Baseball

Broussard blasts keep Indians in front

CLEVELAND - As the ball sliced through the thick summer air, Ben Broussard's mind cleared. For a moment, he forgot about his two errors and the batting slump that wouldn't go away.

And when Broussard's second homer of the game finally cleared the rightfield wall, landing in the first row, Cleveland's first baseman allowed himself a brief moment to celebrate.

Broussard's tiebreaking three-run shot in the eighth inning sent Cleveland to a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night and kept the Indians in control of the wild-card race.

Cleveland was down 2-0 in the seventh when Broussard hit a two-run shot, and it was 2-2 when he delivered the Indians' biggest homer of the season.

"I haven't had a lot of hits in September," said Broussard, who was in a 1-for-23 slump before homering in the seventh. "But right now, all I'm worried about is right now."

The Indians have a one-game lead over the Yankees for the wild card and moved 21/2 ahead of the A's.

"It's probably our biggest win to date," Indians starter Kevin Millwood said. "This is fun, man."

Millwood improved his league-leading ERA to 3.02.

The Indians turned a season-high five double plays, including a comical one in the ninth when rotund closer Bob Wickman tumbled over the bag while attempting to catch the return throw at first.

Wickman hit the ground, bounced and blocked the throw with his body before alertly touching the base to get Dan Johnson, who had missed the base as he ran by.

"It didn't look too good," said Wickman, who earned his 40th save.

With the score tied at 2 in the eighth, Travis Hafner singled with one out off Justin Duchscherer and Victor Martinez singled. One out later, Broussard hit a shot to right.

Nick Swisher leaped at the wall and the ball barely cleared his glove.

"I didn't know if it was out," Broussard said. "I was looking at the ball, and then watching him. He looked like he had it, but I'm glad he didn't catch it. It was a wall scraper for sure. But at this point in the season, who cares."

BLUE JAYS 9, RED SOX 3: Gabe Gross hit his first home run in nearly a year during a five-run second, and host Toronto won their ninth in 13 games against Boston this season.

The Red Sox's David Ortiz tied his career high with his 41st homer. It was his 37th as a DH, matching the major-league record set by Seattle's Edgar Martinez in 2000.

Boston has five games left against the Blue Jays.

MARINERS 2, ANGELS 1: Greg Dobbs singled in the winner with two outs in the ninth for host Seattle. With runners at first and third in the ninth and no outs, the Angels brought in centerfielder Maicer Izturis, creating a five-man infield. Richie Sexson grounded into an unusual 4-8-3 double play started by second baseman Adam Kennedy, who threw to Izturis, who threw to Darin Erstad at first. The runner at third held.

WHITE SOX 6, ROYALS 4: Jose Contreras won his fifth straight start and visiting Chicago beat Kansas City for the 13th time in 16 games. Juan Uribe hit two doubles, drove in a run and scored a run, raising his average in September to a major league-high .487. Chicago hit seven doubles.

TWINS 9, TIGERS 3: Matthew LeCroy, Luis Rivas and Jason Bartlett homered and visiting Minnesota won in a matchup of slumping teams. The Twins have won two straight, both against Detroit, after losing five of six. The Tigers have lost 11 of 13.

ORIOLES 4, RANGERS 3: Luis Matos drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the ninth, and visiting Baltimore won its fourth straight.

[Last modified September 14, 2005, 02:15:34]