American League Roundup : Franco, Sierra Propel Rangers, 11-8

Pete Incaviglia’s two-run double capped a sixth-inning rally as the Texas Rangers overcame Mark McGwire’s first-inning grand slam for an 11-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics Friday night at Arlington, Tex.

Ruben Sierra had his second consecutive four-hit game, and Julio Franco drove in four runs for the Rangers. Franco leads the American League with 54 runs batted in, and Sierra is second with 47.

Texas, which trailed, 4-0, 6-5 and 8-7, had 16 hits off five pitchers. It was the most runs and hits off the Athletics this season.

Cecilio Guante, the fourth Ranger pitcher, won in relief of Charlie Hough, who gave up six hits and six runs in three innings. Guante (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings, and Jeff Russell got three outs for his 14th save.

Dave Stewart, who has an American League-leading 10 victories, gave up seven runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.

With Texas trailing, 8-7, in the sixth, Rafael Palmeiro and Sierra singled to chase Gene Nelson (1-2). Franco hit a game-tying single off Eric Plunk, and Buddy Bell sacrificed. Incaviglia then doubled down the left-field line for a 10-8 lead.

Toronto 2, Detroit 0--The Blue Jays, after losing two straight in their new home, the SkyDome, have now won two in a row there.

Dave Stieb (5-2) gave up two hits and walked five in six innings, and David Wells pitched the final three innings, giving up only two more hits, striking out four and getting his first save.

Detroit’s Frank Tanana (5-6) yielded eight hits in his first complete game this year. He walked five and struck out 10, the most since he had 10 against Toronto on Sept. 25, 1986.

Because of a threat of rain, the SkyDome’s retractable roof was in place from the start, making this the first game played completely indoors at the stadium.

In the Blue Jays’ last game there Wednesday night, it took maintenance personnel more than 30 minutes to close the roof when rain began in the fifth inning of a 4-2 victory over Milwaukee.

The problem Friday night was a flooded pitcher’s mound that had to be rebuilt before the game. The damage occurred during a Rod Stewart rock concert Thursday night. The water came from a hole in a pipe.

Baltimore 7, Milwaukee 1--Mickey Tettleton homered twice and took over the league lead with 16 in powering the Orioles to victory at Baltimore.

The Orioles, who ended a season-high two-game losing streak, have won eight of 10 and 13 of 16.

In his last 23 games, Tettleton has 11 home runs, 23 runs batted in and 24 runs scored. He has 35 RBIs this season after having 37 last season.

Mark Williamson (4-2), who relieved starter Brian Holton with one out and two on in the fifth, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Cleveland 5, Seattle 4--Joe Carter singled, doubled and tripled, and the Indians took advantage of rookie Clint Zavaras’ wildness to score five runs in the first two innings as the Indians won at Cleveland.

The crowd of 59,671, boosted by an oil company’s promotion that gave away tickets with gasoline purchases, was the largest in the majors this year.

Tom Candiotti (7-3) won for the fourth time in five decisions, giving up three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Tim Stoddard and Jesse Orosco followed, and Doug Jones got the last three outs for his 13th save.

With runners on second and third and one out in the ninth, Jones struck out Henry Cotto and got Greg Briley on a fly to center.

Zavaras (0-2) walked two in each of the first two innings, and three scored.

Chicago 8, Minnesota 3--Carlos Martinez and Carlton Fisk each had three hits, and Harold Baines homered as the White Sox won at Minneapolis.

Jerry Reuss (5-2) gave up three runs on nine hits in five innings. Shawn Hillegas pitched the final four innings for his second save.