Blue Jays Batter the Record Book, 19-4

Texas has seen all the Blue Jays it wants, thank you.

Mostly, the view for the last four days has been of Toronto runners circling the bases.

And more than most, it has been of Carlos Delgado, who has merely needed to trot.

Delgado hit his fifth homer of the four-game series Monday night, but it was only a small part of a hit parade for the Blue Jays, who set a team record with 25 hits in a 19-4 rout of Texas at Arlington.

“It was fun. You have to enjoy it,” Delgado said. “Next time it could be the other way around.”

The Blue Jays won three of four against Texas, which had been 17-3 since the All-Star break. Toronto scored 32 runs in the series.

“Tonight’s game was important for us,” said Shawn Green, who had three hits, including a homer, and drove in four runs. “To win like this, especially after winning two of the first three, is a huge confidence-booster for us.”

Homer Bush and Tony Batista also homered for Toronto.

Bush and Jacob Brumfield each had four hits, and Toronto broke the club record of 24 set on June 26, 1978, against Baltimore.

The 25 hits were the most ever given up by Texas.

“It was one of those nights that everything they hit was either smoked or topped,” Ranger Manager Johnny Oates said. “Everything they hit fell in.”

Ranger reliever Doug Davis made his major league debut and was tagged for 10 runs and 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings. Green hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning on Davis’ third pitch, and the rookie later gave up a three-run homer to Batista and a two-run drive by Bush.

Delgado’s homer off Mike Morgan (12-7) in the first inning was his fifth in the series, matching a Texas record for most home runs by an opponent in a series. John Mayberry of Kansas City had five in a three-game series on July 1-3, 1975.

Seattle 6, Chicago 4--Jay Buhner’s sixth-inning grand slam--the record fifth in the major leagues during the same day--led the Mariners to a win at Seattle.

Buhner had been 0 for 4 with the bases loaded this season before connecting against John Snyder (9-7) to give the Mariners a 6-3 lead and end a five-game losing streak. The White Sox lost their fifth in a row.

Snyder gave up two runs and three hits in the first inning, then did not give up another hit until the sixth.

Ken Griffey Jr. walked with one out and infield singles by Alex Rodriguez and Edgar Martinez loaded the bases. Buhner followed with his eighth career slam on a 3-and-1 pitch.

New York 12, Oakland 8--Bernie Williams’ grand slam capped an eight-run second inning for the Yankees, who won at Oakland for their sixth win in a row.

Chuck Knoblauch, Derek Jeter and Ricky Ledee added solo homers for the Yankees. Knoblauch and Jeter hit consecutive shots in the fifth.

Chili Davis had an RBI double, Ledee hit a run-scoring single, Jorge Posada had a sacrifice fly and Jeter drew a bases-loaded walk in the second before Williams hit his sixth slam.

Kansas City 5, Boston 2--Jeff Suppan pitched a four-hitter against his former team and Jermaine Dye homered twice for the Royals in a win at Kansas City.

Johnny Damon had a single, double and triple and three RBIs for the Royals, who stopped a four-game losing streak.

Suppan (7-6) was coming off the second complete game of his career, a 7-0 win over the Angels, his first shutout.

Tampa Bay 10, Baltimore 9--Paul Sorrento homered for the second game in a row and the Devil Rays won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay has beaten the Orioles six times in a row since losing to them on opening day.