Not that he's about to make a big deal about it, but Albert Belle is starting to hit. And, no surprise, the Chicago White Sox are starting to win.
Belle hit a grand slam, doubled and drove in five runs Sunday as the White Sox, who went into the weekend with the worst record in the American League, completed a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with an 8-5 victory."He's led the league in RBIs the last two years. That's why we brought him in here," teammate Frank Thomas said.
Belle has turned around his slow start, hitting .353 over his last 13 games. He again declined comment, as he has since April 11, although White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf recently said he would talk to Belle about his silence.
Oakland lost its fifth straight game, although Chicago also suffered a loss at Comiskey Park.
Right fielder Lyle Mouton broke a bone in his face when he collided with center fielder Dave Martinez while chasing George Williams' fly ball in the fifth inning. Mouton was put on the disabled list while Martinez sustained a slight concussion.
"It's still on my mind," said winning pitcher Wilson Alvarez, who tied a career high with 12 strikeouts. "You should see Lyle's face. It's kind of bad. We're going to miss him. He's been hot right now."
Belle hit his eighth career slam in the third inning against Willie Adams. The A's intentionally walked Thomas to load the bases, and Belle hit his sixth homer of the season.
"They weren't trying to pitch around me, just set up a situation for the double play," Thomas said.
Belle finished 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Orioles 9, Mariners 5
B.J. Surhoff homered, tripled, singled and drove in six runs as division leaders Baltimore and Seattle split a four-game series at Camden Yards.
Surhoff, trying to become the first Orioles player to hit for the cycle since Cal Ripken in 1984, struck out in the sixth inning and again in the eighth.
Roberto Alomar had three hits, scored three runs and stole two bases to help Baltimore avert its first three-game losing streak of the year. The Orioles beat Dennis Martinez, who had been 4-0 lifetime against his former club.
Dan Wilson hit two home runs for the Mariners and Paul Sorrento and Edgar Martinez also connected. Martinez extended his hitting streak 16 games, longest in the AL this season.
Yankees 3, Royals 2
The Yankees received their 1996 World Series championship rings in pregame ceremonies, then beat Kansas City for their 16th victory in 21 games.
David Wells (4-1), who played for Baltimore last year, pitched into the ninth inning and reliever Mariano Rivera got the final two outs for his 13th save.
Bernie Williams had three hits, including a home run, for New York.
Frank Torre, the brother of Yankees manager Joe Torre, threw out the ceremonial first ball. He underwent a heart transplant a day before the Yankees won the Series-clinching game against Atlanta last October.
Tigers 11, Indians 3
Tony Clark hit two home runs and Detroit sent Orel Hershiser to his first loss in eight starts this year.
Bobby Higginson had three doubles and Phil Nevin and Damion Easley each homered for the host Tigers. Detroit is 3-2 against Cleveland this season after going 0-12 against the Indians last year.
Brewers 5, Angels 2
Doug Jones became the 11th reliever to reach 250 career saves, and Milwaukee sent Anaheim to its fifth straight loss.
Jones, 39, is 8-for-8 on save chances while filling in for injured closer Mike Fetters.
Ben McDonald beat the visiting Angels for the 12th time in 16 lifetime decisions. Anaheim manager Terry Collins and catcher Jorge Fabregas were both ejected by plate umpire Joe Brinkman.
Rangers 8, Red Sox 6
Julio Santana, pitching in place of injured Roger Pavlik, earned his first major-league victory and Texas completed a three-game sweep at Fenway Park.
Santana (1-0) gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Pavlik was scratched before the game because of elbow problems, and he was to undergo an MRI today in Texas.
Blue Jays 3, Twins 2
Jacob Brumfield raced home from second on a infield groundout, giving Toronto the lead for good, then threw out the potential tying run from left field in the bottom of the ninth at the Metrodome.
In the fifth, Brumfield was running on the pitch when Otis Nixon hit a slow chopper to second and he never hesitated rounding third base and scored standing up, well ahead of first baseman Brent Brede's throw.
Minnesota put runners on first and third with no outs in the ninth. But Brumfield caught Todd Walker's shallow fly ball and threw a one-hopper to the plate where catcher Benito Santiago tagged out Matt Lawton.