Cleveland ? Sitting on the dugout steps before the game, Oakland manager Art Howe glanced at the threatening clouds above Jacobs Field and worried about a postponement.

The rain never came.

“Not a drop,” Howe said.

Nope, the sun is still shining on the Athletics.

Mark Mulder completed Oakland’s first four-game sweep of Cleveland and the A’s won their season-high ninth straight game Thursday night, 9-3, over the Indians.

“We’re feeling pretty good about ourselves,” Howe said. “We’re getting contributions from everyone in the lineup. That’s nice.”

Mulder (15-7) followed a brilliant performance by Cory Lidle a one-hitter Wednesday night with a pretty good one of his own, allowing three runs and five hits in 7 2â3 innings.

Mulder threatened to give Oakland consecutive one-hitters as he entered the seventh. He had only allowed a leadoff single in the third and retired 11 straight before Omar Vizquel singled with one out.

Ellis Burks followed with his 27th homer, bringing the Indians to 3-2 and snapping an 18-inning scoreless streak for Cleveland. Jim Thome then singled, but Mulder got Travis Fryman to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Mulder walked none, struck out two and got 16 outs on grounders as the A’s moved into a tie for first place in the AL West with Seattle, one game ahead of Anaheim.

“I just think we got a lot of confidence right now,” said Mulder, who is 13-3 in his last 17 starts. “Everybody is picking each other up and we’re just playing solid ball.”

Mulder also gave Oakland’s outfield the night off, as none of the A’s caught a fly in left, center or right.

Chad Bradford pitched 11â3 innings for his second save.

Karim Garcia also homered for the Indians, who have lost five in a row.

Following the game, interim manager Joel Skinner held a brief meeting with his players.

Red Sox 12, Rangers 3

Boston Manny Ramirez had two homers and six RBIs and Dustin Hermanson won his official debut as a Red Sox starter. Ramirez went 4-for-4 with a season-high 11 total bases. Jason Varitek drove in three runs with a single and a double despite a moderate rain that fell most of the game.

Yankees 4, Angels 2

New York David Wells (14-6) pitched into the eighth inning, and Derek Jeter had three hits to lead New York. Jeter scored twice for the Yankees, who took two of three in a series between AL division leaders and have won eight of 10 overall.

Mariners 4, Tigers 2

Detroit Mike Cameron singled in two runs in a three-run sixth inning as Seattle beat Detroit to split the four-game series. Ryan Franklin (5-3) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in his sixth start in the major leagues. Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 37 tries.

Orioles 3, Devil Rays 2, 11 innings

Baltimore Jerry Hairston homered and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th on a single by Tony Batista for Baltimore. Jeff Conine also homered for the Orioles.