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Saturday, May 23, 1998

Gonzalez belts winner in final inning

ARLINGTON - Juan Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night to give the Texas Rangers a 13-10 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Gonzalez had five RBI, raising his major league-leading total 59. His 12th homer off Jeff Montgomery (0-2) bailed out John Wetteland (2-0), who had his first blown save in 26 tries dating to last season.

Wetteland gave up consecutive homers to Jeff Conine and Jermaine Dye in the top of the ninth when the Royals tied it 10-all.

The Rangers played the game under protest after Royals leadoff hitter Johnny Damon was credited with a walk by home plate umpire Ed Hickox, although the stadium scoreboard showed the count as 2-2.

Shane Mack hit a grand slam for Kansas City, which has lost seven straight.

Montgomery walked Mark McLemore and Rusty Greer to open ninth before Gonzalez hit Montgomery's first pitch to straightaway center. In the seventh inning, Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in a run and broke up a double play to allow the Rangers to take a 9-8 lead. Ivan Rodriguez followed with an infield RBI single to put Texas up by three.

Pinch-hitter Mack's grand slam in the seventh inning put the Royals ahead 8-7. Mack has four homers this season and five career slams.

Kansas City led 4-2 in the fifth on Dean Palmer's RBI double before the Rangers scored five runs in the fifth off rookie starter Jamie Walker.