lilly to remain in the Yankee rotation when Orlando Hernandez returned this week, gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

It was the fourth time in Hitchcock’s five starts since being traded from San Diego that he pitched after a Yankee loss.

New York lost to Texas, 8-1, on Wednesday.

Mariano Rivera picked up his 39th save.

Two of Williams’ hits were doubles.

Jeter hit his 18th homer, a solo shot, in the third. Chuck Knoblauch’s solo homer, his seventh, capped a three-run outburst in the fourth that put the Yankees ahead, 5-0.

Rafael Palmeiro led off the Texas fourth with his 34th homer, a 409-foot shot to right-center, and Bill Haselman had a run-scoring double to get the Rangers within 5-2.

Haselman started in place of All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who left Wednesday night’s game after 1 1/2 innings because of soreness in his right knee.

An MRI showed nothing wrong with Rodriguez.

Rob Bell (4-3) gave up five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Baltimore 7, Tampa Bay 4--Cal Ripken Jr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch before his final game in Florida, then hit a run-scoring single at St. Petersburg.

Jeff Conine had four hits, including a homer, and drove in three runs for Baltimore.

Chris Richard hit a tiebreaking triple in the eighth inning against Victor Zambrano (5-2).

Jorge Julio (1-0) retired two batters for his first major league victory. Willis Roberts recorded the final out for his fifth save.

Ripken, who turns 41 today, tossed out the first ball to Hal McRae. The Tampa Bay manager played in Ripken’s first major league game in 1981.

Chicago 7, Kansas City 6--Jose Valentin homered twice, including a tiebreaking drive in the seventh against Jeff Suppan (7-11), and Chicago rallied after wasting a 5-0 lead at Kansas City.

Paul Konerko homered and drove in two runs for Chicago, which won the last three games of the series.

Mark Quinn homered twice and drove in three runs for the Royals.

Rocky Biddle (5-8) won after giving up Neifi Perez’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that tied the score, 5-5.