Rangers’ Sheldon Plays Everywhere

Scott Sheldon became only the third player in major league history to play all nine positions in one game Wednesday night. Even more impressive, he managed the feat in only five innings, not coming into the game for the Texas Rangers until the fourth inning at Chicago.

“I don’t know so much the history of it,” Sheldon said after the Rangers’ 13-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. “To know only two other guys have done it, that doesn’t sink in.”

Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s (Sept. 8, 1965) and Cesar Tovar of the Minnesota Twins (Sept. 22, 1968) are the only other players to play all nine spots. No one in the NL has done it.

Sheldon had only one ball hit at him all night, fielding a single in right field. He struck out the only batter he faced, getting pinch-hitter Jeff Liefer to whiff on a changeup that was clocked at 67 mph.

Texas Manager Johnny Oates warned Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel before so no one would be embarrassed.

Frank Thomas hit his American League-leading 41st home run, and Charles Johnson, Greg Norton and Magglio Ordonez also homered for the White Sox.

Kansas City 3, New York 2--Carlos Febles doubled home the tying run off Mike Stanton and scored on Johnny Damon’s fourth single of the night as the Royals rallied in the ninth inning to beat the Yankees at Kansas City, Mo.

Yankee Manager Joe Torre said he brought in Stanton because he decided to give Mariano Rivera the night off.

Oakland 6, Boston 4--Mark Mulder, who began the game with opponents hitting an AL-high .318 against him, gave up only two runs and five hits in six innings at Boston.

“I was really pumped up for the game. I was excited,” he said after the A’s moved 1 1/2 games behind AL West leader Seattle. “Our goal is to win the division, not to win the wild card.”

Cleveland 6, Tampa Bay 2--Roberto Alomar homered twice and went three for four and Chuck Finley combined with Paul Shuey on a four-hitter as the Indians beat the Devil Rays at Cleveland.

Finley (12-10) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings and struck out seven to win for the third time in his last four starts. He is 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his career against Tampa Bay.

Toronto 7, Seattle 3--Joey Hamilton, who underwent shoulder surgery last September, pitched seven effective innings as the Blue Jays beat the Mariners at Toronto to stop a four-game losing streak.

Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who have lost 17 of their last 23 games.

Minnesota 4, Baltimore 1--Brad Radke (11-14) rediscovered his curveball, which made his other three pitches even more effective, and the Twins beat the Orioles at Minneapolis.

“I wish I had that curveball every time I went out there,” Radke said. “I don’t know where that came from.”