Red Sox Provide All the Noise, 5-4

John Rocker’s musical accompaniment was painfully prophetic.

Moments after storming from the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen with The Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” blaring through the Jacobs Field sound system, Rocker blew one all right.

Rocker gave up Jose Offerman’s two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning Thursday night that rallied the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Indians at Cleveland.

Rocker (1-1), who had a victory and two saves in his first four appearances since coming to the Indians in a trade from the Atlanta Braves, declined comment.

He wasn’t the only one in Cleveland’s clubhouse not in a talkative mood.

“This was really a tough one,” Indian Manager Charlie Manuel said. “We didn’t get the job done.”

The Red Sox didn’t get a hit for the first six innings against Bartolo Colon but scored a run in the seventh, two in the eighth on Trot Nixon’s 14th home run and two in the ninth for their 19th come-from-behind victory this season.

The Red Sox, who earlier this year beat Rocker when he was with the Braves, loaded the bases on a pair of one-out hits and an intentional walk before Rocker struck out Lou Merloni for the second out. Offerman then ripped a 1-and-1 pitch up the middle, driving in Mike Lansing and Chris Stynes.

New York 6, Baltimore 3--Ted Lilly outpitched fellow rookie Josh Towers, and Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez each hit home runs as the Yankees completed another sweep in Baltimore.

Derek Jeter had two hits and two RBIs for the Yankees, who have won eight in a row and 11 of 13.

New York improved to 11-2 against the Orioles this season, including 7-0 at Camden Yards.

Minnesota 12, Chicago 2--Corey Koskie homered, tripled and doubled, driving in five runs to tie a career high in the Twins’ rout at Chicago.

Koskie tripled in the first off the top of the center-field fence, hit a two-run double down the left-field line in the third and belted a three-run home run to right-center in the fourth.

Koskie is 17 for 50 against the White Sox this season with four homers and 13 RBIs.

Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 4--Jose Cruz Jr. homered and drove in four runs as the Blue Jays won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay (25-60) has dropped 16 of 20 to become the first team since 1962 to lose 60 games by an All-Star break.

The New York Mets (24-66) and Chicago Cubs (35-61) of 1962 both lost 60 games before the second break that summer. Baseball held two All-Star games each season from 1959-62.

Detroit 7, Kansas City 1--Steve Sparks gave up five hits in eight innings, and Damion Easley hit a two-run triple as the Tigers finished a three-game sweep of the Royals at Detroit.