AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : White Sox All-Stars Blast Orioles, 11-5

Frank Thomas and Jack McDowell tuned up for Tuesday’s game with a couple of All-Star performances Sunday against the Orioles at Baltimore’s Camden Yards.

Thomas hit two home runs and drove in five runs and McDowell became the American League’s first 13-game winner as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Orioles, 11-5.

Chicago’s two representatives in Tuesday’s All-Star game at Camden Yards will play reserve roles, but Thomas is hoping to parlay his big day against the Orioles into something special.

“I just want to be here and have fun, but you never know. I might have some fine time,� Thomas said.

Thomas hit a three-run homer in the first inning and a two-run drive in the seventh, giving him 20 for the season. It was the fourth time in his career he has hit two homers in a game, and the five RBIs matched his career high.

McDowell (13-6) all but eliminated himself as a starter for Tuesday by going 7 1/3 innings. He gave up five runs and 10 hits, striking out four and walking two.

“I’ll be ready to throw if they need me,� he said.

Bo Jackson had three RBIs and Ozzie Guillen homered for the White Sox, who reached the All-Star break atop the American League West for the first time since 1984.

Texas 11, Toronto 6--Ivan Rodriguez, Julio Franco and Dean Palmer hit two-run homers at Toronto to power the Rangers to a sweep of the four-game series.

The victory was the Rangers’ eighth in nine games, while the loss was the 10th in 11 games for the Blue Jays.

Charlie Leibrandt (9-4) picked up the win despite giving up a season high six runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Leibrandt, 0-5 in his previous nine starts against Toronto, struck out three and walked one.

The Rangers opened up a 10-3 lead with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Kansas City 6, Detroit 2--Brian McRae hit a two-run home run and had four hits to lead the Royals at Kansas City and prevent the Tigers from regaining first place in the American League East.

Kevin Appier (10-4) matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in winning his sixth in a row. Appier, who gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings, has won eight of nine starts and 10 of his last 12 decisions.

McRae homered and Kevin McReynolds had a two-run single as the Royals scored five times in the sixth inning against John Doherty (8-5).

Milwaukee 5, Minnesota 4--Cal Eldred won for the first time in three weeks and the Brewers won a series for the first time in a month, beating the Twins at Milwaukee behind a three-run homer by Kevin Reimer.

Eldred (10-8), winless in four starts, gave up seven hits as the Brewers won three of four in the series between last-place teams. He was replaced by Jesse Orosco after giving up a leadoff double by Kirby Puckett in the eighth.

Doug Henry earned his 16th save despite giving up a run in the ninth.

Boston 3, Oakland 2--Scott Fletcher’s third hit of the game, a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Red Sox at Oakland.

Danny Darwin (8-7) gave up six hits over seven innings in leading Boston to its 15th victory in 19 games. The Red Sox, only three games out of first place heading into the All-Star break, have gained 10 games in the standings since Roger Clemens went on the disabled list June 21. Darwin is 3-0 with a 1.80 earned-run average in his last four starts.

Seattle 5, Cleveland 4--Greg Litton’s bases-loaded infield single in the 11th inning scored Tino Martinez with the winning run at Seattle, extending the Mariners’ winning streak to five.

The Mariners, who last won five in a row from June 15-19, 1992, reached the All-Star break at 44-44, only the fourth time in their 17-year history they have been .500 or better at the traditional midpoint of the season.

Martinez opened the 11th with a double to right field against Eric Plunk (4-3), and rookie Mark Newfield singled him to third. Omar Vizquel was then walked intentionally to load the bases.

Jeremy Hernandez relieved Plunk and retired Mackey Sasser, but Litton hit a high bouncer to third. Alvaro Espinoza fielded it but had no play.