Finley Bounces Back as Indians Prevail

Chuck Finley gave up four hits in 61/3 innings and Juan Gonzalez drove in three runs as the Cleveland Indians increased their lead in the American League Central with a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox at Boston.

The Indians moved seven games ahead of the Minnesota Twins.

The Red Sox, who have lost 10 of 11, dropped 10 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and 10 behind the Oakland Athletics in the wild-card race.

Hampered by injuries all season, Finley (6-6) was coming off a two-inning outing Aug. 25 against Seattle in which he strained his right oblique muscle. The former Angel left-hander had off-season arthroscopic knee surgery and was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season on June 29 because of spasms in his neck and left shoulder.

Finley faced the minimum number of batters through five innings. He was lifted after giving up a run-scoring double to Izzy Alcantara in the seventh.

John Rocker pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in six chances. The struggling reliever got his first save since June 26, less than a week after Cleveland acquired him in a trade with Atlanta.

Roberto Alomar hit a run-scoring single and Gonzalez had a sacrifice fly in the first inning off Frank Castillo (8-8).

Texas 4, Minnesota 3--Alex Rodriguez hit his 42nd home run to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning and match his own American League record for shortstops at Arlington, Texas.

Rodriguez’s two-out homer off Brad Radke (12-9) equaled his career best set in 1998 and ’99 with the Seattle Mariners.

The Twins, 18-35 since the All-Star break, fell seven games behind American League Central-leading Cleveland, matching their largest deficit this season.

Rick Helling (11-9) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings to win for the sixth time in seven decisions. Helling struck out six and walked none.

Jeff Zimmerman got four outs for his 24th save in 27 chances.

Detroit 6, Chicago 2--Jose Macias hit a leadoff homer and doubled in another run, and Jeff Weaver allowed four hits over seven innings for his first win in 51/2 weeks as the Tigers won at Chicago.

Wendell Magee and rookie Chris Wakeland also drove in runs for the Tigers, who had scored only five runs in their last five games, batting .165 (25 for 152) during that 0-5 span.

Paul Konerko and Jeff Liefer hit consecutive homers for the White Sox, who had won 12 of 16. Weaver retired 12 straight after the homers.

In matching his career high in wins, Weaver (11-14) allowed two runs and one walk. The former Simi Valley High standout struck out five. Weaver hadn’t won in seven starts, dropping his last five decisions.

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Major League Baseball said the starting times of the final home games for Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. and San Diego’s Tony Gwynn have been changed so the games can air nationally Sept. 23 on ESPN2. The San Diego-San Francisco game at Qualcomm Stadium will begin at 1:05 p.m. (PDT). It will be followed by the Baltimore-New York Yankees game at 4:05 p.m. at Camden Yards ....

In the first step toward the start of talks for a new labor contract, baseball owners sent the players’ union a letter stating they would seek to make changes in the sport’s collective bargaining agreement. The letter is a formality under the National Labor Relations Act.