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Guzman Sparkles In His First Outing

Associated Press

American League

Remember Juan Guzman?

The guy who pitches after Pat Hentgen and Rogers Clemens. You know, the defending American League ERA champion.

Guzman, making his first regular-season start since an appendectomy ended his 1996 season, allowed two hits in seven innings and Joe Carter homered Friday night to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Being a third starter could work in his favor,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. “Especially if he continues to throw the way he did tonight.”

Guzman won the American League ERA title last year with a 2.93 mark after his season ended on Sept. 7 when he needed emergency surgery in New York. The right-hander settled down after a 20-pitch first inning Friday, striking out eight and walking three.

“If he can get through that first inning, he is usually going to be OK,” Gaston said. “I didn’t think he had his best stuff, but Juan has learned how to battle over the years.”

Orioles 5, Rangers 4 Arlington, Texas

Brady Anderson, playing with a cracked rib, went 4 for 5 with two RBIs, and Baltimore capitalized on two misplays by Texas shortstop Benji Gil in the seventh inning in a victory over the Rangers.

Royals 2, Twins 1 Minneapolis

Tim Belcher took a shutout into the eighth inning to outduel Bob Tewksbury as Kansas City handed Minnesota its first loss of the season.

Tigers 8, ChiSox 7 (10) Chicago

Melvin Nieves hit a go-ahead double in the 10th inning after Detroit blew a six-run lead before beating Chicago and spoiling Albert Belle’s home debut.

Athletics 4, Yankees 2 Oakland, Calif.

Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer in the eighth to lead Oakland over New York and spoil David Wells’ debut performance for the Yankees.

Angels 8, Indians 6 (11) Anaheim, Calif.

Tim Salmon hit a grand slam with none out in the bottom of the 11th to give Anaheim a dramatic victory over Cleveland.

Clearing the bases

The Cleveland Indians signed right-handed reliever Paul Shuey to a three-year contract extension, showing confidence in a pitcher that could become the team’s permanent closer if Jose Mesa is convicted of raping an Ohio woman. … Former major league infielder Jerry Terrell was hired as minor-league infield coordinator for Chicago. … The Yankees’ Wade Boggs singled in the first, becoming the 50th player in major-league history with 2,700 hits.