Regal Debut For Royal Rookie Rusch

Glendon Rusch never thought his major league debut would be this easy.

The rookie gave up four hits in eight innings and retired 19 consecutive batters Sunday, leading the Kansas City Royals over the Minnesota Twins, 12-2, at Minneapolis.

“I was a little bit antsy and ready to get going,” the 22-year-old left-hander said. “All in all, I thought I felt pretty comfortable out there. Probably more comfortable that I thought I’d feel.”

He struck out four and gave up only two unearned runs, in the first inning. After Ron Coomer’s leadoff single in the second, Rusch retired 19 in a row until Chuck Knoblauch’s two-out single in the eighth inning.

“I expected him to have a good outing; I didn’t expect him to pitch that good,” Royal Manager Bob Boone said. “I talked to him before about taking his nervousness he was going to feel and channel it into his arm. He was as cool as a cucumber.”

Mike Sweeney homered and drove in four runs to lead the Royal offense. Marty Cordova and Greg Colbrunn had run-scoring doubles in the first.

Seattle 8, Boston 7--Paul Sorrento singled home the winning run with one out in the 10th inning as the Mariners won at Seattle.

Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the third consecutive day, giving him five home runs in Seattle’s five games. Alex Rodriguez homered, had four hits and scored four runs, including the game-winner.

Rodriguez led off the 10th with an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch by Rick Trlicek (1-1).

After Griffey was intentionally walked, Rich Amaral sacrificed. Jay Buhner was intentionally walked to load the bases and Sorrento singled.

Texas 9, Baltimore 3--Dean Palmer drove in three runs and Rusty Greer had four hits as the Rangers sent the Orioles to their first loss of the season at Arlington, Texas.

Mike Mussina, making his first appearance of the season, gave up four runs in the first and wound up giving up seven runs and eight hits in four innings.

Greer and Lee Stevens had run-scoring doubles in the first, and former-Oriole Mike Devereaux had a two-run single. Greer doubled again the second inning and scored on Palmer’s single. Greer singled in a run in the fourth, and Palmer’s run-scoring groundout made it 7-2.

Chicago 5, Detroit 3--Jaime Navarro struck out 11 batters in seven innings, best of his career, and got his first AL victory since 1994 in leading the White Sox over the Tigers at Chicago.

Tony Phillips and Chris Snopek homered for the White Sox, who had lost to the Tigers in their first two home games of the season.

Navarro (1-0) gave up five singles and walked two on another blustery day at Comiskey Park. The wind, gusting at 43 mph as the game started, ripped a giant banner off the huge scoreboard in center field and caused a seven-minute delay in the top of the third inning.

Milwaukee 4, Toronto 2--Jeff Cirillo doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning off Pat Hentgen, leading the Brewers over the Blue Jays at Toronto.

With the score tied, 2-2, Jesse Levis singled with one out in the seventh inning. With two outs, Cirillo doubled over the head of left fielder Shawn Green for his second run batted in of the game.

Ben McDonald (1-1) rebounded from a shaky first start, giving up two runs and five hits in six innings. In his first outing of the year, Texas tagged him for six runs in seven innings.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

*--*

Player Team Performance Team’s Result Mike Sweeney Kansas City 4 for 4, HR, 4 RBIs Win Cal Ripken Baltimore 3 for 5, 2 RBIs, HR Loss Rusty Greer Texas 4 for 5, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles Win Alex Rodriguez Seattle 4 for 5, HR, 4 runs Win

*--*

PITCHING

*--*

Player Team Performance Jaime Navarro Chicago 7 innings, 5 hits, 11 strikeouts Glendon Rusch Kansas City 8 innings, 4 hits in debut

Player Team’s Result Jaime Navarro Win Glendon Rusch Win

*--*