It didn't take Tony Phillips very long to atone for a sub-par performance.
Twenty four hours after his fielding lapse allowed Kansas City to beat Chicago, Phillips played flawless defense and reached base five times Friday night in a 7-6 victory over the Royals."I didn't feel very good going home last night," said the outfielder, who had two singles, three walks, drove in a run and scored twice. "I have a tendency to get on myself a little too hard."
Phillips went 0-for-4 Thursday night and misplayed Kevin Young's drive into left, which allowed the Royals to score the decisive run in a 3-2 win.
"I got caught sleeping on a double that I turned into a triple. It was like a little wake-up call," he said. "It wasn't like I needed to redeem myself so much as I just was determined to come out here tonight and do the things I'm supposed to do."
Kevin Tapani (9-5), who hadn't beaten the Royals in more than two years, struck out six and walked three and gave up five hits.
Indians 7, Twins 5
At Minneapolis, pinch hitter Brian Giles hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat of the season and Jim Thome hit a two-run single in the ninth inning, rallying the Cleveland Indians to a 7-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota, playing hours after teammate Kirby Puckett announced his retirement, led 5-3 in the ninth before the Indians came back.
Puckett, the Twins' adored center fielder, retired after an operation revealed irreversible damage to his right eye. Many of his teammates stood by teary-eyed at a news conference as he announced his retirement.
Puckett had left the Metrodome by game time, but the crowd saluted him with a standing ovation following a video tribute in the seventh inning.
With a runner on in the ninth, Giles, recalled earlier in the day when pitcher Greg Swindell was placed on the disabled list, homered off Dave Stevens (1-1) .
Alvaro Espinoza and Omar Vizquel drew walks before Mike Trombley relieved and gave up an infield single to Mark Carreon. Thome followed with a two-run single to center.
Jose Mesa (1-3) got the win in relief.
Albert Belle hit his 29th homer for the Indians, who made a season-high five errors.
Brewers 12, Blue Jays 5
At Milwaukee, Ben McDonald won his sixth straight decision and Pat Listach drove in a career-high four runs.
McDonald (10-3) allowed two runs and three hits over six innings in snapping a five-game losing streak to the Blue Jays, whom he hadn't beaten since Aug. 12, 1992.
Blue Jays left fielder Joe Carter left the game with a bruised left instep after fouling a pitch off his left leg in the third.
Red Sox 11, Tigers 3
At Detroit, Mo Vaughn hit a grand slam and Reggie Jefferson had four RBIs as Boston won its third straight.
Tom Gordon (7-4) gave up three runs and six hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings. The right-hander again received excellent run support. The Red Sox have averaged more than seven runs in Gordon's 19 starts.
Omar Olivares (4-6) lasted just two innings and lost his third straight start. He gave up seven runs and five hits, including Vaughn's slam in the second inning, with three walks.
Jefferson is batting .615 (16-for-26) with six homers and 16 RBIs - seven in the last two nights - against Detroit this year.
Yanks-Orioles Washed Out
At Baltimore, the Baltimore Orioles will have to wait at least another day before resuming their pursuit of first-place New York.
A steady rain caused by Hurricane Bertha washed out Friday night's game between the Yankees and Orioles, the top two teams in the AL East. The game never got underway and was postponed after a delay of 2 hours, 2 minutes.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday. The Yankees are in the midst of their final trip to Baltimore, where they are unbeaten in three games.
Rangers 8, Athletics 4, 10 innings
At Oakland, Calif., Damon Buford's second RBI double of the game knocked in the go-ahead run as Texas scored five runs in the 10th. Geronimo Berroa's second homer of the game, a solo shot with two outs in the Oakland ninth, had tied the game 3-3 and sent it into extra innings.
Mariners 7, Angels 6, 10 innings
At Seattle, Jay Buhner doubled home Edgar Martinez from first base as the Seattle Mariners nipped the California Angels in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Chuck McElroy (4-1), who came in to start the 10th, hit Martinez on the left arm on a full-count pitch. Buhner followed with a double down the third-base line off Randy Velarde's glove on another 3-2 pitch. The ball rolled away from Garret Anderson into the left-field corner, and Martinez scored on a close play at the plate.