Cleveland ? It was just another prospective garden-variety perfect game for Kenny Rogers, who had been there, done that in 1994.

But it didn’t quite happen this time, thanks to Jim Thome and Milton Bradley, who trashed perfection then stepped all over the no-hitter, but couldn’t keep the Indians from losing to the Rangers, 3-2, Friday night at Jacobs Field.

Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez (3) leaps over New York's Derek Jeter and throws to first to complete a double play. Chavez retired Jeter at second base and Jason Giambi was out at first in the Athletics' 3-2, 16-inning victory over the Yankees Friday in New York.

After retiring 21 batters in a row, Rogers opened the eighth inning by walking Thome on a 3-and-2 curveball, then Bradley lined a ringing double off the left-field fence to put runners on second and third.

Not only did Bradley break up the no-hitter, but he also triggered a rally that got the Tribe back in the game. Travis Fryman followed by striking out, but Ricky Gutierrez doubled to score Thome and Bradley, tying the score 2-2.

“The last time I was oblivious,” Rogers said, recalling his perfect game against the Angels. “That made it easier. But this time I noticed. I knew. Believe me, I knew.”

Rogers’ bid to be the first pitcher to throw two perfect games took a new twist in the sixth inning, when it was suggested that he cheated by scuffing or gouging the ball with his thumbnail.

After Karim Garcia grounded to the first baseman for the second out of the sixth, plate umpire Andy Fletcher marched to the mound and demanded to inspect Rogers’ glove.

Rogers showed him the leather and turned his back pockets inside out to show they were empty. Fletcher turned the ball around in his fingers, checking the skin for signs of damage.

And that was it. Play continued, and Einar Diaz grounded out to end the inning. No further attempts to catch Rogers in the act followed, but the Indians were convinced that he had doctored any number of baseballs.

“We had several baseballs that came back, and they were all identical,” Manager Joel Skinner said.

“But it’s not a big deal. Kenny Rogers pitched great.”

When pressed, Skinner added: “We weren’t even coming close (to hitting his pitches). I had a couple of conversations with the umpires between innings, and they said if I asked, they would check his glove, so they checked it.”

The Indians apparently have more than a dozen baseballs with abnormal scuff marks or notches dug into the horsehide. Nevertheless, Skinner wanted to make it clear that his team wasn’t suggesting that defaced baseballs were the reason his team lost.

Athletics 3, Yankees 2, 16 innings

New York Mark Ellis hit a broken-bat RBI single with two outs in the 16th inning and the Athletics, saved by two more defensive gems from center fielder Terrence Long, beat New York in the longest game in Oakland history.

Long started a perfectly executed relay in the eighth inning to prevent pinch-runner Enrique Wilson from scoring the go-ahead run, and the A’s eventually won in a game that took exactly 6 hours.

Since moving from Kansas City to Oakland after the 1967 season, the A’s have played two games that lasted 5 hours, 31 minutes, the last coming on April 8, 1982, against the California Angels.

Micah Bowie (2-0), the sixth Oakland pitcher, up two hits in three scoreless innings as the A’s moved up in the wild card race.

Twins 5, Red Sox 4

Boston Doug Mientkiewicz and Corey Kosie drove in two runs each as Minnesota stopped a season-high four-game losing streak. Cristian Guzman went 3-for-4 and scored a run for the Twins.

Nomar Garciaparra went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBIs. Boston has lost three of its first four games on a six-game homestand.

With the score 4-all in the seventh, Koskie hit an RBI single off Frank Castillo (5-12).

J.C. Romero (8-1) allowed one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings, and Eddie Guardado got three outs for his 34th save.

White Sox 10, Mariners 2

Chicago Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer and Magglio Ordonez drove in three runs with a solo shot and a double.

Mark Buehrle (15-8) had a shutout bid until Jeff Cirillo’s RBI double in the eighth and wound up allowed one run and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Freddy Garcia (12-8) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings, dropping to 1-3 in his last six starts.

Blue Jays 5, Angels 4

Toronto Rookie Orlando Hudson hit an RBI triple off the top of the right-field wall.

Chris Woodward had a two-run single, and Hudson’s two-out triple off Ramon Ortiz (9-9) gave Toronto a 4-2 lead in the fourth.

Garret Anderson hit his club-record 43rd double for the Angels, who have lost three straight.

Pete Walker (5-2) allowed three runs two earned and eight hits in five innings, and Kelvim Escobar pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Tigers 3, Orioles 0

Detroit Rookie Mike Maroth (4-4) allowed six hits in 8 1/3 innings. Juan Acevedo closed for his 21st save, completing the Tigers’ sixth shutout of the season.

Jason Johnson (3-9) gave up up one run and three hits in five innings.