The Associated Press

John Parrish made a perfect major league debut.

Tuesday, July 25, 2000

John Parrish made a perfect major league debut. For one inning, at least.

Pitching against the New York Yankees, the Baltimore lefty started Monday night’s game by striking out Chuck Knoblauch, Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams – on only 12 pitches!

”It’s something I’ll always remember,” Parrish said.

Parrish was impressive, but still wound up with the loss as the Yankees beat the Orioles 4-3 at Camden Yards.

Parrish’s first game in the big leagues came on the same day Ivan Rodriguez played his final game of the season for the Texas Rangers.

The All-Star catcher broke his right thumb when his hand hit Mo Vaughn’s bat while making a throw in the first inning against Anaheim. Texas lost 6-5 in 12 innings.

”That’s what happens when the team isn’t going good,” Rodriguez said. ”What can I do? But I have a strong mind and I’ll be ready for spring training.”

Roger Clemens won his fifth straight start since coming off the disabled list as the Yankees beat Baltimore. Relievers Mike Stanton and Mariano Rivera closed out the Orioles.

”That’s our game,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ”You have a one-run lead in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning … Our bullpen is one of our strong suits, and one run has to be enough sometimes.”

Parrish struck out nine in seven innings, allowing three earned runs and four hits.

Glenallen Hill, traded from the Chicago Cubs to New York last Friday, led off the second inning with a home run in his first at-bat for the Yankees.

Parrish, 22, never pitched above Double-A before this year. He set down 11 straight batters at one stretch, mixing a 93 mph fastball with a sweeping curve.

Angels 6, Rangers 5, 12 innings

A disappointing night for the Rangers saw them lose Rodriguez, then blow a three-run lead in the ninth inning and eventually fall in the 12th at home.

Texas thought it had won in the 10th when Anaheim reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa was called for a balk with runners on second and third. But the umpires huddled and reversed the call, and the Angels escaped.

Tim Salmon had three hits for Anaheim, including a home run and an RBI single in the 12th. Scott Spiezio’s two-out, two-run homer capped a three-run rally in the ninth.

Angels left fielder Darin Erstad tied a major league record for putouts by an outfielder with 12.

Mariners 6, Athletics 4

Seattle activated All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez from the 15-day disabled list, but didn’t need him to beat Oakland at Safeco Field.

Edgar Martinez hit his 25th home run and Jamie Moyer defeated the Athletics for the sixth straight time.

Kevin Appier matched a career high with his fifth loss in a row.

Twins 4, Red Sox 2

Eric Milton pitched eight scoreless innings at Fenway Park and Minnesota beat Boston for the first time in eight tries this year.

After taking batting practice, All-Star center fielder Carl Everett of the Red Sox abruptly dropped his appeal of a 10-game suspension for bumping plate umpire Ronald Kulpa twice during a July 15 game.

White Sox 7, Royals 6

Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer and Carlos Lee also drove in three runs as Chicago won at home.

Ordonez put the White Sox ahead with a two-out homer, his 24th, in the seventh inning.

Johnny Damon had three hits and drove in three runs for Kansas City.

Devil Rays 4, Tigers 2

Greg Vaughn had three hits, including a two-run single, as Tampa Bay won at Detroit.

Albie Lopez improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Tigers. Hideo Nomo lost for the seventh time in eight decisions.