McCarty Leads Royals to 13-11 Win

Dave McCarty capped a wild game with his fourth hit, a two-run triple in the eighth inning, as the Kansas City Royals had their best offensive game of the season in a 13-11 victory over the Sox Thursday night at Boston.

The Royals, who trailed 8-2 after five innings, rallied with nine runs in a sixth inning that saw the teams combine for 12 runs, 12 hits and four walks as 22 batters faced 78 pitches.

Two runners were thrown out at the plate in the game, the Royals’ Joe Randa on the back end of a double-steal attempt in the second and Boston’s Jeff Frye on Trot Nixon’s double with the score 11-11 in the seventh.

The Royals scored the winning runs in the eighth against Derek Lowe (2-2). With Carlos Beltran at first and two outs, Randa singled and McCarty tripled into the right-center gap.

Jose Santiago (5-2) was the beneficiary of the Royals’ season highs of 13 runs and 19 hits.

Carl Everett had a grand slam, his 17th homer, and Nomar Garciaparra had a two-run homer, his third, for the Red Sox. Each drove in four runs.

Four Royals--Johnny Damon, Mike Sweeney, Beltran and Randa--had three hits each.

Dan Reichert pitched two innings for his first career save.

Tampa Bay 2, Baltimore 1--Bryan Rekar came within two outs of his first shutout as the Devil Rays won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay got its first back to back victories since May 11-12. The Devil Rays split the four-game series against Baltimore, after losing their previous eight series.

Rekar (2-3) took a five-hitter into the ninth before allowing a one-out solo homer to Brady Anderson. Roberto Hernandez came on and got two outs for his sixth save in 10 chances.

Rekar struck out four and walked none to get his first win as a starter since beating Florida last July 10. Over his previous four starts this season--including three losses--Rekar gave up 15 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings.

Oriole starter Scott Erickson (2-2) gave up two runs and eight hits in his first complete game of the season.

Minnesota 5, Toronto 1--Eric Milton gave up five hits in eight innings, and Ron Coomer homered to lead the Twins at Toronto.

Milton has won three consecutive starts and given up only two earned runs since allowing nine runs in 2 1/3 innings on May 15.

Milton (5-1) had a season-high nine strikeouts and walked none before being replaced by Bob Wells to start the ninth inning.

Carlos Delgado hit his 19th homer, a solo shot in the seventh.