Rodriguez’s Nine RBIs Lead Texas to 15-6 Win

Ivan Rodriguez had nine RBIs to set a Texas record, hitting a grand slam and a three-run homer Tuesday night to highlight the Rangers’ 15-6 romp over the Mariners at Seattle.

Rodriguez’s RBIs all came in the first three innings. He homered into the second deck in the first, had a two-run single in the second and hit his first career slam in the third as Texas took a 13-0 lead.

It was the most RBIs in the major leagues since Mike Greenwell, playing for Boston, had nine against Seattle in the Kingdome on Sept. 2, 1996.

Jim Bottomley of the St. Louis Cardinals set the major league record of 12 RBIs on Sept. 16, 1924. Mark Whiten of the Cardinals tied that mark when he hit four home runs on Sept. 7, 1993.

The AL record is 11 RBIs by Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees on May 24, 1936.

Rodriguez came up with two runners on base in the fifth inning, giving him a chance to tie the major league record, but flied out. The All-Star catcher singled with none on in the seventh, and was taken out in the eighth.

Gregg Zaun, who replaced Rodriguez, batted with two on base in the ninth and walked.

Rodriguez broke the Texas record of eight RBIs set by Juan Gonzalez on June 17, 1993, and tied by Jose Canseco on June 13, 1994.

Rodriguez’s previous RBI high was five, which he accomplished twice. He began the night with one homer and two RBIs in his first six games.

Boston 6, Chicago 1--The Red Sox didn’t need another grand slam by Mo Vaughn to win this year’s home opener. Not the way Bret Saberhagen is pitching and Jose Offerman is hitting.

Saberhagen pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings to remain unscored on this season, and Offerman hit a two-run triple as the Red Sox improved.

In last year’s home opener, Vaughn’s grand slam capped a seven-run ninth that gave Boston a 9-7 win over Seattle.

Offerman has six doubles and three triples this season.

New York 6, Baltimore 3--Tino Martinez’s double off the third-base bag set up Jorge Posada’s three-run, eighth-inning homer at New York as the Yankees won their sixth straight.

With two out in the eighth, Bernie Williams drew a walk from Arthur Rhodes (0-1). Martinez then hit a grounder down the third-base line that hit the bag and bounced over Cal Ripken’s glove, setting up Posada’s homer.

Tampa Bay 8, Toronto 5--Kevin Stocker tripled to highlight a five-run fifth inning and the Devil Rays won at SkyDome for the first time.

The game drew 23,710 fans, the smallest crowd ever at SkyDome.

The Devil Rays had been 0-7 at Toronto. But that changed as every Tampa Bay starter had a hit, including three by Stocker.

Joey Hamilton (0-2) was hit hard, giving up eight runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.