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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Attention Pitchers: Gonzales In Swing

Associated Press

Juan Gonzalez’s swing is back. The rest of the American League should take notice.

Gonzalez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs Saturday, leading the visiting Texas Rangers over the Boston Red Sox 11-5.

Gonzalez’s fifth career slam highlighted a six-run ninth inning. He also had a pair of RBI singles, including a hit that made it 5-all in the seventh.

“Whether he hits the home runs or the base hits, you can see it coming back,” Texas manager Johnny Oates said. “When they saw him last week, he was out front of everything. Now he’s waiting a little longer.”

Gonzalez began the game with one homer and six RBIs this season. The 1996 A.L. MVP was sidelined by an injured left thumb that kept him on the disabled list until a week ago Friday against the Red Sox.

Last season, he hit 47 homers and drove in 144 runs, both career highs. He led the league in homers with 43 and 46 in 1992 and ‘93, respectively.

“It felt really good today,” said Gonzalez, who injured his left thumb Jan. 28 playing in the Puerto Rico winter league championship. “I’m seeing the ball much better and swinging at strikes.”

Tigers 6, Indians 0 Detroit

Omar Olivares pitched a three-hit shutout as Detroit finally found a way to beat Cleveland at home.

A crowd of 30,578, most of them Indians fans, saw Detroit end a seven-game home losing streak to Cleveland with its first Tiger Stadium win over Cleveland since Sept. 4, 1995.

Tony Clark hit a three-run homer, and Bobby Higginson also homered for the Tigers.

Blue Jays 6, Twins 4 Minneapolis

Roger Clemens tied a team record with 14 strikeouts to win his sixth game, getting support from a pair of two-run homers from Benito Santiago as Toronto beat Minnesota.

Clemens (6-0) reached double figures in strikeouts for the 70th time in his career, tying Tom Seaver and Rube Waddell in sixth place on the career list as he moved into a four-way tie for the A.L. lead in victories.

Yankees 5, Royals 2 New York

Cecil Fielder singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as New York rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Kevin Appier and Kansas City.

Still upset with a blown call in Friday night’s 7-5 loss, Yankees manager Joe Torre was ejected by crew chief Rich Garcia before the game after he brought the lineup card to home plate and criticized the controversial call.

Brewers 4, Angels 3 (10) Milwaukee

Jose Valentin drew a bases-loaded walk from Rich DeLucia in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting Milwaukee past Anaheim.

DeLucia (2-1) walked three straight after shortstop Gary DiSarcina misplayed John Jaha’s grounder in the 10th.

Doug Jones (3-0) picked up the victory, his ninth straight since last June 13, with one scoreless inning.

White Sox 9, Athletics 8 Chicago

Dave Martinez singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth, sending Chicago to a win over Oakland.

Martinez went 4 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games.

Clearing the bases

The Baltimore Orioles optioned Rocky Coppinger (1-1) to Triple-A Rochester, hoping that a few starts in the minors will allow the right-hander to regain the form that helped him win 10 games as a rookie last season. … Red Sox right-hander Bret Saberhagen, signed in the off-season as a free agent while recovering from shoulder surgery, is hoping to throw off the mound in the bullpen today.

Detroit pitching coach Rick Adair missed Saturday’s game to attend his wife’s graduation from nursing school in South Carolina. … The Yankees will receive their World Series championship rings in a ceremony prior to today’s game. … Angels DH Eddie Murray played his 2,998th game. If he reaches 3,000, he will become only the sixth player to do so.