Guzman Doesn’t Last Long Against Indians

Juan Guzman sensed trouble long before Omar Vizquel’s grand slam.

One of Tampa Bay’s big off-season acquisitions felt tightness in his shoulder when he was warming up Friday night to face the Cleveland Indians, and his debut with the Devil Rays turned ugly in the second inning of a 14-5 loss at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Vizquel hit his fourth career grand slam and Jim Thome followed with a long solo shot off Guzman to key a nine-run inning that also featured David Justice’s two-run homer off Dave Eiland.

Travis Fryman added a three-run double for the Indians, who were three for four with 10 RBIs when batting with the bases loaded. Six of those runs came off Guzman in the second when Cleveland sent 12 batters to the plate.

Now Guzman is headed for the disabled list with a problem that began in spring training.

“He’s not right. That’s perfectly clear after tonight,” Devil Ray Manager Larry Rothschild said. “He’s going to go on the DL, get checked and get it right. That was not the kind of pitcher he is.”

Jaret Wright limited the Devil Rays to three doubles, including two by Jose Canseco, and two runs in five innings. He struck out four and walked six before being replaced by Bobby Witt, who yielded Bubba Trammell’s pinch-homer in the sixth.

Vizquel’s grand slam off Guzman and Justice’s two-run homer off Eiland caused more damage, but Thome’s towering solo drive off Guzman was more impressive--striking a catwalk about 100 feet above center field at Tropicana Field.

Kansas City 10, Minnesota 6--Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney powered the Royals past the Twins in their home opener before 40,472, the largest crowd at Kauffman Stadium in 12 years.

The Twins led, 6-2, before Dye’s three-run homer in the seventh inning off Bob Wells. Sweeney then fouled off six two-strike pitches before homering to tie score.

An inning later, the Royals took the on an error by catcher Matt LeCroy, who dropped a throw from Cristian Guzman on Dye’s slow roller to short, allowing Carlos Febles to score. Sweeney then hit a 452-foot, three-run homer to center.

Texas 11, Toronto 5--The Rangers turned on the power at Arlington, Texas, hitting five homers to beat the Blue Jays, including two by Royce Clayton, who broke out of a one for 18 slump.

Ivan Rodriguez, Ruben Mateo and Rusty Greer also homered for Texas to help Mark Clark win for the first time since May 24, yielding four runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He sat out the final 2 1/2 months of last season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow.

Seattle 7, New York 5--Alex Rodriguez hit his 150th career homer and Mike Cameron made a spectacular eighth-inning catch to rob Derek Jeter of a home run as the Mariners beat the Yankees at Seattle.

Last season, the Mariners went 1-9 against the Yankees, including a four-game sweep last Aug. 5-8 at Safeco Field.

Chicago 7, Oakland 6--Ray Durham hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as the White Sox rallied to beat the A’s.