Ripken’s Return Spoiled as Rangers Rout Orioles, 15-7

Cal Ripken’s return from his first stay on the disabled list was ruined as the Texas Rangers got a grand slam from Roberto Kelly and a three-run homer from Rusty Greer, leading the Rangers past the Baltimore Orioles, 15-7, Thursday night at Arlington, Texas.

Ripken, sidelined since April 18 because of a nerve problem in his lower back, went one for four with a run-scoring single and a run scored. He also failed to stop a hard-hit grounder between his legs for his sixth error in nine games this season.

Texas scored eight runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-1 lead, but Baltimore got within 9-7 in the top of the sixth and had the go-ahead run at the plate when the rally ended.

The Orioles climbed back into the game despite hitting into double plays in the first four innings, but they committed four errors in the bottom of the sixth, letting the Rangers score three more runs. The Orioles committed a season-high five errors.

“It was an embarrassing performance,” Oriole Manager Ray Miller said. “We have no confidence.”

Kelly’s grand slam gave Texas bases-loaded homers in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.

Rafael Palmeiro, playing his first game against Baltimore after five seasons with the Orioles, was two for two with three walks and a solo homer, his seventh. He also stole his first base of the year.

Ranger outfielder Juan Gonzalez did not play because of a right hamstring injury suffered when he homered in the fourth inning Tuesday. He’s expected to miss the rest of the series against Baltimore and could go on the disabled list.

Toronto 8, Kansas City 2--The Blue Jays scored six runs--five of them unearned--in a ragged second inning at Kansas City, Mo.

Carlos Delgado had two of his four hits and two of his three runs batted in the inning. Delgado finished with four hits.

AROUND THE MAJORS / Jacobs Wants to Sell Indians

In a move that stunned the city, Richard Jacobs put his Cleveland Indians on the market Thursday, hoping to find someone willing to keep the team in town and its reputation intact as one of baseball’s hottest properties.

Jacobs, the Indians’ chairman, president, chief executive and controlling stockholder since buying the team with his late brother, David, for $45 million in 1986, said he decided a few weeks ago it was the right time to sell.

“Let’s put it this way: I want to have a say in passing the torch,” the 73-year-old Jacobs said. “I don’t want an executor of mine to say, ‘Well, Jacobs, he has no hand from the grave, he can’t do anything on this. Let’s make up our decision, who should be the owner of this team.’ ”

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Seattle Mariner shortstop Alex Rodriguez, who had surgery April 9 to remove torn cartilage from his left knee, is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list and start in the opener of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates put left-handed reliever Jason Christiansen on the 15-day disabled list because of a neck injury and recalled shortstop Abraham Nunez from triple-A Nashville. . . . A group trying to save 87-year-old Fenway Park has submitted a plan that would renovate rather than eliminate the home of the Boston Red Sox. The preservationist group Save Fenway Park! hired architect Charles Hagenah to draw up plans to increase seating capacity by 10,000 while adding new features that would make the old ballpark more comfortable.