Blue Jays Make Good First Impression

The Toronto Blue Jays began the Ted Rogers era with a victory.

Tony Batista singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night and the Blue Jays defeated the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, at Toronto.

“It was a good moment for me, the team and the new owner,” Batista said.

Rogers, president and chief operating officer of Rogers Communication, agreed Friday to purchase controlling interest in the Blue Jays.

Rogers met with the players before the game, and after the game incoming chief executive Paul Godfrey shook hands with Batista and introduced him to his son.

“It’s nice to have an owner that shows interest,” said John Frascatore (2-3), who got two outs in the eighth for the win. “They’re exciting. Mr. Rogers is just as intense as I am, and after talking to him today you can tell that he wants to win.”

The Blue Jays won it with three consecutive hits to open the inning. Dave Martinez led off with a single against Doug Jones (3-2), Carlos Delgado followed with a bloop single and Batista lined a single to left field.

Martinez had three hits and extended his career-high hitting streak to 21 games.

Boston 6, Seattle 2--Lou Merloni doubled to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning and Jose Offerman followed with a two-run single to pace the Red Sox at Boston.

The AL West-leading Mariners lost for the 15th time in 18 games.

Carl Everett had three hits, including his 33rd homer, to help Rolando Arrojo win his fourth consecutive decision and improve to 4-1 with the Red Sox.

Detroit 7, Texas 5--Steve Sparks (6-2) won his sixth consecutive start and the Tigers moved over .500 for the first time since opening day with a victory at Detroit.

The Tigers (67-66) have recovered from a 9-23 start and are 21-11 in their last 32 games.

Juan Gonzalez had three RBIs, including a two-run single off Rick Helling (14-10). Tony Clark, playing for the first time in seven weeks, hit a two-run double for the Tigers.

New York 4, Minnesota 2--Orlando Hernandez (11-10) gave up five hits in eight innings and Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams homered at New York.

Hernandez has won three in a row, giving up no more than three runs and six hits. Against the Twins, he gave up a run in the fifth, on doubles by David Ortiz and Jacque Jones, and a run in the seventh, on a homer by Ortiz.

Kansas City 9, Tampa Bay 5--Brian Meadows (3-2) did not give up a hit until the sixth inning and Jermaine Dye hit a grand slam and knocked in five runs to lead the Royals at St. Petersburg, Fla.