No. 499 for Palmeiro in Loss to Blue Jays

Rafael Palmeiro got within one swing of his 500th homer -- then struck out to end the game.

After leading off the eighth inning with No. 499, ending a weeklong homer drought, Palmeiro struck out with one on in the ninth and the Texas Rangers lost, 8-6, to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday at Arlington, Texas.

“It was really no different than any other at-bat. I was trying to keep the rally going, keep the game going,� Palmeiro said.

Palmeiro’s homer in the eighth was his ninth of the season. It put him within one of becoming the 19th player in the 500-homer club, and got the Rangers to 8-5.

Michael Young led off the Texas ninth with a homer and Carl Everett reached on a single before Palmeiro came up as the potential tying run with two out.

After taking three pitches for a 2-and-1 count, Palmeiro swung and missed at a pitch high and out of the strike zone. Cliff Politte then threw a ball outside for a full count before Palmeiro swung and missed again.

New York 16, Seattle 5 -- Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer in New York’s 10-run third inning, and Jason Giambi later added a three-run shot at Seattle.

The Yankees set a season high for runs and scored 10 runs in an inning for the first time since Sept. 25, 1996.

Minnesota 5, Tampa Bay 0 -- Kyle Lohse pitched a five-hitter at St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Twins completed a sweep of their six-game season series with the Devil Rays.

Oakland 8, Chicago 5 -- Miguel Tejada had a three-run homer among his three hits at Oakland. The A’s beat Chicago for the fourth time in six games over the last 10 days.

Baltimore at Kansas City -- Reports of tornadoes forced postponement of the game, which will be made up today as part of a doubleheader.