Ramirez’s Homer Downs Red Sox
American League
Manny Ramirez led off the 10th inning with a home run, Cleveland’s third of the game, giving the Indians a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
It marked the 12th time this season the Indians won a game in their last at-bat. Winners of 18 of 22 games, they improved baseball’s best record to 35-13, including 20-6 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.
Albert Belle and Jim Thome also homered for Cleveland, which is 5-0 in extra innings.
Ramirez hit a 3-2 pitch from Ken Ryan into the stands in right-center for his 14th homer. Ryan (0-3) struck out five in the previous two innings.
Boston, which has lost six of eight games and is 1-4 against Cleveland this year, put runners at first and third with no outs in the top of the 10th. But Paul Assenmacher struck out Rich Rowland and Eric Plunk (4-1) struck out Tim Naehring and got Mike Greenwell on a fly ball, ending the threat.
Royals 8, Angels 5
Anaheim, Calif.
Kevin Appier became the major leagues’ first 10-game winner and Wally Joyner and Jeff Grotewald each homered and drove in three runs as Kansas City downed California.
Appier (10-2) earned his fourth straight victory and grabbed the major league strikeout lead by three over three-time defending A.L. strikeout champ Randy Johnson.
Rangers 6, Tigers 4
Detroit
Despite giving up three home runs, Kevin Gross ended a five-start winless streak with his first victory since May 17 as Texas snapped Detroit’s fourgame winning streak.
The Rangers endured their third straight game without an extra-base hit, but 10 singles were enough to overcome Detroit on a 100-degree night in Tiger Stadium.
Orioles 5, Yankees 4
Baltimore
Cal Ripken broke out of a 2-for-24 slump with four hits and two RBIs as Baltimore snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Ripken had two doubles, a single and a triple and barely missed becoming the first Orioles player to hit for the cycle twice in his career. Needing a homer in the seventh inning, Ripken lashed a line drive to right-center that hit the wall on one hop for a double.
Twins 8, Athletics 5 (10)
Oakland, Calif.
Pinch-hitter Chip Hale’s three-run double with two out in the 10th inning lifted Minnesota to victory over Oakland.
Rick Aguilera (1-1), who blew a save chance in the ninth, pitched the last 2 1/2 innings for the victory.
Clearing the bases
Chicago activated John Kruk from the disabled list and sent outfielder Lyle Mouton back to its Triple-A Nashville farm team… . Baltimore released veteran catcher Matt Nokes and called up switch-hitting catcher Greg Zaun from Triple-A Rochester… . Oakland pitcher Steve Karsay has returned to Arizona and will begin a rehabilitation program after undergoing surgery on his right elbow.
With the first anniversary of Jimmie Reese’s death approaching on July 13, California is planning to encase the stadium locker of its former conditioning coach in tinted plexiglass. Reese’s uniform and trademark fungoe bat will remain inside the locker.