AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : White Sox Survive First Dibble Outing Since ’93

Rob Dibble, making his first appearance since 1993, didn’t last an inning for the Chicago White Sox, but Mike LaValliere helped saved the day Wednesday.

LaValliere, coming in with only one hit this season, doubled in two runs in the seventh inning as the White Sox rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Chicago.

Rick Honeycutt relieved and Ozzie Guillen’s shallow fly dropped between Stan Javier and Rickey Henderson for a double that sent LaValliere to third. Lance Johnson followed with a two-run single.

Dibble appeared in the eighth and walked the first two batters, gave up a sacrifice fly to Geronimo Berroa, then walked Mark McGwire, who also had a two-run homer--his eighth--and extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. That brought on Roberto Hernandez, who earned his fourth save.

“He certainly threw hard,” said White Sox Manager Gene Lamont of Dibble, who missed last season because of shoulder surgery. “If he can have that velocity, he’ll be fine.”

Jose DeLeon (2-0) got the victory in relief of starter Wilson Alvarez.

Oakland turned six double plays, tying a team record but falling one short of the AL record.

Baltimore 7, Detroit 4--Jeff Manto’s first home run since 1991 highlighted a five-run sixth inning, and the Orioles overcame a four-run deficit and two homers by Cecil Fielder to beat the Tigers at Baltimore.

Kevin Brown (3-1) pitched eight innings for the Orioles, striking out 10 to match his career high.

Felipe Lira (0-2) replaced starter Buddy Groom and took the loss.

Texas 12, Toronto 7--Dean Palmer homered in the second and third innings, and Kevin Gross got his first AL victory as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep at Arlington, Tex.

Gross (1-3) won despite giving up three homers in the second inning, when Toronto took a 5-0 lead. Texas, which won for the fifth time in seven games, scored six runs in the bottom half and three more in the third.

Danny Darwin (1-2) was pounded for nine runs and 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings, swelling his ERA from 4.96 to 8.68.

Seattle 4, Kansas City 0--Edgar Martinez keyed a four-run fifth inning with a two-run double at Kansas City as the Mariners won for only the fourth time in 11 games.

Seattle starter Randy Johnson left because of a sore left shoulder in the fourth inning. He is not expected to miss his next start.

Bob Wells (1-2) came in and allowed one hit in 3 1/3 innings. Mark Gubicza (1-3) gave up three runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Boston 8, Milwaukee 2--The Brewers nearly were shut out for the fourth time in six games, losing to the Red Sox as Aaron Sele (3-1) scattered five hits in 6 1/3 innings and Mo Vaughn drove in three runs at Milwaukee.

Cleveland at New York--The Yankees’ game against the Indians at New York was postponed by a steady rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 10.