Hill Isn’t Answer for White Sox

Ken Hill’s debut for the Chicago White Sox was a short one. He didn’t give their beleaguered starting rotation the lift it needed Thursday because he didn’t make it past the third inning.

Baltimore jumped on the veteran right-hander for six runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings and Brook Fordyce had three runs batted in against his former team as the Orioles defeated the White Sox at Chicago, 8-5.

“Actually, I felt pretty good. The stuff was there, but I got behind guys and that did me in,” said Hill, making his first start since Aug. 2, just before he was released by the Angels.

“It’s been a while,” he said. “I haven’t been out there in three weeks and it’s a matter of getting comfortable.”

Manager Jerry Manuel wouldn’t commit to giving Hill another start, saying his status would be discussed as the team made a trip to Seattle for the start of a six-game West Coast trip.

Hill walked four.

Oakland 11, Cleveland 7--Terrence Long’s first grand slam and career-high six RBIs helped the Athletics avoid a sweep at Cleveland and salvage the final game of a rough road trip.

Long went three for six and rookie Barry Zito (2-2) pitched 6 2/3 innings for his first win in six starts as the Athletics went 2-5 on their against Detroit and Cleveland.

Boston 9, Kansas City 7--Rico Brogna singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning off Andy Larkin (0-3) at Kansas City, Mo., as the Red Sox survived a rare, shaky start by Pedro Martinez.

Martinez allowed five runs and six hits in the first inning, his worst opening inning since 1995.

Detroit 10, Seattle 3--Juan Encarnacion and Dean Palmer homered and Deivi Cruz drove in three runs as the Tigers, who started out 9-23, reached the .500 mark by defeating the Mariners at Detroit.

Damion Easley hit a two-run double for the Tigers (63-63), who won two of three from Seattle to finish a 5-2 homestand. the AL West-leading Mariners have lost 10 of its last 11, including five of six against the Tigers.

New York 8, Texas 7--Glenallen Hill homered for the 12th time in 68 at-bats since joining the Yankees, and Andy Pettitte (16-6) won his seventh consecutive start as New York defeated the visiting Rangers.