Mcgwire’s Shot Too Little For A’S

American League

It was the kind of drive even Tiger Woods could appreciate. It just wasn’t enough to beat the Detroit Tigers.

Mark McGwire hit a 491-foot home run over Tiger Stadium’s left-field roof Sunday, but Brian Moehler earned his first major league victory when Detroit beat the Oakland Athletics 9-2.

Tony Clark hit a three-run homer as Detroit ended a four-game losing streak and salvaged one win in a five-game homestand. Brian Hunter and Damion Easley hit solo home runs for the Tigers.

McGwire became just the fourth player to clear the left-field roof with a blast that took one hop near a light tower and bounced over.

“I saw it hit the roof, but I had to look down and see where first base was so I didn’t see it go over,” McGwire said. “I had a pretty good idea it did, the way the fans reacted.”

Even Moehler, who also gave up a solo home run to Dave Magadan in the second inning, was excited about giving up McGwire’s big blast.

“I don’t usually watch my home runs, but I had to watch that one,” Moehler said. “It’s sort of an honor.”

The only other players to clear the left-field roof were Harmon Killebrew in 1962, Frank Howard in 1968 and Cecil Fielder in 1990.

Chisox 8, Yanks 7 (11) Chicago

Tony Phillips drew a bases-loaded walk from New York reliever Brian Boehringer with two outs to win it for Chicago.

The Yankees lost for the second time in four days on a bases-loaded walk. On Thursday, David Weathers walked Milwaukee’s John Jaha with one out in the ninth, forcing home the winning run in a 5-4 game.

Rangers 10, Jays 5 Arlington, Texas

Dean Palmer hit a grand slam and a solo home run, and Rusty Greer and Ivan Rodriguez also homered as Texas pounded Juan Guzman.

Palmer led off the second inning with a home run on an 0-2 pitch, then hit his team-record sixth career grand slam an inning later.

Angels 11, Royals 1 Kansas City, Mo.

Tim Salmon drove in five runs and rookie Jason Dickson pitched a three-hitter in Anaheim’s win.

Royals reliever Mitch Williams made his first appearance in the major leagues since June 19, 1995, when he was released by the Angels. He entered in the fifth and struggled, allowing four runs and six hits in two innings.

Orioles 11, Red Sox 1 Boston

Jerome Walton went 3 for 3, extending his hit streak to seven straight at-bats, in Jimmy Key’s win.

It was 8-0 before Shane Mack’s RBI single with two outs in the sixth chased Key (3-0) and ended his shutout string at 14 innings.

Indians 6, Brewers 4 Cleveland

Chad Curtis led off the sixth inning with a tie-breaking home run, helping Orel Hershiser beat Milwaukee.

Hershiser (1-0) bounced back from a third inning in which he made a throwing error and hit two batters.

Clearing the bases

Chicago’s Frank Thomas has gone 63 at-bats without hitting a home run, his longest skid since 1993, when he did not connect until his 61st at-bat… . Teammate Ozzie Guillen is the seventh player to collect 1,500 hits for the White Sox… . David Justice has reached base safely in all 15 of his starts for Cleveland.