Mariners Extend Win Streak to 13

Mike Cameron’s two-run homer in the eighth inning gave the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Seattle, extending the Mariners’ franchise-record winning streak to 13 games.

The Mariners, who have the third-best 57-game record in baseball history, improved to 45-12. Only the 1912 New York Giants and the 1939 New York Yankees, who both went 46-11, were better after 57 games.

With Texas leading 4-3, Juan Moreno walked John Olerud to lead off the eighth, and J.D. Smart (1-1) came in to pitch to Bret Boone. After Boone hit into a fielder’s choice, Cameron hit his ninth home run.

Jose Paniagua (2-1) got the victory with one inning of scoreless relief. Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched a perfect ninth inning for his major league-leading 24th save in 27 opportunities.

The Mariners have outscored their opponents, 57-17, in the eighth inning this season.

Ivan Rodriguez’s run-scoring single in the seventh gave Texas a 4-3 lead off Aaron Sele, who avoided his first loss of the season when Seattle rallied.

Sele, who set a Mariner record by winning his first eight decisions this season, gave up four runs on eight hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out four.

Boston 4, Detroit 3--Shea Hillenbrand homered off the top of Fenway Park’s Green Monster in the 18th inning as the Red Sox took 5 hours 52 minutes to defeat the Tigers.

Manny Ramirez homered and singled and was intentionally walked an American League record-tying four times in a game that ended when Hillenbrand touched home plate at 12:58 a.m. EDT this morning.

Tim Wakefield (3-0), the seventh Boston pitcher, earned the victory with one inning of hitless relief. He intentionally walked one batter but erased him in the top of the 18th on a pickoff that left him pumping his arm as he returned to the dugout.

Cleveland 5, Minnesota 0--Jaret Wright pitched six scoreless innings to help the Indians even the first series between the AL Central leaders at one game apiece at Minneapolis.

Jim Thome, who is 19 for 39 with 15 RBIs in his last 11 games, had two hits and a run batted in as the Indians moved back within a half-game of the Twins. The two teams, who are second and third in the majors in winning percentage, haven’t been separated by more than 1 1/2 games since May 4.

Wright (2-0), making his fourth start since being activated from the disabled list May 19, gave up three hits and four walks. He struck out a season-high four in his longest outing of 2001.

Baltimore 10, New York 3--Chris Richard doubled twice and singled off Mike Mussina as the Orioles roughed up their former teammate at New York.

Jason Johnson gave up only two hits through seven innings, helping Baltimore beat the Yankees for only the second time in eight games.

Chicago 6, Kansas City 2--Ray Durham and Magglio Ordonez homered at Kansas City, leading the White Sox to their fifth victory in a row.

Kip Wells gave up four hits over 6 1/3 innings for the White Sox, who have won 10 of 11.

Toronto 13, Tampa Bay 1--Darrin Fletcher homered and had four RBIs as the Blue Jays ended a five-game losing streak with a rout of the hapless Devil Rays at Toronto.