Rogers Proves Worth With A Solid Debut

American League

Kenny Rogers, finally getting a chance to pitch for his new team, held Minnesota hitless until the sixth inning Sunday and led the New York Yankees past the Twins 9-5 in Minneapolis.

Rogers (1-0) allowed only an infield hit, worked around five walks and did not give up a run in 5-1/3 innings of his Yankees debut.

Signed to a $20 million, four-year contract in January, Rogers lost his spot in the rotation after a poor showing in the exhibition season and began the year in the bullpen.

Rogers did not work in relief and, after two potential debuts were postponed because of bad weather, was sent to Florida to pitch April 12 in an extended spring training game.

Rangers 9, Orioles 6

Arlington, Texas

Dean Palmer hit a grand slam and a two-run homer, and Texas overcame another leadoff home run by Brady Anderson to beat Baltimore for a three-game sweep.

Palmer’s second two-homer game of the weekend - he also did it Friday - and the second four-hit game of his career kept the Rangers off to the best start in club history and the best in the majors at 13-4.

Anderson led off the first inning with a homer for the fourth straight game. But Baltimore, which began the weekend with the best record in baseball, could not contain the Rangers.

Indians 11, Red Sox 7

Cleveland

Carlos Baerga drove in five runs, matching his career high, and Manny Ramirez homered twice as Cleveland came from behind to beat Boston.

Cleveland, aided by nine walks, completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox and improved to 7-0 against them this season. Boston has lost 10 of its last 11 games to fall to 3-15 for only the second time in franchise history.

Baerga’s big hit was a three-run double that capped a five-run sixth inning, ruining what had been a 5-2 lead for Boston starter Roger Clemens.

Angels 6, Detroit 5

Anaheim, Calif.

Garret Anderson’s RBI triple capped California’s four-run eighth inning that sent the Angels to their fifth straight win.

Detroit starter Greg Gohr took a 5-2 lead and a three-hitter into the eighth before the Angels rallied to send the Tigers to their fifth consecutive loss.

Athletics 6, White Sox 5

Oakland, Calif.

Pinch-hitter Pedro Munoz doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Oakland beat Chicago and stopped a four-game losing streak.

Frank Thomas, Chris Snopek and and Ron Karkovice homered for the White Sox, who had won three straight.

Brewers 5, Royals 4

Kansas City, Mo.

Jeff Cirillo singled in the go-ahead run as Milwaukee rallied for four runs in the eighth inning, beating Kansas City for its seventh straight victory.

Pinch-hitter Jesse Levis had a two-run single in the rally as the Brewers swept Kansas City in a four-game series for the first time.

Clearing the bases

Chicago right-hander Jason Bere was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his pitching elbow after lasting only one-third of an inning against Oakland. … Oakland slugger Mark McGwire, who hasn’t played yet this season because of a foot injury, will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday.