American League Roundup: Twins annihilate Cleveland, 23-2

Finally healthy, Minnesota sets franchise record for winning margin

? With their entire lineup finally healthy, the Minnesota Twins showed the Cleveland Indians what they’re capable of.

Luis Rivas came off the disabled list and went 4-for-6 with five runs scored and five RBIs as the Twins posted their most lopsided win, 23-2 over the Indians on Tuesday night.

Jacque Jones had four hits and five RBIs, Dustan Mohr was 4-for-6 with a two-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski also was 4-for-6 for the Twins, who set a franchise record with 25 hits and missed their runs record by one.

“It was just a good game, especially with the way Cleveland’s been playing,” said Pierzynski, who missed the cycle by a home run. “It was nice to send a message.”

The Indians, who arrived with a four-game winning streak and eight wins in their last 10 games after a 9-25 stretch, allowed more than 20 runs for the second time this season.

They also matched the most lopsided loss in history 21-0 to Detroit on Sept. 15, 1901, was the last time it happened and missed giving up their most runs ever by one. Boston scored 24 against them on Aug. 21, 1986.

But nobody, other than manager Charlie Manuel, was around the clubhouse afterward to talk about it.

“They started hitting and we couldn’t stop them,” Manuel said. “We had trouble with a couple of balls early, and they become real dangerous because they know how to play here.”

After enduring an assortment of injuries over the season’s first two months, the Twins used their best lineup for the first time since opening day.

Rick Reed (6-2) gave up three hits, two of them home runs by Jim Thome, in seven innings as the Twins improved to a major league-leading 20-9 at home. He probably would’ve pitched longer if he didn’t have to wait so long in the dugout between innings.

“I wasn’t about to say, ‘Whoa, slow down!”‘ Reed said. “That’s the way I like it.”

The Twins scored four runs in the fifth, four in the sixth and 10 in the seventh their biggest inning in 42 years of existence. Mohr, Pierzynski and Rivas the bottom third of the order had 12 hits, 11 runs and eight RBIs.

“We were very good about not celebrating too much on the bench,” Jones said. “We’re just trying not to show the other team up.”

Thome, whose 17 homers are second in the AL behind Texas’ Alex Rodriguez, has 299 career home runs. Thome is batting .415 with seven homers and 14 RBIs in his last 17 games.

Yankees 13, Orioles 5

New York Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer during New York’s eight-run sixth inning and the Yankees hit four home runs in a victory over Baltimore. Giambi hit a two-run double in the first and added his 16th home run in the sixth. Alfonso Soriano, Robin Ventura and Rondell White also homered for the Yankees, who lead the majors with 96 homers in 59 games. Ramiro Mendoza (3-2) pitched 123 innings for the win.

Red Sox 10, Tigers 5

Detroit Johnny Damon and Shea Hillenbrand had four hits each, and Carlos Baerga drove in four runs as Boston beat Detroit to improve to 23-6 on the road. Damon doubled twice and hit his fourth home run in going 4-for-5 after going 3-for-4 Monday night. He also scored four runs, while Baerga had a RBI single and a three-run double. John Burkett allowed four runs in the first two innings, but settled down to match teammate Pedro Martinez at 7-0 on the season. Burkett allowed five runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings.

Blue Jays 3, Devil Rays 1

Toronto Eric Hinske homered twice, and fellow rookie Justin Miller pitched seven innings of three-hit ball as Toronto won their season-high fifth straight with a victory over Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays won their second in a row under new manager Carlos Tosca. Buck Martinez was fired Monday after Toronto swept Detroit last weekend.

Angels 3, Rangers 0

Anaheim, Calif. Scott Schoeneweis pitched four-hit ball into the ninth inning as Anaheim beat Texas. Garret Anderson and Tim Salmon had RBI doubles to support Schoeneweis (4-4), who came within one out of his second career shutout. The Rangers, who weren’t shut out until the 161st game last season, have already been blanked three times this year all in the last 28 games.

A’s 3, Mariners 2 (10)

Oakland, Calif. Terrence Long hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the 10th inning as Oakland beat Seattle. Jermaine Dye walked, and an out later Eric Piatt singled off Shigetoshi Hasegawa (3-1). Long then knocked his double off the wall in center field. Billy Koch (3-0) pitched two innings and the A’s won despite getting outhit by the Mariners 14-5. Eric Chavez tied it for the A’s in the seventh inning with his second solo home run of the game. The shot, off Mariners starter Rafael Soriano, cleared the center-field fence near the 400-foot marker.