Loaiza Stays Perfect as Ranger Starter

Esteban Loaiza had won five consecutive games--all against teams with losing records. On Friday night, he beat the team leading the American League wild-card race.

Loaiza gave up three runs in six innings to win his sixth consecutive decision, and Rafael Palmeiro drove in three runs as the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, at Arlington, Texas.

Loaiza is 5-0 in six starts since joining the rotation July 24. He is also 6-1 since coming off the disabled list July 4 after breaking his hand in a car door.

Loaiza gave up five hits in six-plus innings, striking out five and walking three. He has not given up more than three runs since becoming a starter and the Rangers are unbeaten in all seven of his starts this season.

“I’m just moving the ball around, hitting my spots and the corners, and mixing up my pitches,” said Loaiza, who had an earned-run average of more than 7.00 as a reliever. “I’m just looking at the glove and throwing the ball there.”

Loaiza (6-1) cruised through the first four innings, giving up two hits, but struggled in the fifth. He gave up two runs and two hits and walked three in the inning.

The Red Sox trailed, 4-0, before Butch Huskey homered on the first pitch of the fifth, ending Loaiza’s consecutive scoreless-innings streak at 13 2/3.

Tampa Bay 5, Kansas City 4--John Flaherty hit a two-run homer and forced home the winning run when he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jose Canseco made his first appearance since back surgery on July 11 and went 0 for 2. Tampa Bay’s designated hitter walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

With the score tied at 4-4 in the ninth, Dave Martinez drew a leadoff walk from Scott Service (5-5) and stole second. Canseco and Fred McGriff walked, loading the bases for Flaherty.

Canseco received a standing ovation from most of the 18,396 fans before his first at-bat and was hit by Jeff Suppan’s first pitch. He also had a third-inning walk, grounded out in the sixth and struck out swinging with the tying run on third in the seventh.

New York 9, Minnesota 3--Ricky Ledee hit his first grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs at Minneapolis.

Ledee hit his slam in the first against Brad Radke (9-12) and added an RBI single in a three-run ninth against Mike Trombley, going two for five to raise his average to .305. He struck out three times after the homer but still has nine hits in his last 18 at-bats.

Hideki Irabu (10-4) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings, while walking one and striking out seven. He has won nine of his last 10 decisions.

Cleveland 7, Seattle 4--Bartolo Colon pitched two-hit ball for 5 1/3 innings before leaving because of tightness in his left knee and Roberto Alomar and Richie Sexson homered at Seattle.

In their first game at Seattle this year, the Indians won for the eighth time in 11 games and stopped the Mariners’ four-game winning streak.

Colon (13-4), who has won his last three starts and seven of eight, left after walking David Bell with one out in the sixth. He struck out six and walked two.

Chicago vs. Baltimore--The game at Baltimore was postponed because of rain and will be made up today as the first part of a day-night doubleheader.