For Clark, the Timing Is Right

Will Clark is doing exactly what Texas Manager Johnny Oates expects of him at this time of year.

Clark homered in the 10th inning and was part of Texas’ three-consecutive homer outburst in the fourth as the Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Comiskey Park.

Mike Cameron, Ray Durham and Mike Caruso each homered in the eighth inning for Chicago in the second game, leading the White Sox to an 8-7 victory.

The two teams tied a league record by combining for 14 homers in the doubleheader. It was also done on May 22, 1930, when New York hit nine and Philadelphia hit five.

Texas is now three games behind the West-leading Angels, who beat Boston.

“We’ve talked about him being an impact player,” Oates said of Clark. “Will Clark is plenty good as he showed today.”

Juan Gonzalez, Clark and Ivan Rodriguez hit consecutive home runs in the fourth inning, with Gonzalez raising his major league-leading RBI total to 135 with his two-run shot.

Clark’s game-winning shot, his 21st homer, came off Bob Howry (0-3) with two out.

New York 10, Seattle 3--The Yankees scored five runs in the first inning and Orlando Hernandez made them stand up at Yankee Stadium as they won their third straight game and, at 97-36, surpassed last year’s record of 96-66.

Shane Monahan, Russ Davis and Rob Ducey homered for Seattle, making it the first team in major league history to hit 200 home runs in three straight seasons.

Hernandez (9-4) pitched seven innings and gave up three hits, including home runs by Monahan and Davis.

Tampa Bay 4, Detroit 3--Bubba Trammell’s solo homer in the ninth inning lifted the Devil Rays over the Tigers at Detroit in a game between the two worst teams in the league.

Trammell, selected from Detroit in the expansion draft, hit his 10th homer as the Devil Rays improved to 51-81.

Detroit dropped to 51-82.

Toronto 7, Minnesota 6--Shawn Green’s second homer of the game, a two-run shot in the seventh inning, gave the Blue Jays the victory at Toronto.

Paul Molitor, who drove in four runs for the Twins, hit his 600th double and joined Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner as the only players in history with 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500 stolen bases.

Kansas City 6, Baltimore 5--Pat Rapp pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball before being hit by a line drive as the Royals dealt the Orioles their fifth consecutive loss.