Rangers Fail to Gain Ground

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays got their first taste of what a pennant race is like at the expense of the Texas Rangers.

The expansion team settled into a role as potential spoiler Friday night, preventing second-place Texas from gaining ground on the Angels in the West with a 3-2 victory at St. Petersburg, Fla. that ended the Rangers’ three-game winning streak.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter what kind of game we play. The bottom line is we are two games behind and there is only 16 left,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “That’s the reason it is a big deal. It’s one less game we’re got to make up ground.”

Toronto 5, New York 4--Roger Clemens, who has 13-game winning streak, pitched five innings before leaving with an apparent bruised right palm and a no-decision, and the Blue Jays hit four homers off Hideki Irabu at New York.

Tony Fernandez hit a two-run homer and Carlos Delgado, Jose Cruz Jr. and Shannon Stewart each hit solo homers for the Blue Jays.

A near-brawl took place in the fifth inning after Clemens and Irabu exchanged beanballs earlier in the game. After Irabu hit Stewart with a pitch, both benches and bullpens emptied with New York bench Coach Don Zimmer, New York reserve infielder Homer Bush, Toronto Manager Tim Johnson and Blue Jays pitcher Bill Risley all being ejected.

Boston 6, Detroit 2--Bret Saberhagen (13-7) pitched six shutout innings and John Valentin hit a three-run homer in a victory over the Tigers at Boston.

Saberhagen (13-7) won for only the third time in his last 10 starts.

Seattle 6-5, Kansas City 3-8--Kevin Appier, who had been sidelined because of rotator cuff surgery and colon inflammation, got the victory in his first appearance of the year as the Royals gained a doubleheader split at Kansas City.

In the first game, Jeff Fassero pitched eight innings for his first win in nine starts.

Oakland 3, Minnesota 2--Kenny Rogers (14-7) pitched a four-hitter for his second straight complete game and first road win since June 17 for the A’s at Minneapolis.

Chicago 3, Cleveland 2--Proving his comeback is for real, Jim Abbott (2-0) gave up two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings to win his second start in row, something that he hadn’t done since 1995, in the White Sox win at at Cleveland.