Rangers 10, Giants 5

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Juan Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a homer and six RBIs as the Texas Rangers beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 Friday night.

Gonzalez hit a three-run homer off left-hander Damian Moss in the first inning, an RBI single in the third and a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fifth.

``I think what I did surprised a lot of people, but it didn't surprise me,'' Gonzalez said. ``My mechanics are coming around. We'll just have to see what happens once the season begins.''

Moss, the Giants' No. 3 starter, allowed six runs on six hits in 4 2-3 innings, striking out six and walking three.

Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and two runs scored in his third game back after missing two weeks with a herniated disc in his neck.

Rodriguez seemed relieved the injury occurred during spring training.

``So far, so good,'' he said. ``I feel pretty strong. It's not that frustrating. It is scary when you start speculating what it can be when the spine's involved. It was good timing.''

Barry Bonds hit a run-scoring triple off the wall in right-center in the third and Texas starter John Thomson walked the next three batters to score Bonds. Marquis Grissom's single drove in two runs to tie it at 4.

Thomson sprained his left ankle while backing up home plate on Grissom's hit and left the game. He had preliminary X-rays, but the injury wasn't considered serious, manager Buck Showalter said.

Thomson was to be re-evaluated Saturday.

J.T. Snow hit a solo homer in the seventh for San Francisco, which used mainly reserves after the sixth inning.

``We swung the bats well,'' manager Felipe Alou said. ``I took my regulars out. I wish I would have left them in longer, but it was too long a day. I like my team. They fought back and tied the game. There were some great swings early in the game, some great at-bats.''

The 7-year-old son of Giants catcher Benito Santiago, Benito Ivan, served as a bat boy. Baseball implemented a new rule this season that bat boys must be 14, but it doesn't kick in until the regular season begins.

The age requirement came after then-3-year-old Darren Baker, the son of former San Francisco manager Dusty Baker, wandered into the action during the World Series last October and nearly got hurt.< ^Notes:@ Rangers RHP Rudy Seanez agreed to a minor league contract. Seanez, a non-roster invitee, strained his right groin Tuesday and will begin the season either at Triple-A Oklahoma or Double-A Frisco. He will remain in Surprise, Ariz., at the team's spring training facility to rehab. Once recovered, he will be assigned to a minor league club. The Rangers also sent LHP Doug Davis outright to Oklahoma. ... Giants closer Robb Nen is scheduled to pitch an inning Saturday against Oakland. Nen, who had 43 saves and was an All-Star last season, is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery. His appearance will be his first in a game against major league competition. ... RHP Kurt Ainsworth will be the No. 4 starter, and RHP Ryan Jensen the fifth for San Francisco, Alou said. The Giants are expected to send talented prospect Jesse Foppert to Triple-A Fresno. ``I don't care if he's 2,000 miles away, he's going to be very close to this team,'' Alou said. ``If we do need him, he'll be here in short notice.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)