Murray’s Slam Keeps Orioles in Contention

Eddie Murray’s 19th career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning that powered the Baltimore Orioles past the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3, Saturday, keeping the Orioles within four games of the first-place New York Yankees.

Murray’s second grand slam of the season moved the 40-year-old slugger ahead of Willie McCovey into second place on the career list, four behind leader Lou Gehrig. It also gave him 75 runs batted in for a 20th consecutive season, breaking the mark set by Hank Aaron.

“You just like excelling with people out there, period. Not necessarily when the bases are loaded,” said Murray, who improved his lifetime batting average with the bases full to .413 (93 for 225). “That’s what the game is about, trying to make your guys touch home plate more than theirs.”

The Yankees and Orioles both have eight games left. New York beat Boston, 12-11, in 10 innings earlier in the day.

The Orioles remained half a game ahead of Seattle, a 9-2 winner over Oakland Saturday night, in the wild-card race.

The Orioles had only two hits--both in the pivotal sixth inning, when they also drew five walks.

Murray homered against reliever Scott Brow in the sixth, driving a 3-1 pitch into the center-field seats. It was Murray’s 22nd homer, the first in 45 at-bats since he hit career home run No. 500 on Sept. 6.

New York 12, Boston 11--Derek Jeter’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning gave the Yankees the victory at New York and lowered their magic number to five.

The Yankees won by overcoming a five-run deficit to win a game that took 4 hours 45 minutes to complete.

Tim Raines had his second two-homer game of the week, Cecil Fielder hit his 38th and O’Neill hit his 19th. Bill Haselman homered for the Red Sox.

Milwaukee 13, Detroit 6--Jeromy Burnitz hit a grand slam and Jose Valentin added a three-run homer at Milwaukee as the Tigers set a major league record for striking out in a season.

When Melvin Nieves struck out in the sixth it was the Tigers’ 1,204th strikeout this season, breaking the mark held by the 1968 New York Mets.

Minnesota 4, Chicago 3--Frank Thomas reached the 40-homer mark for the third time, but struck out in a key spot in the seventh at Chicago.

Thomas hit his 40th home run in the first inning, connecting for the third consecutive game.

Cleveland 13, Kansas City 4--Jim Thome hit his 37th homer and Tony Pena of the Indians broke a 0-for-24 slump with three singles and four RBIs at Cleveland.