Texas loses despite Alex Rodriguez’s 300th career home run.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – A historic home run by Alex Rodriguez wasn’t enough for the Texas Rangers.
Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 300 homers, but the Anaheim Angels beat the Rangers 11-5 Wednesday behind home runs from Troy Glaus, Brad Fullmer and Darin Erstad.
Rodriguez, 27 years, 249 days old, hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning off Ramon Ortiz (1-0), his second of the season. The fastest to 300 had been Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx at 27 years, 328 days. Foxx finished his career with 534 homers.
Bengie Molina had four RBIs and Ortiz improved to 10-1 against Texas despite allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings.
Royals 5, White Sox 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Joe Randa hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 for their first 2-0 start in 24 years.
With the score 3-all, Angel Berroa reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tony Graffanino, and Randa homered off Rick White (0-1).
Twins 8, Tigers 1
DETROIT – Jacque Jones hit a two-run homer as the Twins put together six runs on nine hits over four innings against the 20-year-oldin an 8-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Bonderman became the first Tiger to make the jump from Class A to the majors since Jon Warden in 1968 and was the youngest player to break spring training with Detroit’s major league club since current manager Alan Trammell did as a 20-year-old in 1978.
Bonderman was the youngest Detroit starting pitcher since 19-year-old Bruce Robbins on July 28, 1979.
Indians 4, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE – The Cleveland Indians won their first game under new manager Eric Wedge, beating the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 behind a solid pitching performance by rookie Ricardo Rodriguez.
Ellis Burks drove in two runs for the Indians, who rebounded from a 6-5, 13-inning loss to Baltimore on Monday to give the 35-year-old Wedge his first victory as a major league manager.
National League
Mets 4, Cubs 1
NEW YORK – Sammy Sosa took a big swing and sent a fly ball soaring to left field. Sure it was home run No. 500, he immediately threw his arms up, took a signature hop and clapped his hands.
Instead of history and a tying three-run homer, however, the ball was blown back into the park and fell for a harmless out, exactly the kind of break the New York Mets needed in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Expos 3, Braves 0
ATLANTA – Zach Day and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Jose Vidro hit a two-run homer to lead the Montreal Expos over the Atlanta Braves 3-0.
The vagabond Expos, who won’t play in Montreal until April 22, have outscored the Braves 13-2 in the first two games at Turner Field. Atlanta is 0-2 for the first time in six years.
Phillies 8, Marlins 2
MIAMI – Randy Wolf took a one-hitter into the seventh inning, Jim Thome had two more hits and Mike Lieberthal added a bases-loaded triple to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Florida Marlins 8-2.
Lieberthal and Marlon Byrd hit consecutive doubles in the fifth. Byrd moved to third on a ground out and scored on Jimmy Rollins two-out bunt single down the first-base line. .
Pirates 7, Reds 4
CINCINNATI – Kevin Young and Jason Kendall hit two-run homers in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates kept the Cincinnati Reds winless in their new ballpark by rallying for a 7-4 victory.
Austin Kearns and Ken Griffey Jr. got the Reds’ first homers in Great American Ball Park as the home team finally cozied up and took its first lead, 5-4.
Dodgers 5, D’backs 0
PHOENIX – Kevin Brown, in a performance that bodes well for the Los Angeles Dodgers, shut down the Arizona Diamondbacks on three hits in six-plus innings of a 5-0 victory.
Shawn Green was 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs as the Dodgers took two of three in the season-opening series between NL West squads. Both Los Angeles wins were shutouts.
Cardinals 7, Brewers 0
ST. LOUIS – Woody Williams pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning and Mike Matheny had three hits and two RBIs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-0. Williams, limited to 17 starts last season by a pulled muscle in his left side, didn’t allow a hit until Eric Young tripled to right with two outs in the sixth.
Eduardo Perez just missed on a diving attempt of Young’s slicing drive to the warning track.
The Brewers’ only other hit against Williams (1-0) was a one-out single by Jeffrey Hammonds in the seventh.
The right-hander struck out five and walked one in 6 2-3 innings.
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