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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- With only four games left, it doesn't take a
degree in mathematics to break down the AL wild-card picture.
"It's getting down there now where even I can count it up and
figure it out," Indians manager Charlie Manuel. "What's that tell
ya?"
That time's running out on the Indians.
|  | | Manny Ramirez's two-run homer off the Twins' Brad Radke gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the first inning. |
Jason Bere didn't blow another seven-run lead and Manny Ramirez
and Jim Thome homered as Cleveland kept pressure on Oakland in the
AL wild-card race Wednesday night with an 8-2 victory over the
Minnesota Twins.
Bere (6-3) rebounded from a disastrous start in Boston last week
when he gave back a 7-0 lead to the Red Sox, who rallied for a 9-8
win.
That loss could keep the Indians awake at night this winter if
they're unable to catch the A's, who beat Anaheim on Wednesday and
remained 1½ games ahead of Cleveland.
The Indians have four games left and the A's four, plus a
possible makeup against Tampa Bay on Monday, if necessary.
"Two down, four to go," Manuel said.
Bill Selby, getting a rare start at DH, had two RBI when the
Indians broke it open with a five-run fourth off Brad Radke
(12-16).
Thome, in one of the worst slumps of his career, homered for the
first time since Sept. 5 -- a span of 83 at-bats.
Bere has either been real good or real bad in his 11 starts for
the Indians since coming over in a July trade with Milwaukee. The
right-hander allowed two runs and five hits 5 2/3 innings.
"We need to win at all costs and it starts with the starting
pitcher," Bere said. "I was able to put up some zeros in the
first three innings and gave our guys a chance to swing the bats."
Cleveland came to the plate in the first against Radke (12-16)
just seconds after Oakland's 9-7 win over Anaheim was posted on the
left-field scoreboard, and Ramirez quickly put the Indians up 2-0
with his 34th homer.
Kenny Lofton opened with a bunt single, and two outs later,
Ramirez connected for his fifth homer in 47 career at-bats against
Radke.
It's frightening to think what Ramirez may have done if he
hadn't missed 44 games this season with a hamstring injury. Since
returning, he's batting .372 with 22 homers and 71 RBI in 67
games.
As his numbers rise, so does the dollar amount it could cost
the Indians to re-sign him as a free agent.
With David Segui resting his sore right foot, Selby made his
first start as the Indians' DH and triggered the five-run fourth
with a two-run single.
Ramirez singled, and one out later, Travis Fryman got a double
when right fielder Matt Lawton, wearing plastic cleats, slipped and
fell on the rubberized warning track. Selby followed with his base
hit to make it 4-1.
"It was real slippery," Lawton said. "I used metal spikes out there during batting
practice and I still slipped. So I figured it didn't make any
difference."
Sandy Alomar followed with a single and Lofton and Omar
Vizquel hit bloopers before Roberto Alomar's single capped the
outburst and gave Bere a 7-1 lead.
"I sure didn't want to have a game like this in my last start
of the season," said Radke, who dropped to 5-12 with a 6.05 ERA in
his career against Cleveland. "I'll forget this game in about an
hour."
The Twins closed to 2-1 in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by
A.J. Pierzynski.
Game notes
Manuel said Segui may not play again at first before
Sunday. If he's not in too much pain, he'll DH Thursday night. ...
Cleveland's 111 homers at Jacobs Field are a single-season record.
... The Indians, an AL-best 43-29 in the second half, could be
dangerous if they make the playoffs. The Indians' top three
starters -- Chuck Finley, Dave Burba and Bartolo Colon -- have
compiled an 18-5 record with a 3.50 ERA in 33 starts since Aug. 1.
The trio is 12-1 with a 1.68 ERA in September. ... The Twins signed
RHP Jason Simontacchi, who pitched for the Italian Olympic team in
Sydney, to a minor league contract. ... Indians LHP Ricardo Rincon allowed his first inherited runner of the season to score in the
sixth. ... Minnesota's Torii Hunter extended his hitting streak to
a career-high 10 games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Oakland 9
Anaheim 7
Toronto 4
Baltimore 0
Cleveland 8
Minnesota 2
Tampa Bay 11
NY Yankees 1
Boston 2
Chi. White Sox 1
Kansas City 3
Detroit 0
Seattle 6
Texas 4
Florida 6
Montreal 3
Houston 10
Pittsburgh 1
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Philadelphia 0
Milwaukee 10
Cincinnati 6
Colorado 6
Arizona 4
San Francisco 4
Los Angeles 0
St. Louis 3
San Diego 0
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