Baldwin Steps Up for the White Sox

James Baldwin demonstrated his importance to the Chicago White Sox by shutting out the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Boston, and when he returned to his locker he saw that the effort was appreciated.

“The stopper with class. Book it,” someone had written on a photo of Baldwin and taped above his locker.

Baldwin pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout, ending Chicago’s losing streak at four games in a 6-0 victory over the Red Sox.

The win was his sixth in a row to open the season, tying him with New York’s Jeff Nelson for the best record in the American League.

“J.B. has saved us a number of times,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said.

“Any time we get in a little slide, he’s been the one to stop it.”

Baldwin struck out eight and walked one and is off to the best start for a White Sox pitcher since Wilson Alvarez went 8-0 to begin the 1994 season.

Seattle 13, Texas 3--Alex Rodriguez was four for five with a three-run homer and four RBIs, and David Bell drove in three runs as the Mariners won in a rout at Arlington, Texas.

Rodriguez hit his ninth homer in the second off Esteban Loaiza (1-2), putting the Mariners ahead 6-0.

With Jamie Moyer and Freddy Garcia on the disabled list, Paul Abbott (1-0) made his first start of the season and allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and four walks.

Bell, Mark McLemore and Carlos Guillen each had three hits for Seattle, which had 19 in all.

Minnesota 6, Cleveland 5--LaTroy Hawkins pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and the Twins used a six-run fifth inning to beat Chuck Finley at Minneapolis.

Hawkins (1-1) relieved Eric Milton to start the fourth with the Twins trailing, 5-0.

Finley (3-2) didn’t allow a hit through four innings but allowed five in the fifth.

New York 4, Tampa Bay 3--Chuck Knoblauch, back in the lineup for the first time in more than a week, doubled to set up Paul O’Neill’s bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning as the Yankees won at New York.

Knoblauch had been sidelined since May 1 by a sprained left wrist. He went two for five.

Toronto 6, Baltimore 4--David Wells (6-1) won his fifth consecutive start, and Raul Mondesi hit two home runs at Toronto as the Blue Jays beat the Orioles for the 12th consecutive time.

Baltimore starter Mike Mussina (1-4) continued to struggle, giving up six runs and 12 hits--including four homers--in seven innings.

Kansas City at Detroit--The game was postponed because of rain. No immediate makeup date was announced.