Erickson Goes Home, Gets Beat By Twins
American League
Frank Rodriguez never had met Scott Erickson before he climbed into a car with him Wednesday night. Luckily for Rodriguez, it was a brief encounter.
Twelve hours after turning down Erickson’s playful invitation to sample the Minneapolis nightlife, Rodriguez earned his first major league victory as the Minnesota Twins spoiled Erickson’s return with a 5-2 win over Baltimore on Thursday.
“I got a ride from Pat (Mahomes) back to the hotel last night and Erickson was in the car,” Rodriguez recalled. “He said, ‘Let’s go get some beers.’ And I said no way, man.”
Rodriguez (1-3) hasn’t had time to find a home since he came to Minnesota on July 6 in the deal that sent closer Rick Aguilera to Boston. But he has settled into the starting rotation, and the Twins hope he can become a fixture there.
He had a loss and a nodecision in his two previous appearances for the Twins, but he responded Thursday by allowing just three hits and a run through six innings. He gave up five walks but benefitted from three double plays.
“The walks are not good, but what I’m happy about is that when I did walk guys I was missing down,” Rodriguez said. “If you miss up in the majors, you get hit.”
Greeted by more boos than applause when he was introduced before the game, Erickson (6-7) responded with a performance characteristic of his last 2-1/2 seasons in Minnesota.
Traded July 7, he was perfect through three innings, then gave up singles to the first three Twins he faced in the fourth as Minnesota took a 3-1 lead.
“I tried to go out, have fun and go right at them,” Erickson said. “I tried to block it out and pretend it was another game. It felt a little strange, but after the first batter it was OK.”
Before the trade, Erickson was 4-6 with a 5.95 ERA.
Athletics 6, Tigers 3
Oakland, Calif.
Ron Darling (3-5) won for the first time in nine starts and Ernie Young, Stan Javier and Geronimo Berroa homered as Oakland sent Detroit to its eighth straight defeat.
Indians 6, Rangers 3
Arlington, Texas
Sandy Alomar hit two home runs in a game for the first time in his major league career, leading Cleveland over Texas for its seventh win in eight games.
Yankees 8, Royals 4
New York
Bernie Williams and Mike Stanley hit back-to-back home runs to cap a four-run sixth inning, lifting New York over Kansas City.
Angels 10, Blue Jays 3
Toronto
Tony Phillips had two of seven first-inning singles as California batted around for the second time in as many games to rout Toronto.
Red Sox 3, White Sox 1
Chicago
Mo Vaughn broke up a tie game in the seventh inning with his 25th homer and Jose Canseco also homered, leading Boston to a rain-delayed victory over Chicago.
Clearing the bases
Jack McDowell, already fined $5,000 by the New York Yankees for making an obscene gesture to the crowd, was ordered by the American League to make it up to fans by buying them tickets… . Darryl Strawberry’s debut with the Yankees has been put on hold - again. He will stay with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers for a weekend series… . The temperature in Arlington was announced at 102 degrees when Texas began its day game. The Rangers have played only two day games in July since 1988… . Cecil Fielder, slowed by back spasms, missed his second straight game for the Tigers… . K.C. ace Kevin Appier is now winless in his last five starts since getting his 11th win June 23.