While Dave Fleming enjoys his amazing run for the Seattle Mariners, the 22-year-old left-hander is starting to wonder how much longer it will continue.
"It's getting a bit ridiculous," Fleming said after beating the Texas Rangers 2-1 Tuesday night. "(Rafael) Palmeiro hit three shots that went for outs. That's how it's been this year and now I'm at 9-1."That obviously tells part of the story. But the simplist part is the one Mariners manager Bill Plummer likes.
"Fleming has been our stopper," Plummer said after the Mariners broke a four-game losing streak. "When we need a win, he goes out and does it.
"He's been amazing this year. The thing about him is he gets outs."
Perhaps the biggest came on a defensive gem by Seattle first baseman Pete O'Brien. He made a great stop on Palmeiro with the bases loaded to end the second inning.
"OB kept us from winning the game," Palmeiro said of the former Ranger. "That was three RBIs away from us. It would have been a different ballgame."
It almost was because Todd Burns matched Fleming pitch for pitch.
"Burns gave us just what the doctor ordered," Texas manager Bobby Valentine said. "He gave us the best outing by a fifth starter in a long time."
Although he didn't get a decision, Burns allowed just one hit while striking out five and walking one in six innings. He was perfect for the first five innings.
Indians 6, Tigers 1
Glenallen Hill had two homers and Denis Boucher his best major league performance, allowing three hits in eight shutout innings for visiting Cleveland.
Boucher (2-1) walked four and struck out four. Detroit's Frank Tanana (4-5) allowed six runs in 21/3 innings on seven hits.
Athletics 6, Brewers 1
Kevin Campbell allowed one hit over six innings in his first major league start, and watched Oakland rap out 15 at Milwaukee.
Campbell (2-0), was getting his first start after 20 major league relief appearances. The 27-year-old right-hander had not started since 1988 with Vero Beach in the Florida State League.
Blue Jays 2, Yankees 1
Toronto's Candy Maldonado hit one of the longest home runs in the history of the new Yankee Stadium and snapped a seventh-inning tie with a double.
Juan Guzman (7-1) didn't have his good stuff, but gave up only one run and four hits in seven innings. Tom Henke got his 12th save.
Red Sox 4, Orioles 1
Jeff Reardon moved within a save of Rollie Fingers' major league career record, closing out after a strong performance by John Dopson as visiting Boston beat Baltimore.
Reardon came on in the ninth inning to get his 13th save this season and the 340th of his career.
White Sox 4, Angels 2
Frank Thomas had a homer among three hits and drove in three runs to lead Greg Hibbard and Chicago over hapless California.
The victory was the third straight for the White Sox, who beat Julio Valera (2-5). The visiting Angels dropped their fifth straight and 19th in the last 23 games.
Twins 4, Royals 2
Kent Hrbek hit his 250th career home run and Bill Krueger remained unbeaten as Minnesota ended visiting Kansas City's six-game winning streak.
Hrbek became the 13th active major leaguer with 250 homers.
Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 16th save, allowing a sacrifice fly by Brian McRae.