Chavez’s Hit Lifts A’s Over Rangers

Eric Chavez singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, leading the host Oakland Athletics to a wild 7-6 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night in a game that was delayed in the ninth after Texas reliever Frank Francisco hurled a chair and hit two fans.

Mark McLemore drew a bases-loaded walk to score the tying run, then Chavez ended an 0-for-13 stretch with his drive to shallow center field against Francisco Cordero (3-2), who blew his fourth save in 48 chances.

Justin Duchscherer (6-6) pitched the 10th to earn the victory. The A’s maintained their two-game American League West division lead over the Angels.

Alfonso Soriano tied the score, 5-5, with two outs in the top of the ninth on his second homer of the game -- his first multi-homer game this year and seventh of his career. Moments later, with Hank Blalock at the plate, the Rangers’ bench and bullpen cleared.

Texas reliever Doug Brocail was seen screaming at a male fan, and the pitcher had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor. Others also had to be held back.

Francisco then tossed a chair at a fan in a lower box to the left of the Rangers’ bullpen along the right-field line. The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and clobbered a woman in the side of the head on her left temple.

Security ran to the scene and a small section of fans was cleared from their seats. The incident caused a 19-minute delay.

*

Kansas City 17, New York 8 -- John Buck hit a three-run homer and Angel Berroa had two hits and scored twice in a 10-run fifth inning at Kansas City, Mo.

The Royals sent 15 batters to the plate against four pitchers in the biggest inning against the Yankees since Boston scored 11 runs in a 13-7 victory May 31, 1998.

It was Kansas City’s second big inning in a week. The Royals scored 11 runs in the third inning of a 26-5 victory Thursday over Detroit.

*

Baltimore 9, Toronto 1 -- Bruce Chen pitched a complete game for his first victory in more than two years, and Rafael Palmeiro homered during a five-run first inning at Toronto.

*

Minnesota 5, Detroit 3 -- Lew Ford homered and drove in two runs to back a strong outing by Brad Radke (11-7), helping the Twins complete a four-game sweep at Detroit.

Augie Ojeda also homered for the Twins, who have won six in a row and 11 of 13.