Hill Throws One-Hitter, Rangers Rout Tigers, 11-0

For Ken Hill, it won’t get any better than this.

Hill pitched a one-hitter, allowing only an infield single in the first inning, and Juan Gonzalez homered and drove in four runs as the Texas Rangers pounded the Detroit Tigers, 11-0, Friday night at Detroit.

“No question that’s my best,” said Hill (4-2) after his second career one-hitter. “It’s the best you can get from me.”

Hill blamed himself for Bobby Higginson’s infield single in the first. Higginson hit a liner that glanced off Hill’s glove before dying between the mound and second base.

Tiger starter Greg Keagle (3-2) lasted only 1 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs.

The loss was Detroit’s 13th in 15 games. It was the fourth time in nine games and the seventh time this season Tiger pitchers have given up 10 or more runs.

OTHER GAMES

Reliever Mariano Rivera (3-0) extended his hitless streak to 13 innings in securing a 2-0 victory for the New York Yankees over the Chicago White Sox at New York. Rivera has been overpowering in running his scoreless innings streak to 16. . . . Brady Anderson hit a pair of two-run homers and B.J. Surhoff also homered twice against his former team, powering the Baltimore Orioles to an 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Baltimore. . . . Kevin Appier (3-3) pitched seven strong innings at Kansas City and the Royals scored the go-ahead run on an error by Geronimo Berroa to beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-1. The win snapped the Royals’ three-game losing streak, but extended an Oakland losing string to four in a row. . . . The Boston Red Sox led the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-1, at Boston in a game suspended after six innings following two rain delays totaling 3 hours 43 minutes. The game will be resumed before today’s regularly scheduled game.