AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rangers’ Victory Has New Ring for Rookie

Ruben Sierra hit a two-run home run to ignite a five-run ninth-inning rally that gave the Texas Rangers a 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox Thursday night at Chicago.

However, no one had a bigger day for the Rangers than Ivan Rodriguez, a 19-year-old catcher making his major league debut.

Rodriguez threw out two runners attempting to steal and capped the ninth inning with a two-run single. Earlier in the day in Tulsa, Okla., Rodriguez married Maribel Rivera.

Originally, the couple was to be married between games of a doubleheader Thursday night in Tulsa. But Rodriguez was called up from double-A by the Rangers Wednesday night.

Tom Grieve, the Rangers’ general manager, said he told Rodriguez he could get married as scheduled and join the Rangers in Chicago on Friday.

But the native of Puerto Rico didn’t want to delay his dream.

“My dream always has been to play in the major leagues,” he said Wednesday night. “I want to get up there as quickly as possible.”

The wedding was changed to Thursday morning in Tulsa and, after the ceremony, the couple caught a plane to join the team in Chicago.

“I was a little nervous in the first inning, but I felt OK,” said Rodriguez, who was hitting .279 with 27 runs batted in at Tulsa of the Texas League, where he had thrown out 23 of 39 runners. “I know the game. I want to stay here. I don’t want to go back to the minor leagues.”

The White Sox rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to give right-hander Jack McDowell a 3-2 lead.

McDowell gave up three hits and struck out eight in eight innings. But Bobby Thigpen, who set a major league record with 57 saves last year, took over in the ninth and did not retire a batter.

Rafael Palmeiro walked and Sierra followed with his 11th homer to put the Rangers ahead, 4-3. Julio Franco followed with his eighth homer and Gary Pettis walked, chasing Thigpen.

A single by Juan Gonzalez and a double by Steve Buechele preceded Rodriguez’ two-run single off Melido Perez.

Thigpen has blown five saves in 18 opportunities this year. Last season, he was 57 for 65.

Franco singled in the second, went to second on an infield out and scored on a single by Gonzalez.

The Rangers did not get another hit off McDowell until the seventh when Gonzalez hit his eighth homer.

The White Sox chased starter Kevin Brown with three runs in the seventh.

Mike Jeffcoat (3-1) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for the victory.

Boston 8, Oakland 7--Tom Brunansky hit a home run in the fifth inning, then doubled home the tying run and scored on Tony Pena’s single in the eighth at Boston.

The Athletics went ahead, 7-6, in the seventh with the help of Willie Wilson’s 2,000th career hit.

Mike Greenwell began Boston’s comeback in the eighth with a single off first baseman Mark McGwire’s glove. Steve Chitren (1-2) relieved Curt Young and threw a wild pitch.

Brunansky, who had three hits, tied the score with a double on a hard grounder off second baseman Mike Bordick’s glove. Steve Lyons sacrificed and Pena followed with a single for his third hit of the game.

Jeff Gray (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the Red Sox and Jeff Reardon worked the ninth for his 18th save.

Jose Canseco hit his 15th home run and McGwire hit a two-run shot, his 13th homer.

Oakland starter Dave Stewart gave up six runs on eight hits in six innings.

Kansas City 3, Baltimore 2--Brian McRae singled home Kurt Stillwell from second base with one out in the 10th inning at Kansas City and the Royals reached the .500 mark for the first time since April 27.

Stillwell drew a leadoff walk from Todd Frohwirth (1-1) and Terry Shumpert sacrificed him to second base. McRae followed with a drive over the head of center fielder Brady Anderson.

Steve Crawford (2-0) got the victory.

Carmelo Martinez hit a solo home run, his fourth, in the Royals’ fifth inning and had a run-scoring double in the seventh off Jeff Ballard.

Toronto 6, New York 1--Joe Carter hit two solo home runs at Toronto to help the Blue Jays end a four-game losing streak.

Carter homered in the third inning and hit his 14th home run in the fifth.

Todd Stottlemyre (8-2) gave up eight hits, including a home run to Matt Nokes, in eight innings. He walked none and struck out two.

Tim Leary (3-7) lasted only 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits.

Milwaukee 4, Seattle 0--Jaime Navarro allowed the Mariners four hits at Milwaukee for his second shutout.

Navarro (7-4) struck out four and walked two in his team-high fourth complete game.

Brian Holman (7-7) took the loss.