Gonzalez Leads Win by Rangers

Juan Gonzalez has a firm grasp on the situation in the AL West.

As long as he can swing a bat, Texas is still in it.

Gonzalez drove in four runs to raise his major league-leading RBI total to 133 Wednesday night, leading the Rangers to an 8-6 win over the Detroit Tigers at Arlington, Texas.

“I like this time of year,” said Gonzalez. “I like the pressure. It reminds me a lot of 1996, when we won the division. Every game is very important and I know my job.”

Gonzalez went three for four with two doubles and a single as the Rangers stayed within three games of first-place Angels in the AL West.

The Angels split a day-night doubleheader in New York.

Gonzalez, who was the Rangers’ designated hitter because of a sore leg, had a two-run double in the first and a run-scoring double in the second inning. His RBI single in the sixth off A.J. Sager gave the Rangers a 7-5 lead.

“We were disappointed the Yankees couldn’t help us against Anaheim,” Gonzalez said. “We didn’t think the Angels would win three games. It means we have to play perfect.”

Much of the Angels’ three-game lead was fashioned while the Rangers were struggling against New York a week ago.

Estaban Loaiza (2-3) picked up his second win in five decisions despite giving up five earned runs and eight hits in five innings.

“Estaban was cruising along and his sinker quit sinking,” said Manager Johnny Oates. “But Juan came through and we did what we had to do. It seems like every game now goes down to the last out.”

John Wetteland got three outs for his 36th save.

“We got behind early but fought back,” said Detroit manager Buddy Bell. “It’s hard to hold Gonzalez down when he gets hot.”

Texas scored four runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Rusty Greer, a two-run double by Gonzalez and Will Clark’s run-scoring single.

Gonzalez’s double in the second inning scored Greer, who had doubled. Tom Goodwin had opened the inning with his second homer of the season.

Mark McLemore tripled home a run in the eighth to put the Rangers ahead, 8-6.

Cleveland 5, Seattle 3--Manny Ramirez hit his 32nd homer and second in two nights, and rookie Richie Sexson was four for four with a homer for the Indians, who won at Cleveland.

Kenny Lofton had two hits and provided the decisive run with his 41st steal--a swipe of third base and sprint home on a wild pitch.

Dave Burba (11-9) pitched seven strong innings, his longest outing since July 24. He gave up two runs and seven hits, striking out seven.

Steve Reed struck out Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. in the eighth but gave up a solo homer by Edgar Martinez, his 25th. Mike Jackson got four outs for his 33rd save.

Seattle Manager Lou Piniella turned in one of his best performances while arguing a tag-out double play in the ninth inning. After a heated exchanged with second base umpire Larry Barnett, Pinella walked slowly to the dugout. He then sprinted back onto the field, throwing and kicking his cap before finally tossing it into the stands.

It was thrown back at him.

Kansas City 7, Toronto 2--Tim Belcher pitched a three-hitter and Dean Palmer hit a three-run homer in the Royals’ win at Toronto.

Belcher (12-10) retired the final 17 Blue Jay hitters to win for the first time in four starts. He struck out two and walked two in his first complete game this season. The 36-year-old right-hander has pitched at least six innings in 18 consecutive starts.

Minnesota 7, Tampa Bay 3--Bob Tewksbury (6-9) won in his first start since coming off the disabled list in what amounted to an audition for scouts from Atlanta, San Francisco, the Angels and New York Mets at St. Petersburg, Fla.

It was the fifth Devil Ray loss in a row.

Tewksbury, who had been sidelined since mid-July because of a sore right shoulder, gave up two runs and four hits in five innings and retired the first nine Tampa Bay hitters.

Chicago 12, Baltimore 5--Frank Thomas hit his 25th homer and tripled, driving in four runs for the White Sox in a win at Chicago.

Thomas homered to cap a six-run second inning in which the White Sox did all their scoring with two outs, and he hit a two-run triple in the sixth.

The Orioles have lost five of six games and their chances of winning the AL wild-card spot grow more remote each day. Baltimore trails Boston by 10 games for the slot.