Home Runs Pave Way for Indians, 7-5

David Justice hit his first grand slam in almost seven years and John Smiley pitched seven strong innings Tuesday night as the Cleveland Indians beat the Mariners, 7-5, at Seattle.

Russ Davis hit a pair of two-run homers for the Mariners.

Manny Ramirez and Matt Williams added homers for the Indians, who have won six of seven and were opening an eight-game West Coast trip.

Smiley (2-2) gave up seven hits, struck out three and walked one.

Alex Rodriguez also homered for the Mariners, who have lost seven of 11.

Ramirez hit his 21st homer in the first off rookie Ken Cloude (1-2). The right-hander hurt himself, walking four in 4 1/3 innings. He took a three-hitter into the fifth, but loaded the bases on a single and two walks. One out later, Justice hit his second career slam and 25th homer to chase Cloude.

For Justice, who has six homers and 19 RBIs in his last 13 games, it was his first slam since connecting on Sept. 25, 1990, for Atlanta at Cincinnati.

Toronto 6-3, Chicago 5-5--Jason Bere, making his first start since elbow surgery last September, gave up four hits over 5 1/3 innings as the White Sox beat the Blue Jays in the second game of their doubleheader at Chicago to gain a split.

In the first game, Carlos Delgado hit a tie-breaking RBI single in the seventh inning. Chris Carpenter (1-5) picked up his first major league win.

Bere (1-0), who underwent the surgery Sept. 13, 1996, 10 days after the last of five starts that season, gave up two runs, walked three and struck out three. He was pulled after giving up a single to Delgado with one out in the sixth and received a standing ovation.

Chicago’s Frank Thomas, who sat out Monday’s game because of a sore left elbow, went five for seven in the doubleheader to raise his league-leading average to .345. Thomas had three singles in the first game off Carpenter and an RBI single in the second game.

Albert Belle went one for eight in the doubleheader for the White Sox. Belle is in a 22-for-133 slump (.165).

Baltimore 12-2, Kansas City 9-9--Ricky Bones pitched a seven-hitter and rookie Jed Hansen drove in four runs in the second game of a doubleheader at Kansas City as the Royals split with the Orioles.

Chili Davis homered twice as the Royals ended Baltimore’s four-game winning streak.

In the first game, Lenny Webster hit a three-run homer to key a six-run third inning for the Orioles.

After giving up a single to Brady Anderson on the second pitch of the game, Bones (3-4) retired 16 in a row before Mike Bordick singled with one out in the sixth.

The right-hander, obtained June 26 for cash from Milwaukee, took a shutout into the ninth before Jeff Reboulet hit a two-run homer, his fourth.

Milwaukee 8, Texas 2--Mark Loretta drove in a career-high four runs as Jose Mercedes and the Brewers beat the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Mercedes (5-7), who had lost five of his previous six decisions, gave up four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He took advantage of a 7-2 lead after four innings as the Brewers won for the fourth time in five games.

Loretta had a two-run triple and two sacrifice flies to lead Milwaukee, which managed only one hit in the second game of Monday night’s doubleheader split with the Rangers.

Mercedes struck out seven and Ron Villone struck out six in 3 1/3 innings. The 13 strikeouts matched a season-high for Milwaukee pitchers.

Detroit 8, Minnesota 2--Willie Blair won for the ninth time in 10 appearances, and Bob Hamelin, Travis Fryman and Tony Clark hit two-run homers as the Tigers extended the Twins’ losing streak to 10 games at Detroit.

The losing streak is the Twins’ longest since another 10-game skid from April 21-May 1, 1985. Blair (13-5) had won seven consecutive appearances, including one in relief, before losing to Toronto on Aug. 8. Tuesday, he gave up nine hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in his second complete game of the year.

Boston at Oakland, rain--It was the first time in the A’s 30 years in Oakland that a game in June, July or August was called by rain.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second off Andrew Lorraine on back-to-back doubles by Wil Cordero and Reggie Jefferson.

But a steady downpour ensued, and after a 67-minute delay, the 17th rainout in Oakland history was declared.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: David Justice

Team: Cleveland

Performance: First grand slam in 7 years

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Frank Thomas

Team: Chicago

Performance: 4 for 6 in doubleheader

Team’s Result: Split

*

Player: Mark Loretta

Team: Milwaukee

Performance: 1 hit, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Jason Bere

Team: Chicago

Performance: Game 2, 5 1/3 innings, four hits

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Ricky Bones

Team: Kansas City

Performance: Game 2, 9 innings, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Willie Blair

Team: Detroit

Performance: 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win