Another rookie record for White Sox' Abreu

JOSE ABREU says he didn't expect this much success, especially in cold weather.

Yet the White Sox outfielder set another rookie record yesterday.

Abreu drove in four runs and set a major league rookie record for RBI through the end of April as Chicago beat the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 9-2, yesterday.

Abreu, who had a two-run home run in the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh, has 31 RBI to lead the majors. Albert Pujols had the previous rookie RBI mark of 27 in 2001.

Abreu's homer was his major league-leading 10th and extended his own record for home runs by a rookie through April.

"I go to the field to play baseball, help the team," Abreu said through a translator. "I really don't go looking for records, but they're definitely welcome. That's not something that I go looking for, but it's a nice thing."

Another White Sox rookie had a memorable day. In his major league debut, Scott Carroll, 29, gave up two runs, one earned, in 7 1/3 innings after he was called up from Triple A Charlotte to fill in for Chris Sale (forearm strain).

"I couldn't have asked for a better showing," Carroll said. "I know I was capable of it, but it's just awesome to finally get the opportunity and showcase my skills here at this level."

Rays starter David Price (3-2) allowed eight runs, six earned, in six innings.

Before his call-up, Carroll was 27-38 with a 3.95 ERA in 138 games during eight minor league seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012 and bounced back with a 3-1 record and 1.57 ERA in four Triple A starts this season.

"As soon as I found out I was going against Price, I thought to myself, 'What an opportunity,' " Carroll said. "There's no better chance to showcase my skills and get to go against one of the best guys, a Cy Young winner. I just happened to be better than him today."

* At Toronto, Melky Cabrera, one of a record six players from the Dominican Republic in the Blue Jays' starting lineup, hit a go-ahead double and they ended a four-game losing streak with a 7-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.

* At Seattle, Kyle Seager hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the eighth, to lead the Mariners over the Texas Rangers, 6-5.

* At Baltimore, Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBI, James Shields pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Kansas City coasted over Baltimore, 9-3.

* At Houston, Collin McHugh held Oakland to two hits over 8 2/3 innings and the Astros beat Oakland, 5-1.

* At Minneapolis, Detroit's scheduled game against the Twins was postponed by inclement weather.

* At Atlanta, Freddie Freeman's single to the centerfield wall scored Jason Heyward from second base with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting the Braves to a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto and Atlanta's Julio Teheran each allowed only three hits in eight scoreless innings.

* At Milwaukee, Jason Hammel (4-1) pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Starlin Castro homered twice and the Chicago Cubs blanked the Brewers, 4-0.

* At New York, Dillon Gee (2-1) pitched three-hit ball over eight innings, Chris Young hit a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat Miami, 4-0.

* At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright (5-1) became the majors' first five-game winner and Jhonny Peralta ended the Cardinals' 366 at-bat homerless drought with a pair of long balls in a 7-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

* At Los Angeles, Josh Rutledge hit a three-run homer and Jorge De La Rosa (2-3) pitched seven strong innings, leading the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1.

* At Washington, Cameron Maybin celebrated his return to the lineup with a pair of hits, Ian Kennedy (2-3) pitched seven strong innings and the San Diego Padres beat Washington, 4-2. Maybin had been out since rupturing his left biceps in spring training.

* At San Francisco, Brandon Hicks hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning as the Giants completed a three-game sweep over Cleveland with a 4-1 victory.

* Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura had some swelling around his right eye yesterday and a nasty gash on his right cheek closed up by stitches. Things could have been a lot worse after he was accidentally hit in the face the night before by Ryan Braun's bat while his teammate was warming up on the dugout steps. Segura said he felt fortunate he didn't suffer fractures or a concussion. "It was a scary moment for me," he said. "I thought it was something worse."

Milwaukee also was without Braun (chest muscle strain) yesterday. He could miss 3 to 5 days. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said the club would hold off on making any roster moves while Braun and Segura continue to be evaluated.