Twins Tag Indians With a 23-2 Loss

With their lineup finally sound, the Minnesota Twins showed the Cleveland Indians what they’re capable of.

Luis Rivas came off the disabled list and went four for six with five runs scored and five runs batted in as the Twins posted their most lopsided win, 23-2, over the Indians on Tuesday night at Minneapolis.

Jacque Jones had four hits and five RBIs, Dustan Mohr was four for six with a two-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski also was four for six for the Twins, who set a franchise record with 25 hits and missed their runs record by one.

“It was just a good game, especially with the way Cleveland’s been playing,” said Pierzynski, who missed the cycle by a home run. “It was nice to send a message.”

The Indians, who arrived with a four-game winning streak and eight victories in their last 10 games after a 9-25 stretch, gave up more than 20 runs for the second time this season.

They also matched the most lopsided loss in history--21-0 to Detroit on Sept. 15, 1901, was the last time it happened--and missed giving up their most runs ever by one. Boston scored 24 against them on Aug. 21, 1986.

New York 13, Baltimore 5--Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer during the Yankees’ eight-run sixth inning at New York as the team hit four home runs in the victory over the Orioles.

Giambi hit a two-run double in the first and had his 16th home run in the sixth. Alfonso Soriano, Robin Ventura and Rondell White also homered for the Yankees, who lead the majors with 96 homers in 59 games.

With the Orioles leading, 5-4, the Yankees broke the game open in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Derek Jeter hit a two-run single to knock out Scott Erickson (3-6).

Boston 10, Detroit 5--Johnny Damon and Shea Hillenbrand had four hits each, and Carlos Baerga drove in four runs as the Red Sox won at Detroit to improve to 23-6 on the road.

Damon doubled twice and hit his fourth home run in going four for five after going three for four Monday night. He also scored four runs, and Baerga had an RBI single and a three-run double.

John Burkett gave up four runs in the first two innings but settled down to match teammate Pedro Martinez at 7-0 on the season.

Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 1--Eric Hinske homered twice, and fellow rookie Justin Miller pitched seven innings and gave up only three hits at Toronto as the Blue Jays won their season-high fifth in a row.

The Blue Jays won their second in a row under new Manager Carlos Tosca. Buck Martinez was fired Monday after Toronto swept Detroit last weekend.

Hinske gave Toronto a 2-0 lead in the fifth with a home run off Paul Wilson (2-4), who pitched the first complete game of his career. Hinske’s 11th homer in the eighth made it 3-1.

Kansas City 3 , Chicago 2--Miguel Asencio got his first major league victory as the Royals defeated the White Sox at Chicago.

Asencio, making his third career start, pitched 61/3 innings. He gave up one run and four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Oakland 3, Seattle 2--Terrence Long hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the 10th inning at Oakland as the Athletics defeated the Mariners.

Jermaine Dye walked, and an out later Eric Piatt singled off Shigetoshi Hasegawa (3-1). Long then knocked his double off the wall in center field.