Cleveland's 23-year-old Rod Nichols took the loss in his major league debut.

Cleveland's reliever, Rod Nichols (3-4), retired 15 batters in a row before Hulett drove a 2-2 pitch into the Orioles' bullpen in left field.

The Yankees, trailing 4-2, scored a run in the sixth off Rod Nichols, a rookie whose only major league victory had come against the Yankees last week.

Hrbek's two-run homer off Rod Nichols (0-3) put Minnesota ahead, 3-2, in the fourth.

Scott Fletcher singled with one out in the first inning off Rod Nichols (4-7) and scored on Calderon's triple.

Agreed to terms with Rod Nichols, pitcher, on a one-year contract.

After Roberto Kelly and Steve Sax drew walks off Rod Nichols with one out, Green put on the hit-and-run with Luis Polonia.

Purchased the contract of Rod Nichols, pitcher, from Colorado Springs.

Johnson (7-6), who beat Rod Nichols (0-8), struck out nine to move within one of major league leader Roger Clemens of Boston with 128.

Rod Nichols (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the year.