Chen Is in Control in Orioles’ 4-2 Win

While Rafael Palmeiro got used to being back in a baseball uniform, Bruce Chen and the Baltimore Orioles made sure he enjoyed the view from the dugout.

Chen pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, and Javy Lopez homered and scored twice to lead the Orioles past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 4-2, Thursday night for a three-game sweep at Baltimore.

Chen (9-6) gave up a disputed home run to Eduardo Perez, but was in such command that the Devil Rays did not strand a single runner over the right-hander’s seven innings of work.

“Seven innings in this heat against that ball club, that’s an outstanding job,” interim Manager Sam Perlozzo said.

Chen struck out five and walked none. He threw only 77 pitches.

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New York 9, Texas 8 -- Derek Jeter hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning after the Yankee bullpen blew a strong spot start by Scott Proctor at New York.

Proctor was making his first big league start in place of Randy Johnson, who was skipped because of a bad back.

Proctor held Texas to three hits, two on solo homers to David Dellucci, before leaving with a 6-2 lead after five-plus innings.

Cleveland 4, Kansas City 2 -- Jeff Liefer hit a grand slam in the seventh inning at Kansas City, Mo., to help the Indians hand the Royals their franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.

The Royals broke the team record of 12 straight losses set in 1997.

The Indians, who have won 14 of their last 18, went 6-0 on a trip for the first time since May 1-6, 2001. The Indians moved 11 games above .500 for the first time since Oct. 7, 2001, when they finished the season 91-71.

Toronto 2, Detroit 1 -- Scott Downs and two Blue Jay relievers combined on a two-hitter at Toronto.

Frank Catalanotto hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who only had four hits.

Downs (1-2) retired 13 straight before Rondell White spoiled his one-hit shutout bid with a home run over the left-field wall to start the eighth inning.