Thomas Fails To Get Record

Frank Thomas reached base in his first three plate appearances, then fell one short of Ted Williams’ record for most consecutive times on base as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Boston Red Sox 10-1 Tuesday night in Chicago.

Thomas doubled in the first off Tim Wakefield (1-3), then walked in the third and fourth to pull within one of Williams’ record of reaching in 16 consecutive plate appearances, set in 1957. Thomas flied out to center in the fifth.

Jaime Navarro (4-2) won his 10th consecutive decision against Boston since July 1, 1991, allowing one run and six hits in eight innings.

Blue Jays 2, Yankees 0

New York

Pat Hentgen (5-1), who edged Andy Pettitte (6-2) for the A.L. Cy Young Award last year, barely beat him again, pitching a five-hitter that led Toronto past New York.

Hentgen extended his streak of consecutive innings without an earned run to 39.

Orioles 4, Tigers 3

Baltimore

Baltimore used a strong pitching performance by Scott Kamieniecki and a four-run fifth inning to beat Detroit for its fourth consecutive victory.

Rangers 8, Athletics 3

Arlington, Texas

Bill Ripken broke a fourth-inning tie with his first homer in almost a year, and Rusty Greer and Lee Stevens added two-run homers as Texas beat Oakland.

Twins 4, Brewers 3

Milwaukee

Scott Stahoviak homered and Minnesota put together three two-out rallies to beat Milwaukee.

Indians 4, Royals 3

Cleveland

Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead Cleveland over Kansas City.

Clearing the bases

David Justice, Marquis Grissom and Jim Thome agreed to contract extensions with the Cleveland Indians, who committed $81.1 million to lock up a new core of talent into the next century. Outfielders Justice and Grissom, signed extensions through 2002. and Thome, a 26-year-old first baseman, signed through 2001.

Cleveland pitcher Jack McDowell had successful arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow and is expected to miss three to four weeks. … Chuckie Carr has refused to report to Milwaukee’s Triple-A farm club and general manager Sal Bando said the struggling center fielder will be placed on release waivers. … Frustrated by the state legislature’s failure to finance a new ballpark, the Minnesota Twins said they will ask baseball owners for permission to consider a move.