AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Everything Adds Up Fine for Texas, Rogers

Kenny Rogers pitches by the numbers, which is fine with the Texas Rangers because after a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in Arlington, Tex., they read 7-2, 1.49 earned-run average.

Royal Manager Bob Boone has his own scale for Rogers.

“The IRS says he’s dominant,” Boone said.

Rogers earns $3.7 million a year.

“He’s been one of the top pitchers in the league for a while,” Boone said. “He changes speeds well and has excellent location. He’s the kind of pitcher who won’t give in.”

Or, Rogers hopes, break down.

His favorite number Tuesday night: 118 pitches.

“The pitch count wasn’t a problem for him,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “There was no reason to take Kenny out of the game. He was still going strong into the ninth inning.”

But Rogers remains mindful of his pitch count. He knows the fewer pitches he throws, the less strain on his arm.

“Every time I go out, I try to be as economical with my pitches as possible,” Rogers said. “I’m trying to shorten my pitch count, get guys earlier in the count.”

Rogers has given up only three runs in his last 48 innings and has a 0.87 ERA in his last seven starts. He gave up seven hits and struck out seven in shutting down the Royals, who had won 10 of their previous 11 games.

Mike Pagliarulo snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single off Mark Gubicza (3-4) in the sixth inning.

Cleveland 4, Detroit 3--Wayne Kirby’s bases-loaded grounder in the eighth inning broke a tie and boosted the Indians to a victory in Cleveland.

Eddie Murray led off the inning with a single off Joe Boever (3-3). One out later, Manny Ramirez walked and Paul Sorrento then singled off reliever Buddy Groom to load the bases. Reliever Brian Maxcy got pinch-hitter Kirby to ground to second, pinch-runner Alvaro Espinoza scoring from third on the play with the winning run.

Baltimore 12, Seattle 6--Mariner starter Dave Fleming gave up home runs to Rafael Palmeiro, light-hitting Manny Alexander and Brady Anderson in the Oriole victory at Baltimore. Fleming (1-4) has given up 12 homers in 10 games.

Jeffrey Hammonds also homered off Jeff Nelson for the Orioles.

Chicago 6, Toronto 4--Robin Ventura extended his hitting streak to 11 games with two hits and had three runs batted in to pace the White Sox to victory in Chicago.

Oakland 8, New York 6--Geronimo Berroa hit a grand slam and Ruben Sierra added a two-run homer in New York for the Athletics.

Milwaukee 13, Minnesota 5--John Jaha and Joe Oliver hit three-run homers in a Brewer victory at Minneapolis.