Gonzalez Has Thumb Kind of Tiger Debut in 2-0 Win

It was two days delayed, but Juan Gonzalez had quite a debut before Detroit fans.

Making his first start at Detroit, the team’s third home game, Gonzalez hit a run-scoring double to break up a scoreless tie in the eighth inning as the Tigers held off the Seattle Mariners, 2-0, Thursday.

“It’s exciting because we won,” said Gonzalez, who went two for four as the designated hitter. “I drove in the winning run in my first game in Detroit.”

Gonzalez hadn’t started since the season opener last week in Oakland because of a right hamstring strain. Manager Phil Garner was trying to rest him for a weekend series with Tampa Bay, when better weather is expected.

“When he came in today, I knew he was going to play,” Garner said. “He came in ‘thumbs-up’ and said ‘I’m ready.’ ”

Shane Halter drew a leadoff walk from Arthur Rhodes in the eighth before Gonzalez scored him easily with a drive up the right-field gap off Jose Mesa.

Bobby Higginson followed with a single that moved pinch-runner Karim Garcia to third, and Dean Palmer drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.

Hideo Nomo gave up four hits and four walks in six-plus innings. Doug Brocail pitched one scoreless inning of relief for his first victory and Todd Jones finished for his third save.

New York 5, Texas 1--Jorge Posada hit a tiebreaking triple with the bases loaded and Orlando Hernandez held the Rangers to three singles for eight innings at New York.

The Yankees, who have won nine consecutive playoff games against Texas since 1996, completed a two-game sweep.

New York made it a rough return to Yankee Stadium for Kenny Rogers, who gave up eight hits in Texas’ first complete game this year. Back at the stadium for the first time since pitching in pinstripes in 1997, he walked two in the sixth beore Posada’s hit.

Boston 4, Minnesota 3--Wilton Veras drew a bases-loaded walk to break an eighth-inning tie as the Red Sox rallied to defeat the Twins at Minnesota.

Nomar Garciaparra singled to lead off the eighth, then Troy O’Leary walked. Carl Everett hit a double-play ball to second base, but Jason Maxwell kicked it for an error that loaded the bases.

Jeff Frye hit a fly ball to shallow left field, and Denny Hocking threw Garciaparra out at the plate to preserve the tie. Eddie Guardado, who relieved Bob Wells, walked Jason Varitek and then Veras to score the game-winner.

Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 5--Greg Vaughn’s run-scoring single with two out in the bottom of the 12th inning against the White Sox at St. Petersburg, Fla., brought to an end the Devil Rays’ five-game losing streak.

Vaughn’s line drive to left field off Tanyon Sturtze drove in Kevin Stocker from second base. The Devil Rays’ bullpen held the White Sox scoreless over the last seven innings to keep Tampa Bay in the game.

The White Sox took a 5-4 lead into the ninth. But closer Bob Howry couldn’t finish off the Devil Rays, who loaded the bases with one out on two singles, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Fred McGriff. Gerald Williams grounded into a force play at second, driving in a run to send the game into extra innings.

Kansas City 6, Baltimore 5--After ending the last three games with home runs, the Royals got a single from Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the ninth after blowing a 5-0 lead to defeat the Orioles at Kansas City, Mo.

Rey Sanchez, whose three-run, ninth-inning homer gave Kansas City a 7-6 win Wednesday over Baltimore, led off the ninth with a single off B.J. Ryan. Johnny Damon followed with a sacrifice bunt and Carlos Febles walked. Beltran followed with the game-winning hit.

Cal Ripken went 0 for 4, striking out twice and remaining four hits short of 3,000.