Belle Does His Part in Chicago Victory

Albert Belle began paying dividends on Chicago’s $55-million investment Tuesday, and Frank Thomas showed that with Belle batting behind him, he’s going to get better pitches to hit.

But it took the legs of Ray Durham to get the White Sox a 6-5 victory at Toronto.

Belle doubled in the season’s first run and homered, and Thomas had two hits for Chicago, which rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie the score in the eighth inning.

In the 10th, Durham drew a two-out walk from losing pitcher Dan Plesac, and Tony Pena bounced a grounder toward the left side.

Toronto’s Alex Gonzalez, who had homered earlier, ranged to deep shortstop but the ball rolled under his glove for an error and Durham never stopped running. He hustled home and barely beat left fielder Shawn Green’s one-hop throw. Roberto Hernandez then saved the victory for pitcher Tony Castillo.

Belle was hooted by many of the 40,299, about 10,000 short of a SkyDome sellout, particularly when he threw a foul ball to the ballboy rather than tossing it into the stands.

His home run ball was tossed back onto the field.

“They weren’t rooting for me, I know that,” Belle said. “I take it as a compliment that they’re aware of my accomplishments.”

Many were also aware that he had not hit a homer in his 67 spring training at-bats.

“I looked terrible in spring training,” Belle said. “Everybody was wondering when I was going to hit a home run. Once the season starts, everything is for keeps. These are the statistics that count. The main thing is that we started the season out 1-0.”

His homer in the eighth closed the deficit to 5-4, and a solo shot by pinch-hitter Norberto Martin tied the score.

Texas 6, Milwaukee 2--Another serious financial investment, World Series MVP John Wetteland, struggled in the opener at Arlington, Texas, but the Rangers got a three-run homer from Lee Stevens and a two-run homer from Damon Buford.

Wetteland, lured from the Yankees by a $23-million contract, was not pitching in a save situation. He threw 30 pitches in the ninth, his only inning, walking two batters and giving up a hit.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Wetteland, who saved all four Yankee victories in the World Series, induced Dave Nilsson to hit a game-ending popup to shortstop.

Stevens, who hit three home runs in 27 games last season and figured he might be sent to the minor leagues after spring training, got another chance when Will Clark broke a finger on a popup Saturday.

He made the best of that chance, following two-out singles by Rusty Greer and Dean Palmer with a 433-foot homer into the upper deck in the first inning off Milwaukee’s Ben McDonald.

Buford homered off McDonald in the sixth inning after a two-out single by Warren Newson.

Minnesota 7, Detroit 5--The Tiger pitching staff, the worst in baseball last season, showed that the problems are still around by blowing a five-run lead and losing at Minnesota.

Pat Meares’ two-run homer in a four-run eighth inning finished off Detroit, which had taken a 5-0 lead when Melvin Nieves hit a three-run homer in the fourth and Tony Clark hit a two-run double in the fifth.

Detroit set an AL record with a 6.38 earned-run average in 1996 en route to a 109-loss season.

Kansas City-Baltimore, ppd.--The Orioles’ opening-day game at home was postponed because of strong winds and chilly temperatures and was rescheduled for today.

It was the second consecutive year that Baltimore’s home opener was postponed because of weather.

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BEST OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Result Lee Stevens Texas 3-run homer Win Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle 2 homers, 3 RBIs Win Albert Belle Chicago 2 for 5, walk, 2-run homer, 3 RBIs Win Pat Meares Minnesota 2-run homer, triple Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Result Ken Hill Texas 8 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts Win Jeff Fassaro Seattle 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts Win

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