AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Red Sox Answer Bell and Beat McDowell

Rob Deer broke out of a one-for-23 slump with two home runs against Jack McDowell, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in a game that included two ejections and a brawl Monday night at Chicago.

McDowell (21-8) lost for only the second time in his last 11 decisions, giving up three runs on 10 hits. He was ejected after Deer hit his second homer with one out in the ninth, for arguing a previous pitch during the at-bat.

Deer had three hits and scored all of Boston’s runs.

George Bell was ejected during the second inning when he charged Red Sox rookie starter Aaron Sele after being hit by a pitch.

Bell, batting with a 0-and-2 count, was knocked down by a head-high pitch. The next pitch sailed high and inside and glanced off the back of Bell’s helmet.

He threw down his bat and charged Sele, who sidestepped him as Bell threw a wild right-handed punch and missed. As Bell was slammed to the ground by Boston first baseman Mo Vaughn, both dugouts and bullpens emptied.

“I was just trying to keep the ball down and away,” Sele said. “The first one I threw up and in just to knock him off the plate. Then I wanted to come outside. But I couldn’t drive off my leg, and the ball went sailing. The only thing I remember is ducking and running.”

Players and coaches pushed and shoved for about 10 minutes as Bell shouted and pointed at Boston catcher Bob Melvin.

Scott Bankhead (2-1) pitched two-plus innings of two-hit, scoreless relief. Greg Harris worked three innings for his fifth save.

Texas 8, New York 5--Rafael Palmeiro hit two home runs at Arlington, Tex., as the Rangers knocked the Yankees out of a first-place tie with Toronto in the American League East and pulled to within 5 1/2 games of the first-place White Sox in the AL West.

The Yankees failed for the 17th time to wrest first place from Toronto, a major league record.

Palmeiro’s second-inning double against Scott Kamieniecki (9-5) drove in two runs to give the Rangers a 5-0 lead. He added another double, plus solo homers in the fourth and seventh, tying club records with four extra-base hits and 12 total bases.

Palmeiro has 34 home runs and 93 runs batted in.

Baltimore 5, Seattle 1--Jack Voigt and Mike Devereaux hit home runs at Baltimore as the Orioles extended their winning streak to eight games and moved to within two games of first place in the East.

Ben McDonald (11-11) gave up six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Dave Fleming (10-3) gave up five runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Milwaukee 3, Kansas City 2--Matt Mieske singled in the winning run against Greg Cadaret and Brewer shortstop Pat Listach hit his first homer in a month at Kansas City.