Higginson Hits Three Homers, Tigers Get Split

Bobby Higginson’s third two-run homer of the game ignited the Detroit Tigers’ six-run seventh inning Saturday night as the Tigers rallied from seven runs down for an improbable 14-8 victory over the Cleveland Indians and a split of their day-night doubleheader at Cleveland.

Higginson, who went 0 for 3 in the Tigers’ 8-1 loss in the opener, also homered in the fourth and fifth innings as the Tigers overcame a 7-0 deficit.

“It’s our biggest win of the year,” said Higginson, who popped out in the eighth while going for a fourth homer. “To come back from 7-0 in the second game of a long, long day shows a lot of character. It was a tremendous effort all around.”

Wendell Magee’s three-run homer capped Detroit’s seventh as the Tigers scored 12 unanswered runs to hand Cleveland its most crushing loss in an already disappointing season.

“We’re hurtin’, man,” Indian Manager Charlie Manuel said. “When you’re up 7-0 you’re supposed to win.”

In the first game, Bartolo Colon mixed his blazing fastball with a nasty curve to overpower Detroit between rain delays, and Jim Thome had three RBIs.

New York 12, Chicago 8--Shane Spencer drove in four runs and Bernie Williams had four of the Yankees’ 16 hits as they took a nine-run lead and hung on at Chicago, ending a five-game losing streak against the White Sox.

The Yankees rebounded from a tough one-run loss Friday night, when closer Mariano Rivera blew a ninth-inning lead.

This time Rivera got his 17th save in 19 chances but not before another scare from the White Sox, who lost for only the fifth time in 22 games.

After a 33-minute rain delay in the eighth, Rivera relieved with a 10-5 lead and the bases loaded and one out, giving up a sacrifice fly to Frank Thomas and RBI single to Magglio Ordonez before retiring Paul Konerko to end the three-run inning.

Rivera threw two wild pitches in the ninth, including one that scored a run.

Tampa Bay 9, Texas 7--Fred McGriff had four hits, including a home run, and the Devil Rays scored four runs in the eighth inning at Arlington, Texas.

McGriff went four for four in his first four-hit game this season as Tampa Bay won its second in a row and improved to 14-8 since May 31.

Rick White (3-4) gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings for the victory. Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 15 opportunities.

Kansas City 8, Oakland 3--Mike Quinn hit a three-run homer and Luis Ordaz added three RBIs with a two-run single and a sacrifice fly at Oakland as the Royals ended the Athletics’ nine-game winning streak.

The A’s, who hit .368 during the winning streak and averaged more than 10 runs a game, were held to two extra-base hits--a first-inning double by Jason Giambi and a double by Randy Velarde in the ninth.

Dan Reichert, making his first start of the season after 26 relief appearances, gave up one run in four innings.

Ricky Bottalico (7-1) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for the victory, surviving a bases-loaded jam in the seventh when first baseman Mike Sweeney made a leaping grab of Eric Chavez’s liner to end the inning.

Seattle 2, Baltimore 1--John Halama (7-3) gave up seven hits in eight innings at Seattle to win for the first time since May 29, and the Mariners extended their season-best winning streak to five games, handing the Orioles their eighth loss in a row.

Toronto 6, Boston 4--Carlos Delgado hit his American League-leading 26th homer at Toronto as the Blue Jays won their fourth in a row.