Kevin Millar homered off Octavio Dotel on a 2-2 pitch with one out in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
Millar, who ended a career-high drought of 120 at-bats without a homer with his first one of the season Monday, also made two errors, both on plays in which Oakland scored both its runs.
"It was definitely the Kevin Millar show tonight. He was involved in every aspect of that ballgame," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
But after Manny Ramirez struck out in the ninth, Dotel (1-1) walked David Ortiz before Millar's line drive that sailed into the left-field seats behind the Green Monster.
"He was throwing a lot of fastballs," Millar said.
"I was like, `Please, throw me a lot of fastballs.'"
Bronson Arroyo avoided his first loss since last Aug. 15 to the Chicago White Sox, keeping his nine-game winning streak alive. Matt Mantei (1-0) pitched one inning for the win.
Twins 6, Orioles 4, 10 innings
In Baltimore, pinch-hitter Jacque Jones and Shannon Stewart homered on successive pitches from Steve Kline in the 10th inning as Minnesota rallied past Baltimore to earn its 10th win in 14 games.
Jones led off the 10th with Minnesota's first pinch-hit homer of the season, a shot to right-center on a 3-2 count. Stewart then put the next pitch from Kline (2-2) into the left-field seats.
Jesse Crain (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Joe Nathan got three outs for his 10th save in 11 chances. Neither pitcher has allowed an earned run this year.
All the Orioles' runs came on homers against Twins starter Brad Radke. Javy Lopez hit a two-run drive in the second inning, Rafael Palmeiro led off the fourth with the 553rd of his career, and Brian Roberts connected to open the fifth.
Tony Pena resigned as manager of the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, less than two seasons after he was the American League manager of the year.
The move came hours after the Royals lost 3-1 to the Blue Jays in Toronto and fell to an AL-worst 8-25.
Royals spokesman Aaron Babcock said Pena would be replaced on an interim basis by bench coach Bob Schaeffer.
"I feel that at this time we have not played to the top of our abilities," Pena said in a statement released by the team. "The Kansas City Royals are on the right track by committing to their young players, and I believe the Royals will be contenders for a long time if they don't change their direction."
The Royals were one of baseball's biggest surprises in 2003, Pena's first full season in charge. They went 83-79 and contended into September before finishing third in the AL Central, earning Pena manager of the year honors. It was the team's first winning season since 1994.
The Royals were expected to challenge for the division crown last season, but got off to a terrible start and traded star center fielder Carlos Beltran in June. They wound up losing a team-record 104 games.
Kansas City general manager Allard Baird said Pena will be offered a position within the organization.
"I am glad that he will continue to remain a part of the Royals," Baird said in a statement.
"He was manager of the year in his first full season and he has played a major role in the development of our young players," Baird said
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