Rangers Power Past Cleveland

American League

Ivan Rodriguez hit two home runs and Dean Palmer homered and drove in four runs Tuesday nignt, leading the Texas Rangers past the Cleveland Indians 11-3 in Arlington, Texas.

Albert Belle hit his major league-leading 21st home run for Cleveland. Kevin Elster homered for Texas, which won a matchup of division leaders for the second straight night and beat the Indians for the third time in five games this season.

The Rangers scored five runs in the first inning off Orel Hershiser (4-4), and won their fourth in a row.

White Sox 8, Blue Jays 5 Toronto

Robin Ventura, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, homered twice as Chicago beat Toronto for its ninth win in 10 games.

Tony Phillips led off the night with a home run and Ozzie Guillen also connected for the White Sox.

Angels 1, Yankees 0 Anaheim, Calif.

Kenny Rogers lost a no-hitter in the eighth inning, then lost the game in the ninth when he walked home the only run in California’s victory over New York.

Rogers, who pitched a perfect game against the Angels on July 28, 1994, while with Texas, was bidding to match the effort of Yankees teammate Dwight Gooden, who pitched a no-hitter two weeks ago.

Rogers (3-1) had his no-hit bid broken up by Garret Anderson’s leadoff single in the eighth. Rogers lost with a two-hitter, while Jason Grimsley (3-4) pitched a five-hitter for his first career shutout.

Brewers 7, Twins 3 Milwaukee

Matt Mieske hit a two-run homer and Kevin Seitzer had a solo homer and three RBIs as Milwaukee beat Minnesota.

Athletics 6, Red Sox 2 Oakland, Calif.

John Wasdin won his first start of the season, defeating Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire and Geronimo Berroa each homered as Oakland beat Boston.

Clearing the bases

The American League hit Tony Phillips with a $5,000 fine for punching a fan two weeks ago in Milwaukee, but he won’t take it sitting down. Phillips said that he has appealed the fine, which he believes is unfair. … The New York Yankees appear to be the front-runners in negotiations to sign a power-hitting 16-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, Jackson Melian, who is expected to command a signing bonus of at least $1.5 million. … Ken Griffey of Seattle batted .462 last week with five homers, including three in a game against the Yankees, and had 14 RBIs to win the A.L. player of the week honors.