Bob Welch owns the Texas Rangers. Dave Fleming has owned just about every American League team except the Milwaukee Brewers.
Welch came off the disabled list before Sunday's game and held the Rangers to two hits over 5 2/3 innings as Oakland swept a three-game series at home from Texas for the first time in eight seasons.Welch (3-3) combined with four relievers on a five-hitter for the 6-1 victory and moved to 5-0 in nine career starts against the Rangers.
"But I've gotten my butt kicked by them a couple of times and somebody picked me up," said Welch, who threw 85 pitches. "I don't consider them an easy team to pitch against at all."
Fleming, Seattle's surprising rookie, has had an easy time pitching this season, with a team-record tying nine straight victories. But he got pounded early in a six-run second inning and took the loss during Milwaukee's 14-4 dismantling of Seattle.
Fleming's outing, which lasted just two innings, raised his ERA from 2.88 to 3.49. In two starts against Milwaukee this season, his ERA is 29.70.
Brewers 14, Mariners 4
At the Kingdome, Milwaukee tied a club record with 22 hits. Paul Molitor and rookie Dave Nilsson had four hits apiece and Robin Yount had a two-run homer.
In their six-run second, the Brewers got seven hits off Fleming. Nilsson had a three-run double, rookie Pat Listach singled in a run and Dante Bichette doubled in the final two.
Fleming (9-2) wasn't too disappointed over his first loss since April 9.
"These things will happen," Fleming said. "I know I will fail now and then. I just hope it doesn't happen very often."
Milwaukee's Ricky Bones (3-2) gave up solo homers to Tino Martinez in the second, Edgar Martinez in the fourth and Dave Valle in the fifth.
Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 2
At SkyDome, John Olerud's three-run double lifted Toronto and Juan Guzman (8-1) held Boston to six hits in six innings.
Starter Mark Gardiner (3-6) loaded the bases with Boston up 2-1 in the sixth before Danny Darwin walked in the tying run and Olerud doubled to the gap in left-center.
Duane Ward gave up a hit over the last three innings for his seventh save.
Yankees 4, Indians 3
Consecutive doubles by Mel Hall and Roberto Kelly in the 10th inning off Ted Power (1-1) lifted New York to its second straight win following a four-game losing streak.
Reliever Rich Monteleone (4-1) got the victory despite yielding the tying run in the eighth. Steve Farr pitched the 10th for his ninth save.
Albert Belle's two-run homer in the sixth inning was his 13th of the season, but only his second at Cleveland Stadium.
Tigers 7, Orioles 4
At Tiger Stadium, Tony Phillips and Lou Whitaker drove in two runs apiece and Chad Kreuter had his second homer of the season for Detroit.
With the score tied 4-all, Milt Cuyler led off the seventh inning with a double that knocked out Jose Mesa (2-7). Phillips then had an RBI single off Storm Davis and, after stealing second, scored on Whitaker's single.
Frank Tanana (5-5) gave up four runs on six hits, walked six and struck out three. Mike Henneman worked the final two innings for his ninth save.
Twins 8, White Sox 7
At the Metrodome, Kirby Puckett lined an RBI double to left off reliever Scott Radinsky (2-3) in the ninth inning to rescue Minnesota, which had blown a six-run lead.
Frank Thomas capped the comeback for Chicago with a two-run homer that made it 7-6 in the sixth. Thomas also had a run-scoring double in the fifth, when the White Sox scored five times to get within 6-5.
Tom Edens (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Angels 5, Royals 1
Luis Sojo drove in four runs with a single and his second homer of the season and Julio Valera (3-5) gave up six hits over 72/3 innings for the victory.