Ventura homers and slams as Chisox beat Jays

TORONTO (Reuter): Robin Ventura hit two of Chicago's five home runs, including his fifth career grand slam, as the White Sox pounded the Toronto Blue Jays 9-2 on Wednesday.

Former Blue Jay Darrin Jackson also homered twice for the White Sox, who averted a sweep at the hands of the team that beat them in last year's American League Championship Series.

Ventura and Dan Pasqua connected for back-to-back solo homers off Toronto starter Pat Hentgen (0-1) in the fourth.

Ventura's grand slam lifted him into a tie for the club record with Harold Baines.

Ventura, who has five hits in his first 11 at-bats, attributed his early success to a new batting style.

"I've changed my stance," he said. "I'm standing more upright and a little closed."

John Olerud hit a solo shot for the Jays.

The White Sox spoiled Paul Spoljaric's major-league debut by scoring five runs against the rookie lefthander.

Wilson Alvarez (1-0) beat Toronto for the fourth time in his last five decisions.

At Boston, Mike Greenwell hit a three-run homer and Dave Valle stroked a two-run triple to give the Red Sox a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Rick Trlicek (1-0) worked out of a fifth-inning jam to earn the win and Jeff Russell worked the ninth for his second save. David Wells (0-1) retired the first nine batters but took the loss to drop to 3-11 lifetime against Boston.

Cecil Fielder of Detroit drove in two runs with his fourth career triple and a force out.

In the national league action in Chicago, Jeff Kent singled in two runs and the New York Mets used just three hits to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 and stay perfect (3-0) in the new season.

The Mets led 1-0 but were still hitless in the sixth against Willie Banks when former Cub Jose Vizcaino doubled. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Bobby Bonilla singled him in and Kent followed with his two-run single for a 4-0 lead.

"I'm more comfortable. I'm not just playing one or two games a week now," said Vizcaino, acquired from the Cubs last week. "I'm playing every day and I'm more consistent now."

The Mets are off to their first 3-0 road start ever and have won their first three for the first time since 1987.

In Houston, Larry Walker and Moises Alou each drove in a pair of runs and Kirk Rueter ran his perfect major league record to 9- 0 as the Montreal Expos beat the Astros 9-3.

Walker had three hits and Alou went 2-for-4 for the Expos, who took two of three from the Astros after losing the opener.

Results:

American League Boston 5, Detroit 4 Baltimore 4, Kansas City 2 Chicago 9, Toronto 2 California 4, Minnesota 1 Texas vs New York (postponed) Seattle vs Cleveland (postponed)

National League Cincinnati 8, St Louis 8 (in 5 1/2) New York 4, Chicago 1 San Francisco 4, Pittsburgh 2 Montreal 9, Houston 3 Philadelphia 7, Colorado 5 Los Angeles 3, Florida 2 Atlanta 7, San Diego 2