AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Fisk Endures, Breaks Record With No. 2,226

Carlton Fisk, saying he hoped to be remembered for doing his best, was honored Tuesday night by fans and his Chicago White Sox teammates before breaking the major league record for games caught.

With his family, parents and friends present in Chicago for “Carlton Fisk Night,” he then squatted behind the plate and caught a pitch from Alex Fernandez for game No. 2,226.

The White Sox won, 3-2, handing the Rangers their fifth consecutive loss.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the ninth, Frank Thomas drew a one-out walk from Tom Henke (4-2) and took second on George Bell’s single. Both runners advanced on Robin Ventura’s groundout and, after pinch-hitter Tim Raines walked to load the bases, Lance Johnson singled home the winning run.

Fisk, 45, who played eight innings, called surpassing Bob Boone’s record “a duty and not a destination.”

“It doesn’t happen like falling out of a tree,” he said, “but it takes endurance and perseverance.”

Fisk seemed to be aware that this might be the beginning of the end. There has been talk that the White Sox might release him after he broke the record.

“There were a lot of good games,” he said, “a lot of ups and downs, and I played with intensity and enthusiasm, but most important, I played to win.”

Fisk received many gifts, among them a motorcycle that teammate Bo Jackson drove onto the field.

Fisk said he would like to be remembered as “a player who liked to play and always did the best to help my teammates.”

In 22 seasons--the first 10 with Boston--Fisk has 376 home runs, a record 351 as a catcher.

Toronto 5, New York 4--John Olerud extended his hitting streak to 26 games, going four for four and increasing his average to .411 at Toronto.

Olerud singled in the eighth inning, starting a two-run rally capped by Pat Borders’ go-ahead double with two out.

Olerud’s hitting streak is the longest in the majors since Jerome Walton’s 30-game string in 1989 for the Chicago Cubs.

Boston 4, Minnesota 1--Paul Quantrill’s first career victory as a starter sent Minnesota to its third eight-game losing streak of the season at Boston.

Mike Greenwell’s two-run homer and Bob Melvin’s RBI double provided a three-run lead in the first inning against Jim Deshaies (8-5).

Quantrill (3-5) gave up nine hits, all singles, before leaving with two out and two runners on in the seventh. Greg Harris worked out of the jam, and Jeff Russell pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Cleveland 3, Milwaukee 2--Albert Belle hit his 20th homer and drove in two runs at Cleveland.

Belle, who had an RBI triple in the fourth inning, tied the score, 2-2, with a leadoff home run in the seventh against Cal Eldred (9-7).

Later in the inning, Alvaro Espinoza doubled in the winning run.

Oakland 10, Seattle 3--Rookie Craig Paquette drove in three runs with a homer anda double as the Athletics won their third consecutive game, at Seattle.

The A’s had a season-high 16 hits, including seven doubles, and also had 12 walks.

Baltimore 12, Detroit 9--Chris Hoiles’ grand slam capped an eight-run sixth inning for the Orioles at Baltimore.

Hoiles went three for four, homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs to help the Orioles overcome a six-run deficit.