Pitchers Impress Again as Orioles Keep Surging

The Baltimore Orioles did just about everything right Wednesday night, looking every bit like a team that expected to contend for a playoff spot this season.

It took them 26 games to get it right.

Juan Guzman (1-3) pitched seven shutout innings and Brady Anderson tripled in three runs in a seven-run fifth as the resurgent Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox, 8-0, at Baltimore.

Anderson also hit a solo homer and Albert Belle had two runs batted in against his former teammates as Baltimore stretched its winning streak to a season-high three and clinched a second consecutive series win.

“It’s all based on your pitching,” said Oriole Manager Ray Miller, whose job seems more secure than it did a week ago. “Pitching keeps you in a game, and then things can happen. Hopefully we’re starting to see that now.”

It was the second shutout in three games for the Orioles (9-17), who still have the worst record in the American League. But their starters have a 2.43 earned-run average over the last five games, four of them victories.

Seattle 6, Cleveland 5--Jose Mesa blocked out the boos in a triumphant return to Cleveland, pitching the ninth inning for a save.

As Mesa ran in from the bullpen to start the ninth, he was booed by many of the same Indians fans who turned on him last year and prompted his trade to the San Francisco Giants. They had never forgiven him for failing to close out Game 7 of the 1997 World Series against the Florida Marlins.

Dan Wilson hit Seattle’s third two-run homer and Jose Paniagua provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the Mariners.

New York 5, Minnesota 3--Andy Pettitte stopped the first three-game losing streak of his career and Scott Brosius homered for the Yankees at Minneapolis.

Tino Martinez hit two doubles and drove in two runs for New York.

Derek Jeter added a run-scoring single, and has reached base safely in all 26 games this season.

Pettitte (1-1), who hadn’t won since the World Series clincher in San Diego, gave up three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, struck out a season-high five and walked four.

Tampa Bay 10, Kansas City 7--Fred McGriff hit two monstrous homers for the Devil Rays at St. Petersburg, Fla.

McGriff, who has six home runs in eight games, hit a three-run homer--estimated at 451 feet--onto the roof of a center-field restaurant in the third inning. His second homer--estimated at 468 feet--was only the 10th fair ball to hit a catwalk suspended from the roof at Tropicana Field. It was a solo shot in the fifth.

Oakland 8, Toronto 2--Kenny Rogers, who twice traded punches with center fielder Jason MacDonald this week, pitched a five-hitter at Toronto to win for the first time in six starts this season.

Rogers (1-2), who lowered his ERA from 5.59 to 4.74, got the 25th complete game of his career, his first since last Sept. 11 against the Twins. He struck out seven and walked one.

Rogers traded punches with MacDonald on the team’s flight to Toronto this week and again in a hotel elevator, but both said Tuesday they have resolved their dispute.