AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Red Sox Find Some Offense in the Bullpen

The Boston Red Sox went to their bullpen Sunday and came away with a victory with the help of an unlikely hero.

Bullpen catcher Scott Cooper became Boston’s designated hitter when Jack Clark was ejected in the third inning after arguing a third strike. Cooper hit a single off the pitching rubber to cap a four-run, ninth-inning rally that gave the Red Sox a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Boston.

Cooper has been helping to warm up pitchers in recent games after Gary Allenson took over the third-base coaching duties while Don Zimmer recovers from knee surgery.

“It’s the type of situation you dream about. You see other guys doing it, and you think, ‘Well, shoot I’d like to do that at Fenway Park. These people would go crazy,’ ” Cooper said after his single on a full count against David Wells brought in Phil Plantier with the winning run.

First baseman John Olerud misplayed Plantier’s grounder off Tom Henke that could have been turned into a game-ending double-play. The play, which ended Olerud’s 78-game errorless streak, allowed Herm Winningham to score, making the score 4-2.

Wade Boggs got his first hit of the season at Fenway Park to end an 0-for-15 streak at home.

Matt Young, who gave up no hits in eight innings in Boston’s 2-1 loss at Cleveland last Sunday, surrendered a single to Devon White on the first pitch. Danny Darwin (1-0), who gave up two runs in the ninth inning, earned the victory.

Baltimore 3, Detroit 2--Bob Milacki gave up four hits in eight innings as the Orioles got another strong pitching performance at Baltimore.

Milacki (1-1) struck out seven and walked three as the Orioles won their third consecutive game against the Tigers.

Gregg Olson pitched the ninth inning for his second save.

Baltimore pitchers have allowed only seven runs and four extra-base hits in six games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The team’s earned-run average at home is 1.17.

The Orioles are 5-1 at Camden Yards, the best start by a team at its new park since Houston won its first eight games at the Astrodome in 1965. Eighteen parks have opened since then.

Mickey Tettleton and Travis Fryman homered for the Tigers.

New York 5, Cleveland 3--Danny Tartabull hit a two-run single in the sixth inning and the Yankees got a strong pitching performance from Jeff Johnson in the victory at New York.

Johnson (1-1) was chased in the second inning of his previous start at Toronto. This time, he started with five shutout innings and left after giving up two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Mell Hall and Matt Nokes homered for the Yankees.

Texas 6, Oakland 4--Kevin Reimer hit a two-run homer off Rick Honeycutt (1-2) in the seventh inning, rallying the Rangers to victory at Arlington, Tex.

Barry Manuel (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. Jeff Russell pitched the ninth for his third save.

Jose Canseco drove in three runs for the A’s.

Juan Gonzalez of the Rangers hit his third homer, a two-run shot, in the first inning.

Seattle 12, Milwaukee 9--Ken Griffey Jr. drove in five runs and drew a pickoff throw that went wild in the eighth inning, allowing the go-ahead run to score at Milwaukee.

Griffey had a two-run double, a two-run single and a run-scoring grounder.

In the eighth, Griffey singled after Edgar Martinez drew a leadoff walk from Bruce Ruffin (1-1).

Calvin Jones (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and Mike Schooler pitched the ninth for his third save.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 1--Greg Hibbard extended his scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings before needing late relief help for the victory at Chicago.

Hibbard (3-0) gave up six hits and induced four double plays in 7 2/3 innings. Bobby Thigpen got four outs for his fourth save.

John Smiley (0-2) gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings.