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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) – Four days after being told he would be given days
off each week, Cal Ripken responded with his first home run of the
year.
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| Ripken |
"I accept that I'll be taking some days off," Ripken said after his three-run homer led the Baltimore Orioles over the Detroit Tigers 6-4 Wednesday night. "I didn't think I'd play 162 anyway."
Ripken, rested Tuesday for the second time in three games, homered in the fifth Wednesday off Steve Sparks (1-2), his first home run since last Sept. 30 off the Yankees' David Cone.
"He is a great professional hitter and he took advantage of a
high knuckleball," Sparks said.
Manager Mike Hargrove told Ripken on Saturday that he needed to see what younger players could do, such as Mike Kinkade.
Ripken, 40, had his record consecutive games end at a record 2,632 in 1998 and Hargrove's move will cut back more on Ripken's playing time.
The 40-year-old third baseman went 1-for-4 and is batting just
.161. He entered with six RBI in 52 at-bats after getting a late
start in spring training because of a fractured rib.
"I'm 100-percent healthy," Ripken said. "This is as healthy
as I've felt in a couple years.
Ripken increased his career RBI total to 1,636, tying Ernie Banks for 19th place.
Hargrove has already become tired about talking about how he is
or isn't playing Ripken.
Before the game, Hargrove said it wasn't fun and it wasn't easy
to find time for Ripken while developing young players. Hargrove
said Ripken could play five games one week and two the next.
After the game, he wasn't thrilled when the topic was raised
again.
"I've answered this question about 45,000 times in the last two
days," Hargrove said. "No, he's not asking for rest. He wants to
play, but we need to find out if our kids can play."
Hargrove said Kinkade would play Thursday and Ripken probably
would not be used as a designated hitter.
Baltimore, which had just six hits, has won three straight for the first time this season. Detroit has lost seven in a row and 12 of 14, and has the worst record in the major leagues at 5-14.
Willis Roberts (3-0), making his second career start, gave up one run and four hits in seven innings. The Orioles signed the 25-year-old in November as a six-year minor league free agent.
Roberts originally was signed by the Tigers as a free agent in
1992. After seven seasons in their farm system, he was claimed off
waivers by Cincinnati and spent last year in its farm system.
"I feel great right now," Roberts said. "The team is winning
and I am too. I didn't think too much about Detroit."
Robert Fick hit a hard comebacker toward Roberts' face in the
sixth and the pitcher had just enough time to get his glove in the way.
Ryan Kohlmeier got three outs for his fourth save in five
chances.
Sparks (1-2) took a shutout into the fifth but wound up allowing
five runs and four hits in six innings with a career-high seven
walks.
"That's what you get when you put a lot of runners on," Sparks
said.
Detroit manager Phil Garner was ejected by plate umpire Dale
Scott in the seventh after arguing that Damion Easley was hit by a
Roberts' pitch.
With the game scoreless in the fifth, Sparks walked the bases
loaded and Brady Anderson scored on Javier Cardona's passed ball.
Jeff Conine hit a sacrifice fly and Ripken homered for a 5-0 lead.
Tony Clark homered in the seventh, and Detroit closed to 5-4 in
the eighth against on Bobby Higginson's two-run double off Buddy
Groom and Deivi Cruz's RBI single off Chad Paronto. With the bases
loaded, Roger Cedeno hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
Mike Bordick homered off Todd Jones in the ninth.
Game notes
The Tigers celebrated their 100th anniversary in the AL on Wednesday with an automobile parade in Comerica Park before the
game, with former players such as Al Kaline and George Kell
participating. Detroit beat Milwaukee 14-13 on April 25, 1901. The
Orioles franchise originated in the AL that year in Milwaukee. ...
Last year after 20 games, Baltimore was hitting .291 with 28 homers
and 129 runs scored while the pitching staff had a 5.31 ERA. After
20 games this season, the Orioles batted a league-low .228 with a
league-low eight homers with 74 runs scored, but the staff has improved its ERA to 4.52.
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Minnesota 6
Boston 4
Anaheim 3
Cleveland 1
Baltimore 6
Detroit 4
Seattle 7
NY Yankees 5
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