Indians Back on Top After Defeating Twins

If the Cleveland Indians were going to catch the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central during the first series between the division leaders, it figured to be with its offense.

A boost from the bullpen was just as big.

Roberto Alomar had a bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning and three relievers closed with 3 1/3 perfect innings Wednesday night to lead the Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Twins at Minneapolis and back into first place.

The Indians, who were alone in first place May 25-26, have won two of the first three in the four-game series.

“A lot of people talk about offense, but pitching and defense wins games,” said Alomar, who has eight runs batted in in the series.

For the Indians, it has been relief pitching. Indian starters are 6-5 with a 6.75 earned-run average in their last 19 games and have failed to pitch six innings in nine of their last 12.

But the bullpen has a 3.15 ERA and only two blown saves. Cleveland is 11-1 when tied after six innings.

Paul Shuey (5-2) struck out four in two innings.

“Shuey was tough,” Indian Manager Charlie Manuel said. “Tonight he made some outstanding pitches and set the hitters up great.”

Seattle 7, Texas 3--The Mariners stretched their winning streak to 14 games, the longest in the American League in seven years.

Jamie Moyer (8-1) gave up three hits in seven shutout innings and Edgar Martinez homered at Seattle. The Mariners (46-12) haven’t lost since a 12-11 defeat at Minnesota on May 22.

Seattle, which took a 7-0 lead in sweeping its fourth consecutive series, matched the second-best 58-game start since 1900, trailing only the 1912 New York Giants (47-11). The 1907 Chicago Cubs and the 1939 New York Yankees also started 46-12.

The last American League team to win 14 in a row had been the Kansas City Royals from July 23-Aug. 5, 1994. The Atlanta Braves won 15 in a row from April 16 to May 2 last year.

Kansas City 12, Chicago 6--Mike Sweeney hit two home runs and drove in five runs at Kansas City, Mo., to help the Royals end a four-game losing streak.

The Royals hit a season-high four home runs in stopping Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

A.J. Hinch and Dee Brown also hit home runs for the Royals. Rey Sanchez, one game after his 21-game hitting streak ended, had three hits.

Detroit 7, Boston 3--Bobby Higginson drove in three runs at Boston and the Tigers ended a six-game losing streak, recovering from an 18-inning loss earlier in the morning.

Early Wednesday morning, Detroit lost, 4-3, on Shea Hillenbrand’s leadoff homer at 12:57 a.m. EDT, ending a game that lasted 5 hours 52 minutes.

New York 7, Baltimore 4--Injured Jorge Posada lined a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning to lift the Yankees at New York.

Posada, sidelined since Sunday because of a sprained thumb, hit a 2-and-1 pitch from Mike Trombley over the right-field wall for his 11th homer and second grand slam of the season.

Posada batted for Todd Greene with one out. Greene, who started in Posada’s place, earlier hit a tying, three-run home run in his Yankee debut.

Tampa Bay 6, Toronto 2--Joe Kennedy won his major league debut and the Devil Rays ended a six-game losing streak with the victory at Toronto.