Orioles Walk All Over Athletics In 11th

American League

Bases-loaded walks to Chris Hoiles and Aaron Ledesma in the 11th inning started the visiting Baltimore Orioles toward a 4-0 triumph Thursday night over the Oakland Athletics, who began their post-Mark McGwire era.

With one out in the 11th, Cal Ripken Jr. reached base on an error by losing pitcher Dane Johnson (3-1). B.J. Surhoff was intentionally walked, Jeffrey Hammonds was hit by a pitch and Hoiles walked on a 3-and-1 pitch to break the scoreless tie.

Ledesma walked on a 3-and-2 pitch to force in the second run, and Brady Anderson followed with a two-run single off reliever Tim Kubinski.

Armando Benitez (1-3) got three outs in the 10th for his third major league win. Randy Myers pitched the 11th.

The victory extended Baltimore’s lead over the New York Yankees in the A.L. East to six games. The Orioles have won six straight and 10 of 12.

The A’s, who traded McGwire to St. Louis 2 hours before the game, lost their sixth straight and were shut out for the fourth time in their last 11 games. Oakland has lost 11 of 13.

White Sox 14, Angels 12 Anaheim, Calif.

After blowing a nine-run lead, the largest deficit Anaheim had ever overcome, Chicago pulled out the victory when an error by Dave Hollins led to a pair of unearned runs in the ninth inning.

Pinch-hitter Lyle Mouton led off the ninth with a single off Mike Holtz (3-3). Ozzie Guillen singled and Dave Martinez bunted to the left of the mound, but Holtz’ throw to third was mishandled by Hollins for an error, allowing Mouton to score.

Ray Durham followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 14-12.

Chicago had staked Jaime Navarro to a 9-0 lead after 1-1/2 innings.

Royals 3, Red Sox 2 (10) Kansas City, Mo.

Slump-ridden Chili Davis singled home David Howard with one out in the 10th as Kansas City rallied for two runs to defeat Boston.

The Red Sox had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th when Nomar Garciaparra doubled with two out and came around on two wild pitches by Hector Carrasco.

Boston closer Heathcliff Slocumb (0-5) started the bottom of the 10th and loaded the bases with a hit batter, a fielder’s choice grounder, a single and a walk.

Mike Sweeney scored the tying run on Slocumb’s wild pitch, and the Red Sox intentionally walked Jay Bell. Davis, in a 3-for-33 slump, then punched a single barely in front of center fielder Darren Bragg, who was playing shallow.

Tigers 4, Blue Jays 2 Detroit

Injury-troubled Justin Thompson pitched one of his strongest games of the season and Brian Hunter had an RBI triple as Detroit beat Toronto, extending the Blue Jays’ losing streak to six games.

Thompson (9-8), who had lost two starts since being reactivated July 11 from a sore shoulder, took a no-hitter into the fifth. Thompson allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings, struck out three and walked one before getting relief help.

Clearing the bases

Kansas City shortstop Jay Bell hit his 100th career home run… . Reggie Jefferson stretched his hitting streak to 16 games for the Red Sox… . Rookie catcher Todd Greene drove in six runs for the Angels… . The White Sox and right-hander Jason Bere agreed to extend his minor league rehabilitation assignment by up to 15 days… . The Detroit-Toronto game was delayed just after the first pitch, when a gray cat came onto the field and scampered around the infield.

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