McGriff Sets Record In Loss

Roberto Alomar couldn't remember a game like it. Neither could Travis Fryman, Mike Hargrove, Larry Rothschild, or anyone else at Jacobs Field.

No, Cleveland's 20-11 win over Tampa Bay was about as strange as they come.

The Indians overcame an eight-run deficit by scoring 18 runs in their final three at-bats for a wild win in a game featuring a little bit of everything.

"We ran the gamut tonight, didn't we?" said Hargrove, Cleveland's manager. "I went from disgusted to livid to happy. That was a wild ride tonight."

Cleveland scored four runs in the sixth, seven in the seventh and seven more in the eighth to match its biggest comeback in Jacobs Field history. And as the Indians drew closer, the 303rd consecutive home sellout sensed it was seeing something special.

"This club feeds off that crowd," said Fryman. "We feed off our fans. We feed off each other. This is the kind of team that with its talent when we play with enthusiasm, it's dangerous."

Tampa Bay's Fred McGriff set a major league record by homering in his 34th different ballpark, a milestone that was lost in a blur of runs and base hits.

The teams combined for a stadium-record 31 runs, 34 hits 21 by Cleveland and six errors. There were three hit batters, a wild pitch, catcher's interference, and the Indians scored the go-ahead run in the seventh when second baseman David Lamb threw a ball into the Devil Rays' dugout, allowing three runs to score.

The weird night also included 37 runners left stranded and a moment of concern when smoke filtered into the ballpark from a burning car nearby.

"I don't know what to say," said Rothschild, Tampa Bay's manager. "There's not much to say. It's one game, let's keep it in perspective and be ready to play tomorrow."

McGriff's two-run shot in the third inning off Dwight Gooden gave hi the AL lead with 11 homers, and snapped a tie with Gary Gaetti and Ellis Burks of San Francisco, who have both homered in 33 different ballparks during the regular season in their careers.

McGriff has homered in four straight games and has eight homers in his last 10 games. In his last five games, McGriff is 9-for-15 with five homers, four doubles and nine RBIs.

Tampa Bay scored four unearned runs after right fielder Manny Ramirez's error in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead.

Ex-Indian Herbert Perry, recalled from Triple-A Durham when Wade Boggs went on the DL, went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs for the Devil Rays.

Staked to an eight-run lead, Bobby Witt looked like he had hung around long enough to get the win.

But Cleveland began rallying for its ninth come-from-behind win this season in the sixth on Justice's second homer, a three-run shot that brought the Indians within 10-6.

"When we got within 10-6 I thought we'd come back," Fryman said. "I really thought we were going to pull it out."

Tampa Bay pushed its lead to 11-6 on McGriff's double in the seventh, but things fell apart on the Devil Rays in the bottom half.

Fryman's three-run shot off Rick White was followed by Wil Cordero's solo shot as the Indians closed within 11-10. Scott Aldred came on and hit Justice in the elbow with his first and only pitch and was lifted for Jim Mecir (0-1).

Sandy Alomar doubled and one out later, Kenny Lofton was awarded first on catcher's interference. Enrique Wilson followed with a hard grounder to second that Lamb knocked down on the edge of the outfield grass.

Lamb's throw to first, however, was way off the bag and went into Tampa Bay's dugout as the Indians went up 13-11.

"We caught some breaks," said Hargrove.

Roberto Alomar's fourth career grand slam in the eighth off Eddie Gaillard made it 18-11.

Ramirez committed two of Cleveland's three errors, including one in the fourth inning when he dropped a routine fly ball with the bases loaded that would have ended the inning.

He later atoned for the miscue with a couple of hits, but they weren't enough to satisfy Hargrove, who apparently had a few words for his star right fielder.

"We made some plays in the field that we're not looking for from our players," Hargrove said. "They know they are better than that. It's enough to say that things have been addressed."

Reliever Paul Wagner (1-0) was the winner.

Notes: The Indians also rallied from eight runs down at home against Toronto on June 4, 1995. ... Cleveland's 21 hits were its most since getting 22 at Minnesota in 1996. ... Camden Yards and The Ballpark in Arlington are the only current ballparks where McGriff has not homered. ... Tampa Bay's Jose Canseco, who entered the night tied for the AL lead with 10 homers, was a late scratch with a bruised right knee. Danny Clyburn made the start at DH. ..Tampa Bay has lost six straight at Jacobs Field. ... The last time the Indians scored 20 runs was on May 4, 1991 at Oakland. ... Cleveland's largest comeback was down 10 against Minnesota in 1984.

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed