Look up Darnell Coles in the baseball Who's Who and the entry reads like something from Rand McNally.
He's played with Toronto, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Seattle - twice - and Detroit - also twice. There have been stops along the way in Bellingham, Wausau, Bakersfield, Chattanooga, Salt Lake City, Calgary, Toledo, Phoenix and Nashville.For most of his 14-year career, he's been a utility player, always patient and prepared for a chance to play. Last season, in fact, he and Dick Schofield were the only members of the Blue Jays not to get into a single game in the playoffs or World Series.
On Tuesday night, he got another opportunity to play and was determined that a dislocated finger would not stop him.
As it turned out, no one could stop him.
Coles hit three home runs, becoming the sixth major leaguer to accomplish the feat this year, in leading Toronto over the Minnesota Twins 14-3.
Coles began the game batting only .145 (8-for-55) with one home run and six RBIs. It was his second three-homer game in the majors.
"I was just hoping I could play because my finger was barking at me all day," Coles said.
Coles hurt his finger Monday night when he dove into first base. He was scheduled to start Tuesday at the Metrodome while third baseman Ed Sprague was in California with his wife, who gave birth Monday.
Coles' injury, however, left his status in doubt.
"He said he was OK, but there were a few guys who doubted whether he was telling the truth," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.
Coles hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and solo shots in the eighth and ninth. He joined Tim Raines, Jose Canseco, Karl Rhodes, Cory Snyder and Jeff Bagwell as players to connect three times in a game this year.
Paul Molitor hit his second career grand slam and Joe Carter followed with his 18th homer of the season during a six-run seventh. Molitor also had two singles and a double.
Angels 10, Red Sox 3
Chris Turner, who began the game batting only .138, went 5-for-5 and became the first California catcher to steal home.
The visiting Angels stopped a 10-game losing streak against Boston, including seven defeats this season.
Turner doubled twice, drove in two runs and scored two. He snuck home as part of a double steal. Chili Davis hit his 16th homer and drove in three runs.
Rangers 4, Indians 3
Kevin Brown returned from visiting his ailing father in Georgia and pitched the host Rangers past Cleveland.
Brown went home Monday after his father, Gerald, had a heart attack. Doctors told Brown on Tuesday that his father was in stable condition, and he took an afternoon flight to rejoin the team.
Brown (6-8) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. He gave up seven hits and walked one in his second complete game.
Athletics 8, Yankees 7
Geronimo Berroa's two-run homer in the seventh inning lifted Oakland at Yankee Stadium. The A's have won 10 of 11, while New York has lost five of six.
Berroa's 10th home run came against Greg Harris (3-5). Ruben Sierra also homered for the A's.
Matt Nokes homered twice and Danny Tartabull also connected for the Yankees. Paul O'Neill had four hits and is batting .373.
Orioles 5, Mariners 2
Jamie Moyer won for only the second time in 14 starts as Baltimore shut down Ken Griffey Jr. and visiting Seattle.
Griffey, who leads the majors with 32 home runs, has gone a season-high 10 games without connecting. He is hitless in two straight games.
Royals 10, Brewers 5
Bob Hamelin homered, doubled and drove in three runs as Kansas City won at home. The Royals hit four doubles and Milwaukee hit six.
Tigers 6, White Sox 2
White Sox 6, Tigers 4
Jack McDowell struck out a career-high 11 in only six innings and Frank Thomas hit his 30th home run as Chicago salvaged a doubleheader split at Tiger Stadium.
McDowell (6-7) is 4-0 in his last seven starts. Roberto Hernandez went 11/3 innings for his ninth save. Four White Sox pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.
In the opener, Cecil Fielder and Tony Phillips homered in a four-run first inning for Detroit.