AL ROUNDUP : Fassero Completes Sweep for Rangers

Jeff Fassero won for the first time since July 5 in his starting debut for the Texas Rangers as they completed a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 6-3 victory Monday night.

Rick Helling won his seventh consecutive decision and Todd Zeile hit a grand slam in the first inning as Texas won the opener, 8-6.

Fassero (5-14) gave up two runs and six hits in five innings, ending a personal six-game losing streak. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a trade Aug. 27, and had given up five runs and seven hits over two innings in two relief appearances for the Rangers.

Cleveland 7, Baltimore 6--Rookie Alex Ramirez homered and had a career-high five RBIs, including a pivotal three-run triple in the eighth inning for the Indians at Baltimore.

The Indians bounced back from a 3-0 deficit after being held to two singles through the first six innings.

Boston 3, Seattle 2--Jason Varitek homered for the third time in two games and drove in two runs for the Red Sox at Seattle.

Boston, which leads the Oakland Athletics by three games in the wild-card race, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth on Butch Huskey’s run-scoring double.

Varitek then added a sacrifice fly. He also homered in the second off John Halama (11-6).

Boston starter Kent Mercker left after 3 1/3 inning when he collided with third baseman Wilton Veras as both players chased a fouled bunt.

Detroit 9, Oakland 7--Karim Garcia hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and Tony Clark homered and doubled twice to drive in four runs to help offset five homers by the Athletics at Oakland.

Minnesota 13, Tampa Bay 7--Matt Lawton and Todd Walker each drove in two runs during a six-run sixth-inning for the Twins at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Around the League

Kim Coble, the wife of Drew Coble, an American League umpire who lost his job last week, died Sunday of cancer in Graham, N.C. She was 44. Coble was listed as one of the umpires who turned in their resignations on July 14. Coble had worked sparingly this season because of his wife’s illness. . . . Vincent Minervini of Keansburg, N.J., has filed a $35 million lawsuit against the Oriole Bird, claiming he got roughed up by the mascot during a game. Minervini alleges that Jeff Gartner, one of the three men who perform as the Baltimore Oriole mascot, struck him with his tail, pushed him in the chest and took his property without permission.