| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kenny Lofton tied a major-league record for scoring
runs in consecutive games, stole a career-high five bases and hit a
game-winning home run for the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
Can you tell his left shoulder feels better?
|  | | Kenny Lofton waves to the crowd after tying the major- league record with a run scored for the 18th consecutive game. |
Lofton's solo homer in the 13th inning gave the Indians a 12-11
victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
It also gave Lofton his fourth run of the day after he had
already tied a major-league record by scoring in his 18th straight
game. Red Rolfe set the run-scoring streak record in 1939 for the
New York Yankees.
Lofton's day was even more remarkable considering that when
spring training began, the Indians weren't sure the center fielder
would return from a shoulder injury until the All-Star break.
Lofton dislocated his left shoulder sliding headfirst into first
base during the AL Division Series against Boston last year and had
surgery in the off-season.
He returned for Opening Day -- a recovery considered a medical
miracle by the Indians -- but hasn't been feeling himself until
lately. Since Aug. 8, he's gone 38-of-102.
"The shoulder's a big part of it," Lofton said. "I'm feeling
a little bit more confident with my arm. It doesn't hurt as much as
it used to."
Lofton singled and stole second base the first three times he
came to bat and wound up scoring each time. He tied a club record
for stolen bases in a game set twice by Alex Cole on May 3, 1992,
and Aug. 1, 1990.
Mike Trombley (4-5), who pitched 3 1/3 innings, gave up Lofton's
13th homer, a shot into the right-field bullpen with one out in the
13th.
Cameron Cairncross (1-0) got two outs for his first career victory in his sixth appearance. When Cairncross saw Lofton's homer
land in the bullpen, he said, "I didn't know what to do -- jump, cry, sit down, stand up. It
was magic, man."
Cleveland's victory, combined with Boston's 5-0 loss to Seattle
and Oakland's 8-0 win over Toronto, put the Indians two games ahead
of the Red Sox and the Athletics in the wild-card race.
Chris Richard drove in six runs and hit two homers for
Baltimore. His two-run shot to right-center field off reliever Paul
Shuey tied the game at 11 in the seventh inning, capping a four-run
rally which began with two outs.
Albert Belle reached on what seemed like a playable ball to
Travis Fryman, then moved to third on Jeff Conine's double. Cal Ripken, playing in his second game since coming off the disabled
list with back problems, doubled to left field to cut the Indians'
lead to 11-9. Richard followed with his seventh homer.
Richard earlier hit a three-run homer and Brook Fordyce followed
with a solo shot in Baltimore's five-run fourth inning.
"For seven innings there were 22 runs scored and all of a
sudden for the next six nobody could get a sniff," Orioles manager
Mike Hargrove said.
It was fitting that Lofton finally hit the game-winner after
more than five hours of baseball. He seemed to be on base all day.
"Kenny was superhuman," teammate Sandy Alomar said.
Lofton triggered Cleveland's four-run third by leading off the
inning with a single off Orioles starter Jay Spurgeon. Lofton stole
second and third and scored on Fordyce's throwing error.
In the fourth inning, Lofton bunted his way on after Alomar
reached second on a grounder that went through second baseman Jerry
Hairston's legs and into the outfield for a two-base error. After
Lofton stole second, Omar Vizquel hit a two-run single.
Roberto Alomar's single moved Vizquel to third. Baltimore
reliever Jason Johnson hit Manny Ramirez to load the bases and then
Jim Thome was hit by a pitch to send Vizquel home and give
Cleveland an 8-7 lead.
Thome, who had a season-high five RBI, hit a two-run double to
highlight a three-run sixth that put Cleveland ahead 11-7.
Lofton singled in the first inning, stole second base and
eventually scored on Thome's single to right field.
Baltimore answered with two runs in the second inning. Belle
walked to lead off the inning and scored on Richard's triple.
Fordyce doubled down the third-base line to drive home Richard.
But in the end, it was Lofton's day -- not Richard's.
"I don't make any excuses, but I couldn't really finish my
swing a lot of times because of the pain in my shoulder," Lofton
said. "Now I can finish my swing and it feels good."
Game notes
Ripken went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. It was
his second appearance since June 28, when his back problems flared
up again. Ripken also played Friday, when he went 1-for-3. ... The
Orioles had two errors, bringing their season total to 103, the
team's most since 119 in 1988. ... Sandy Alomar left the game after
the seventh inning with leg cramps. He said later that he was fine. ...
Cleveland pitcher Bartolo Colon, who left Saturday's game with
tightness in his shoulder, had an MRI on Sunday. The team said his
shoulder is inflamed and a decision will be made by Tuesday on his
next start ... Ramirez singled in the 10th, extending his 18-game
hitting streak.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Baltimore Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
It's a homecoming for Hargrove in first trip back to Jacobs
The Iron Man returns: Ripken singles in first at-bat off DL
RECAPS
Cleveland 12
Baltimore 11
Texas 4
Detroit 1
Minnesota 2
NY Yankees 1
Oakland 4
Toronto 3
Kansas City 8
Tampa Bay 2
Chi. White Sox 13
Anaheim 12
Seattle 5
Boston 0
Cincinnati 8
Montreal 1
St. Louis 4
NY Mets 3
Milwaukee 6
Colorado 4
Houston 9
Atlanta 3
Pittsburgh 8
San Diego 6
San Francisco 5
Chicago Cubs 2
Arizona 10
Florida 5
Los Angeles 6
Philadelphia 1
|
