It Takes a Bit Longer, but Brewers Win

With a wacky inning and a wild finish, the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to a season-high five games despite their inability to silence Seattle’s big bats.

“Another easy one at the ball park,” Brewer Manager Phil Garner cracked after his team sneaked past the Mariners, 9-8, on Monday night at Milwaukee despite a ninth inning that included three two-out hits, two errors and two arguments.

Jeff D’Amico (1-2) won for the first time since last Sept. 21. He surrendered homers to Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner and Rob Ducey, but D’Amico benefited from a wacky seven-run outburst from his teammates in the fourth.

Interim closer Doug Jones got three outs for his ninth save in as many chances. But this one wasn’t easy.

After getting two quick outs, Jones gave up singles to Joey Cora and Alex Rodriguez. Both runners scored when Jones made a throwing error on Griffey’s two-out single, then got in the way as Rodriguez was rounding third.

Rodriguez trotted home and first baseman Jeff Huson didn’t throw the ball to the plate because, he said, he thought crew chief Jim Evans had already signaled a dead ball, which Evans denied doing.

A five-minute delay ensued while both managers argued their case.

Rodriguez was sent back to third base, but Mariner Manager Lou Piniella persuaded Evans to change the ruling, allowing Rodriguez to score, making it 9-8. That also tagged Jones with another error, for obstruction.

All this prompted Garner to announce he was playing the game under protest. But that became moot when Jones struck out Edgar Martinez to end the game.

Minnesota 12, Toronto 2--Greg Myers had four hits and scored four runs as the Twins avoided the longest home losing streak in franchise history at Minneapolis.

The Twins, whose nine-game Metrodome losing streak equaled the mark set at Metropolitan Stadium during the 1961-62 seasons, won for only the fourth time in their last 19 games overall.

Myers went four for five and drove in two runs. He scored in each of his first four plate appearances as Minnesota built a 12-2 lead after five innings.

All nine Minnesota starting hitters had at least one hit. Seven scored and seven had at least one RBI.

Greg Colbrunn also went four for five with two RBIs, and Roberto Kelly had three hits and two RBIs as the Twins jumped on starter Chris Carpenter, making his major league debut. Carpenter gave up seven runs and eight hits in three innings.

Texas 4, Cleveland 2--Will Clark had two of the Rangers’ four homers and John Burkett rebounded from a shaky start as they stretched their winning streak to four games at Arlington, Texas.

Clark tied the score, 1-1, when he homered in the fourth inning off Jack McDowell (3-3), then gave Texas a 3-1 lead in the seventh with his fourth homer of the year, a drive off Eric Plunk.

Benji Gil had put the Rangers ahead in the fifth. Lee Stevens also homered off Plunk in the seventh, his sixth homer of the season.

Burkett (2-2) gave up four hits and a walk in the first two innings, then retired 19 of the next 21 batters. He gave up one run and seven hits in eight innings, struck out three and walked one.

McDowell, who had been 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA since his return to the rotation on May 1, gave up two runs and three hits in six innings, struck out four and walked one. He has given up six homers in 40 2/3 innings this season.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Greg Myers

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 4 for 5, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Will Clark

Team: Texas

Performance: 2 for 3, 2 RBIs, 2 home runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Tony Tarasco

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 1 for 4, 3 RBIs, home run

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Jimmy Key

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 7 2/3 innings, 1 run, 6 hits

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Brad Radke

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 7 innings, 2 runs, 9 hits, 7 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: John Burkett

Team: Texas

Performance: 8 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win