Indians Gain Ground With Win

Travis Fryman’s single in the ninth inning drove in Roberto Alomar with the winning run Friday night to give the Cleveland Indians a 9-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Cleveland.

The Indians blew a four-run lead before tying it in the eighth on Kenny Lofton’s two-run homer. Fryman’s hit handed Seattle its sixth consecutive loss.

Cleveland, reeling after blowing a big lead and losing in Oakland Wednesday, moved within two games of the Athletics in the American League wild-card race.

Toronto 3, Minnesota 2--Matt Kinney allowed just two runs in 6 1/3 innings in his major league debut, but the Twins lost to the Blue Jays at Toronto as Esteban Loaiza pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings and Carlos Delgado hit his 36th home run.

Kinney (0-1) received a scare in the fourth inning, when his 22-year-old sister Rebecca, sitting above the Minnesota dugout, was hit by a piece of Corey Koskie’s shattered bat. She was treated for a bruise on the left side of her abdomen and returned to her seat an inning later.

Detroit 10, Oakland 1--Hideo Nomo returned from the disabled list to allow two hits in seven innings, and Rich Becker hit a three-run homer as the Tigers won their fifth consecutive game at Detroit.

Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 2--Jose Valentin and Chris Singleton each hit two-run homers and Carlos Lee added a solo shot to lead the White Sox at Chicago.

Boston 6, Texas 4--Troy O’Leary hit a two-run triple that capped a four-run first inning and Tomo Ohka pitched seven strong innings to lead the Red Sox at Boston.

Kansas City 4, Baltimore 1--Blake Stein allowed eight hits and pitched his first complete game in the majors, and Johnny Damon tripled in two runs to snap an eighth-inning tie in the Royals’ win at Baltimore.