Rangers Take Out Frustration on Orioles

Let’s play two?

Well, yes, finally.

After a delay of nearly 24 hours, endless negotiations and quite a bit of confusion, the Baltimore Orioles announced late Tuesday night that Monday’s rainout against Texas would be made up as part of a doubleheader today at Baltimore.

Ranger Manager Johnny Oates and his team woke up Tuesday morning prepared to play a doubleheader. Much to their surprise, they soon found out they were scheduled to play only one game, and by the time Tuesday night’s game got under way, no one from either team knew if and when the makeup game would be played.

An announcement was finally made at 11:30 p.m.

The Rangers took out their anger on the field, hitting five home runs, including four off Kent Mercker (3-6) in the first three innings, en route to a 7-0 rain-delayed victory.

Darren Oliver (6-2) went seven innings and Dennis Cook completed the first shutout against the Orioles this season.

Oakland 8, Detroit 5--Tony Batista’s first major league home run was one of five homers hit by the Athletics at Detroit.

Geronimo Berroa, Ernie Young, Mark McGwire and George Williams also homered for the Athletics, who turned four double plays en route to their third consecutive victory.

Todd Van Poppel, who relieved starter Steve Wojciechowski in the fifth, won for the first time in five decisions.

Tiger starter Tom Urbani (0-1) gave up six runs on six hits.

New York 2, Minnesota 0--Brad Radke pitched a perfect 6 2/3 innings but lost his no-hitter, shutout and victory in the span of five pitches in the seventh inning at New York.

Radke (4-8) needed only 35 pitches to retire the first 15 Yankees and 21 more to get the next five outs. With two outs in the seventh, Paul O’Neill sliced a double down the left-field line for the Yankees’ first hit.

Radke then got two quick strikes on Tino Martinez, who after fouling off a pitch, lined his 12th homer into the lower deck in right field.

Radke finished with a three-hitter, throwing only 78 pitches.

Toronto 11, Seattle 3--Juan Guzman remained unbeaten against the Mariners, giving up four hits and six walks and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings at Seattle.

Guzman (5-5) is 7-0 against the Mariners. He was helped by teammate Joe Carter, who hit his 17th home run this season and his fourth against Seattle.

Bob Wolcott (5-7) took the loss for Toronto.

Milwaukee 9, Kansas City 1--Greg Vaughn hit his 18th and 19th home runs and Jose Valentin had a grand slam in a game delayed by rain for nearly two hours at Milwaukee.

Scott Karl (7-3) set a career high for victories and Mike Potts pitched the last four innings to earn his first career save.

Cleveland 9, Boston 7--Omar Vizquel drove in six runs, including the second grand slam of his career, in a game delayed nearly two hours by rain at Cleveland.

Greg Swindell (1-0) got his first victory since being reunited with his old team. Jose Mesa pitched the final inning for his 23rd save. Aaron Sele (2-5) took the loss.