Mench’s Home Run Streak Ends

CLEVELAND â€”  Kevin Mench got his best licks on a postgame ice cream cone.

Mench’s home run streak ended at seven straight games -- one shy of tying the major league record -- but Kevin Millwood won in his return to Cleveland, leading the Texas Rangers to a 7-5 win over the Indians on Saturday night.

Mench didn’t come close to clearing any of the outfield walls in Jacobs Field, going one for three with a sacrifice fly and two strikeouts.

He was attempting to match the mark shared by Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle, 1993), Don Mattingly (New York Yankees, 1987) and Dale Long (Pittsburgh, 1956). Instead, Mench will have to settle for being the only right-handed hitter to homer in seven consecutive games.

“No thoughts,� he said after munching down a single-dip dessert. “Don’t care one way or another.�

With one last chance to homer in the seventh against reliever Jeremy Guthrie, Mench, who waited until the eighth before connecting on Friday night to extend his streak, watched strike three go by without a swing for the fences.

Mench hit a sacrifice fly in the first against Fausto Carmona (1-2), struck out looking in fourth, and singled to right in the sixth before striking out again in the seventh.

And although he didn’t set any records, the 28-year-old Mench did bring himself some attention for his home run-hitting prowess. He is best known for having a big head -- his size-8 cap is the majors’ largest -- and until recently wearing shoes that were too tight.

During his streak, Mench hit two grand slams and drove in 20 runs.

“I had fun,� he said. “There was some games that we should have won in there. But we got a ‘W’ tonight.�