Gonzalez Gets Three RBIs, Rangers Get Win

Juan Gonzalez is back on pace to break Hack Wilson’s major league single-season record for runs batted in.

The Texas slugger hit his 19th homer and had three RBIs to boost his major league-leading total to 76 as the Rangers beat the San Diego Padres, 8-7, Friday night in an interleague game at Arlington, Texas.

“He has a way,” Ranger Manager Johnny Oates said. “RBIs find him. He can’t hide from them.”

Gonzalez has 14 RBIs in his last seven games and 25 in his last 15 to step up his run-producing pace as he chases Wilson’s major league mark of 190 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs in 1930.

Baltimore 3, Atlanta 2--The Orioles beat the Braves again, and this time the victory was both short (1 hour 52 minutes) and sweet.

Scott Erickson pitched a seven-hitter and the Orioles hit three home runs off Danny Neagle at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. It was the Orioles’ fourth consecutive victory over Atlanta since interleague play started last season.

Erickson (6-6) and Neagle (7-3) both went the distance.

Montreal 5, Tampa Bay 2--Brad Fullmer and Vladimir Guerrero hit two-run homers as the Expos beat the Devil Rays that drew the smallest crowd ever at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

After averaging 31,396 in their first 26 home games, the expansion Devil Rays drew only 24,025 for their first regular-season game against a National League opponent.

Chicago Cubs 6, Chicago White Sox 5--After a 92-year break, the Cubs finally got the home-field advantage against the White Sox in a game that counted. And they made the most of it.

Brant Brown hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Cubs the victory in the first official Wrigley Field game between the rivals.

New York Yankees 5, Florida 1--The Marlins hung in with the Yankees before dropping their ninth consecutive game, this one an interleague matchup between the 1996 and ’97 World Series champions at Yankee Stadium.

Darryl Strawberry homered to end a seventh-inning tie and Andy Pettitte pitched a five-hitter.

Philadelphia 8, Toronto 7--Returning to Toronto’s SkyDome for the first time since the 1993 World Series, the Phillies beat the Blue Jays thanks to scoring some ninth-inning insurance runs.

Philadelphia took an 8-5 lead into the ninth, scoring two runs on Bobby Abreu’s RBI single and right fielder Shawn Green’s throwing error.

Kansas City 3, Houston 0--Tim Belcher pitched eight shutout innings and the Royals won at Houston’s Astrodome.

“Sometimes incidents like [Tuesday’s fight against the Angels] can spark a club,” Belcher said.

Belcher (5-6) won for the fourth time in five decisions.

Milwaukee 7, Detroit 3--Marquis Grissom drove in three runs and Cal Eldred pitched 5 2/3 effective innings as the Brewers beat the Tigers at Milwaukee in the first interleague game between the former AL rivals.

Cincinnati 2, Cleveland 1--Pete Harnisch quieted an Indian-partisan crowd at Cincinnati with seven strong innings and Bret Boone had four hits for the Reds.

Pittsburgh 6, Minnesota 1--Jermaine Allensworth hit a tiebreaking two-run single and rookie Jose Silva (6-3) went the distance at Pittsburgh.