Soriano Homer in 18th Beats Seattle

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run home run in the 18th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 9-7 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Arlington, Texas, on Thursday.

It was the longest major league game of the season and the longest since the St. Louis Cardinals won, 7-6, in 20 innings at Florida on April 27, 2003. It matched the longest game in Ranger history, but Seattle has twice played 20-inning games.

Soriano hit his 10th home run to left off Jamie Moyer (6-3) after Hank Blalock led off the 18th with a single.

Brian Shouse (1-0) got two outs for his first win in 112 career games.

The Rangers overcame a 5-1 deficit and tied the game at 7-7 on Mark Teixeira’s run-scoring single in the ninth.

The game lasted 5 hours, 47 minutes -- 43 minutes longer than the series’ first two games combined. Both teams used eight pitchers. There were 129 official at-bats, including nine each by Blalock and Seattle’s Jolbert Cabrera.

Minnesota 4, Boston 3 -- Nomar Garciaparra’s stretching grab of a 10th-inning grounder ended up costing the Red Sox the game at Boston. He threw the ball into the Boston dugout, putting Cristian Guzman at second base. Jose Offerman sacrificed him to third, and Lew Ford hit a sacrifice fly off Keith Foulke (2-1).

New York 5, Baltimore 2 -- Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter homered to back starter Javier Vazquez at Baltimore. Oriole starter Sidney Ponson (3-10), who gave up the homers, lost his seventh start in a row. Vazquez (8-5) allowed two runs in the first inning, then blanked the Orioles over the next six.

Chicago 7, Cleveland 1 -- Jose Valentin hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the White Sox tacked on four runs in the eighth to beat the Indians at Chicago. Aaron Rowand made two stellar catches in center field to protect the lead.

Detroit 12, Kansas City 3 -- Ivan Rodriguez had three doubles, a single and four runs batted in as the Tigers stopped a five-game losing streak at Kansas City, Mo.