Cleveland Loses More Than Game

Jim Warfield made everyone feel better. With a joke, a well-placed ice pack or a cold glass of water, Warfield was always there to ease the pain.

But Warfield is gone. And the Cleveland Indians are hurting.

“It’s hard to believe,” shortstop Omar Vizquel said. “He was always there for you, to comfort you. To not have him around is very strange.”

Warfield, the Indians’ trainer of more than 30 years, died of a brain hemorrhage Tuesday only a few hours before Cleveland lost to the Chicago White Sox, 5-4, at Jacobs Field.

Magglio Ordonez hit his second homer of the game, a leadoff shot in the ninth inning against Bob Wickman (0-3), and the White Sox won for only the second time in six games.

Warfield, who joined the Indian organization in 1969, suffered a massive brain hemorrhage Monday at the ballpark. He was 60.

The Indians considered not playing, but went on just as Warfield would have wanted them to.

“It was the toughest game I ever pitched,” Indian starter C.C. Sabathia said. “It was hard to come to the park today. He was a big part of everybody’s life. He was always the first guy you saw when you came in.

“Not seeing him in the dugout was tough.”

Cleveland players wrote “JW” on their caps in tribute to Warfield. As he took his position in the field in the first, Jim Thome dropped to a knee in prayer before using his fingers to write Warfield’s initials in the infield dirt.

Boston 9, Detroit 4--Manny Ramirez had a career-high five hits, including a go-ahead double in a five-run eighth inning at Detroit that was capped by Trot Nixon’s grand slam.

John Burkett (9-3) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings, and has won consecutive decisions for the first time since May 29 and June 4.

Baltimore 6, Seattle 1--Scott Erickson (4-9) pitched a six-hitter and struck out seven at Baltimore for his first victory in 13 starts since April 28.

Marty Cordova homered and drove in three runs as the Orioles completed a two-game sweep.

Gary Matthews Jr. also homered for the Orioles. Mike Cameron had three hits, including a homer, and stole two bases for the Mariners.

Oakland 2, Tampa Bay 1--Mark Mulder won for the ninth time in 10 starts and Jermaine Dye homered at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mulder (11-5) gave up one run and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He has given up only 16 earned runs in his last 72 1/3 innings.

Dye went three for four and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle. Randy Winn had four of Tampa Bay’s eight hits.

New York 7, Toronto 6--Nick Johnson hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning at Toronto, his 12th.

Jason Giambi’s three-run homer capped a five-run seventh inning for the Yankees, who rallied from a 4-1 deficit.

Jeff Weaver gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked two. Mariano Rivera earned his 23rd save.

Kansas City 6, Texas 5--Brent Mayne led off the bottom of the 11th inning with his first home run in more than a year.

The Royals won a season-high fifth in a row. Texas was swept in the three-game series and has lost four in a row.

Rafael Palmeiro hit his 470th homer and Herbert Perry also connected as the Rangers set a team record by homering in their 19th consecutive game.