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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Reliever Ryan Kohlmeier was credited with the
save, although it was outfielder Eugene Kingsale who really earned
it.
Kingsale made a spectacular running catch in center field with
two outs and the bases loaded to rob Matt Lawton of a game-winning
hit and preserve the Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 victory over the
Minnesota Twins on Monday.
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Report: Injury beginning
to take its toll on Belle
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Albert Belle told Orioles manager Mike Hargrove he could not play in Monday's game at Minnesota because of a lingering hip injury, the Washington Post reported.
Belle probably will not play Tuesday night and might be sent back to Baltimore to have his hip examined, the Post reported. Until Monday, Belle had resisted taking time off and medical attention from the team's doctors.
The Orioles would not disclose any specifics on the nature of the injury, but Belle has been limping for some time, with the limp becoming more pronounced in recent days.
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"I think Kingsale gets the save on this one," said Kohlmeier,
who gave up two hits and a walk in the inning before being bailed
out by Kingsale to earn his ninth save in as many tries. "It got
exciting there in the ninth."
Torii Hunter singled to start the ninth and was forced at second
on a grounder by Jacque Jones. A.J. Pierzynski followed with a
single and Kohlmeier then walked Denny Hocking to load the bases.
Kohlmeier struck out Cristian Guzman for the second out before
Lawton sent a long drive to the gap that would have scored the
tying and winning runs.
Kingsale, who crashed into the fence as he caught the ball, said
making the catch was equal to hitting a game-winning homer.
"Guys dream of making a good play like that to end a game,"
said Kingsale, who sat stunned on the warning track for several
minutes after hitting a post in the fence. "I didn't get any hits,
but I took something away from them."
Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove said his heart sank when the
ball was hit and then jumped when he saw Kingsale might make the
play.
"I went from almost sure he could catch it, to being amazed
that he did catch it," Hargrove said.
Baltimore starter Jose Mercedes won for the eighth time in nine
decisions since the All-Star break.
Mercedes (11-5), the only Orioles starter with a winning record,
allowed one run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. His second-half
record is tied for the best mark in the AL with Pedro Martinez.
"I'm proud of that," Mercedes said. "It was a tough game, but
we won and I feel great. Today I didn't have my slider, but I had
my curveball. I went close to seven innings and gave us a chance to
win."
Mercedes, coming off a two-hitter against Detroit, walked one
and struck out five. The only run he allowed came on a homer by
David Ortiz.
Rookie Mark Redman (12-8) gave up eight hits and two runs in
seven innings for the Twins, who lost for the fifth time in six
games. Redman, who leads the majors in wins by a rookie, lost his
second straight game after winning seven of his previous nine
starts.
"I had my all-right stuff, but I didn't have my best stuff,"
Redman said. "This game is exciting when it's close and I'm glad
to have this as my job."
Brady Anderson's RBI single in the fifth snapped a 1-1 tie.
Anderson's hit scored Mark Lewis, who had singled and stolen
second.
The Orioles added another run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly
by Jeff Conine to make it 3-1.
Baltimore needed it because Minnesota came back with a run in
the bottom half against reliever Buddy Groom. Guzman hit his second
double of the game, took third on a groundout and scored when Ron
Coomer reached on a throwing error by Lewis at shortstop.
Ortiz hit his ninth home run in the fourth, a 412-foot upper
deck shot, to tie the game at 1. Baltimore had scored in the top of
the inning on a bloop single by Cal Ripken.
Delino DeShields had three singles for Baltimore.
Game notes
Ripken was robbed of an extra-base hit in the second inning
when Corey Koskie made a diving stab of a grounder over third base
and threw out Ripken at first. ... When outfielder Karim Garcia
makes his debut for the Orioles, he will be the 49th player used by
Baltimore this year, second-most in club history. ... Guzman, who
leads the majors with 19 triples, tried to stretch a double to the
left-field corner into a triple in the first inning, but was thrown
out at third. ... Twins manager Tom Kelly wants his 2001 contract
status to be settled before the end of this season and team CEO
Chris Clouser says that is possible: "I'm sure we will be meeting
with Tom in the near future," Clouser said.
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Baseball Scoreboard
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RECAPS
Boston 5
Seattle 1
Cleveland 5
Tampa Bay 1
Oakland 10
Toronto 0
Texas 5
Chi. White Sox 4
Baltimore 3
Minnesota 2
Detroit 5
Anaheim 0
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