Victory Is Worth Wait for Eiland

With six career victories, and none since 1995, Dave Eiland didn’t figure to be much of a match for Pedro Martinez.

The Tampa Bay Devil Ray right-hander wasn’t fazed by the underdog role and pitched six strong innings Wednesday night at St. Petersburg, Fla., to beat the Boston Red Sox ace, 3-2, for his first victory in nearly four years.

“I like being in that situation,� Eiland said. “I’m sure there’s less than a handful of people that gave us a chance, and gave me a chance in particular.

“In this game, in this world, don’t underestimate anybody. I was up for the challenge and looking forward to it. It was my first win in a long time, and it feels good to beat a guy like that. It was worth the wait.�

John Flaherty, Paul Sorrento and Aaron Ledesma drove in runs for the Devil Rays, who denied Martinez (15-3) the chance to become the first pitcher to win 16 games before the All-Star break since San Diego’s Randy Jones in 1976. Martinez finished with 14 strikeouts.

“He was outstanding. He’s the best thing going right now,� Eiland said. “But he can be beat. He bleeds just like the rest of us.�

Eiland (1-4) gave up seven hits and struck out one to get his first victory in the big leagues since July 21, 1995, when he was with the New York Yankees. All-Star Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth to earn his 24th save in 27 opportunities.

Wilbur Wood, in 1974, was the last American League pitcher to reach the 16 victories before the break.

Martinez gave up seven hits and walked two in eight innings, his third complete game of the season and 26th of his career.

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3--Denny Hocking hit a bases-loaded single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Twins the victory at Minneapolis.

The Twins had blown a 3-0 lead to win a game in which the benches cleared twice after inside pitches.

Cleveland starter Bartolo Colon was ejected in the sixth inning for hitting Corey Koskie. Colon had hit Torii Hunter in the fourth inning. Joe Mays had twice thrown over Manny Ramirez’s head, the second time in the sixth inning.

Both benches and bullpens emptied after the second pitch to Ramirez, and again after Koskie was hit, but no punches were thrown.

Toronto 7, Baltimore 6--Willie Greene hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning at Baltimore to cap yet another Blue Jay comeback against the Orioles’ beleaguered bullpen.

It was the fifth consecutive game between the teams that Toronto won in its last at-bat. This time, the Blue Jays rallied from a three-run deficit by scoring four runs in the final two innings.

Cal Ripken hit his 396th homer for the Orioles and had two singles to move within 53 hits of 3,000. Harold Baines also homered for the Orioles, who have lost 12 of 14.

Detroit 6, New York 4--Luis Polonia homered and the Tigers hit six doubles against David Cone at Detroit.

Chili Davis hit a two-run homer and Scott Brosius had a solo shot for the Yankees, who grounded into three inning-ending double plays.

Cone (9-4) entered the game with a 2.54 earned-run average, second-best in the American League, and had a 13-2 career record and 2.62 ERA against Detroit. But he gave up six runs on 12 hits--both season highs--in six innings.

Texas 7, Oakland 4--Lee Stevens’ two-run single broke a seventh-inning tie at Oakland as the Rangers ended a four-game losing streak and avoided being swept by Oakland for the first time in five seasons.

Stevens, who entered the game in the sixth as a defensive replacement, broke a 4-4 tie with his single and the Rangers added another run in the seventh on a throwing error by A’s catcher Ramon Hernandez.

Chicago 7, Kansas City 1--Jim Parque (9-6) pitched seven strong innings to win for the fourth time in five decisions at Chicago.

Mark Johnson and Paul Konerko both homered for the White Sox.