Rocker Gets First Save for Indians

New league, same John Rocker.

In his first appearance with the Cleveland Indians, Rocker followed his trademark sprint to the mound with a perfect ninth inning at Kansas City, Mo., to earn his first American League save in a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

“It’s nice to get my first save to take the edge off and give the guys on my new team confidence in my abilities,” Rocker said in a statement issued by the Indians.

Acquired last Friday in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, Rocker was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos. He struck out Carlos Beltran and pinch-hitter Dave McCarty before getting A.J. Hinch to fly out to end the game.

“I’d say he was pumped up,” Indian Manager Charlie Manuel said.

Right-hander Bob Wickman, who had 15 saves in 16 tries before the Indians acquired Rocker, pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Wickman acknowledged disappointment at having his role as the sole closer taken away--although Manuel has said that he will get save opportunities. Wickman said he will look to join another team after this season but added that he doesn’t want the bullpen situation to cause problems in the Indian clubhouse.

“We won today. How . . . can anybody be sad?” Wickman said. “Nobody can be sad in that situation. We’ve got one mission, to make it to the postseason, and then we’ll see what happens.”

Indian starter Bartolo Colon (6-6) struck out nine, one shy of his season high, in six innings.

Jolbert Cabrera, who entered the game after Kenny Lofton was ejected in the first inning, went two for four with a double, a run scored and an run batted in for Cleveland.

Lofton, called out on strikes on three consecutive pitches, said he wasn’t protesting the third-strike call when plate umpire Rob Drake tossed him. He thought the first pitch was outside.

“I didn’t do anything anybody else wouldn’t do,” said Lofton, caught on camera being lectured by Manuel after his ejection. “I just asked the umpire, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ ”

The Indians pulled away from a 1-1 tie with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth off Royal starter Jeff Suppan (3-7).

Minnesota 14, Detroit 5--Cristian Guzman hit his first grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Twins at Detroit.

Minnesota won for the second time in 10 games and ended Detroit’s four-game win streak.

Detroit’s Brandon Inge had to leave the game because of a dislocated left shoulder after a collision at home plate with Tom Prince. He will be sidelined four to six weeks.

Toronto 5, Boston 2--Homer Bush’s tiebreaking single in the eighth inning led the Blue Jays to their first three-game sweep at Boston’s Fenway Park in nearly 12 years.

Carlos Delgado led off the ninth with his 22nd home run, and Jose Cruz Jr., who walked, scored on Jeff Frye’s squeeze bunt.

Texas 9, Oakland 5--Rafael Palmeiro and Ruben Sierra hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to lead the Rangers at Oakland.

Ivan Rodriguez also homered and Rob Bell (1-0) gave up five hits and three runs over five innings in his second appearance since joining the Rangers in a trade with Cincinnati June 15.

Tampa Bay 5, New York 4--The Devil Rays rallied for four runs in the eighth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla., and ended an eight-game losing streak.

Travis Phelps (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings, earning his first major league win when he got Derek Jeter to ground into a game-ending double play.

Chicago 8, Baltimore 2--Royce Clayton, Jose Canseco and Ray Durham had two hits and two RBIs apiece for the White Sox at Baltimore.

James Baldwin (4-4) gave up two runs, five hits and six walks before leaving with two on in the seventh.