Associated PressMINNEAPOLISó Jason Varitek hit two home runs, then was one of four people ejected by young umpire Todd Tichenor during separate arguments in the seventh inning of Boston’s 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
The 32-year-old Tichenor, up from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, gave the boot to both catchers and both managers during a wild seventh inning that ended with Red Sox starter Josh Beckett giving a dismissive wave toward home plate in disgust.
Joe Crede hit a home run in his return from a three-game absence because of a bruised hand, but Beckett (5-2) was too much for the Twins. He allowed one run on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Varitek hit solo homers off Anthony Swarzak (1-1) to lead off the fifth and seventh innings.
Indians 2, Rays 1
CLEVELAND ó Rookie David Huff and four relievers combined to stifle the Tampa Bay Rays and Victor Martinez drove in both runs for the Indians, who completed a four-game sweep of the defending American League champions.
It’s the first four-game sweep for the Indians since they did it to the Rays last July 10-13 at Progressive Field. The Rays have lost 17 in a row in Cleveland and five in a row overall.
The Rays’ run came on Willy Aybar’s homer in the sixth, which was upheld after using video replay.
Jeff Niemann (4-4) gave up a run and five hits in three innings of a game delayed by rain in the fourth inning for 2 hours, 40 minutes.
Orioles 5, Tigers 1
BALTIMORE ó Luke Scott homered twice and had four RBIs, David Hernandez pitched into the sixth inning to win his major league debut, and the Orioles beat Detroit for their season-high fourth straight victory.
Nolan Reimold also homered for the Orioles. The rookie has connected in three straight games and has five in 14 games since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on May 14.
Hernandez (1-0) allowed one run, five hits and four walks in 52/3 innings. Recalled from Norfolk before the game, the right-hander became the fourth Orioles pitcher this season to win his first start ó joining Koji Uehara, Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken.
Armando Galarraga (3-5) gave up three runs and 10 hits over seven-plus innings in losing his fifth straight decision.
More Orioles
BALTIMORE ó Georgia Tech product Matt Wieters will make his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles tonight, armed with a potent bat and the burden of fulfilling the role of the can’t-miss prospect who will rescue the struggling franchise from its run of 12 straight losing seasons.
The Orioles and their fans have been waiting for Wieters’ arrival since Baltimore drafted the 6-foot-5 catcher/slugger with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft.
“I can understand the anticipation and the excitement that everybody has,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said Thursday. “You don’t get these guys very often.”
Wieters has excelled at every minor league stop.