AMERICAN LEAGUE: AROUND THE HORN : NOMAR SPEAKS WITH HIS STICK.

Byline: - Matt McHale

When Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was beating up the Angels last weekend, he had no idea it was only the beginning.

In Tuesday night's 12-4 rout of Seattle, Garciaparra hit three home runs, including two grand slams, and finished with 10 RBI.

``It was amazing,'' Garciaparra said later. ``I've never in my life hit three home runs, let alone two grand slams. It was something else. I was crossing the plate (after the second grand slam) and I was looking at the guys. I didn't know what to say. I was speechless.''

Garciaparra had a 15-game hitting streak entering the weekend. Last year, there were just two occasions where he went consecutive games without a hit. He did not go three straight games without a hit all season.

STAYING HOME

Despite a surprising start, the Chicago White Sox aren't drawing at Comiskey Park. Through Wednesday, the Sox had drawn 186,729 in 15 home dates, an AL-low average of 12,448 that projects to 983,392 over 79 dates (two games have been lost to rainouts). With the exception of the 1981 strike year, the Sox haven't failed to draw 1 million since 1976.

Owner Jerry Reinsdorf says he believes his team would be doing better had the Illinois legislature not required the new Comiskey be built next door to the old one in the heart of Chicago's rough South Side instead of the suburbs.

REVOLVING CLOSERS

Since the White Sox traded closer Roberto Hernandez to the Giants on July 31, 1997, a tag team of Sox closers - from Matt Karchner to Bill Simas to Bob Howry - has converted 57 of 63 save opportunities, including 17 of 20 by Howry, who was among six players acquired in the White Flag trade. Hernandez has gone 42 for 56. Howry is part of a bullpen in which the average pitcher earns $367,500 - less than 1/16th of Hernandez's $6 million salary with Tampa Bay.

OVERHEARD

Before the start of a three-game series between the Indians and Orioles on Monday, former teammates Robbie Alomar and Brady Anderson talked. ``We were talking tennis,'' said Anderson. ``We asked each other how come our girlfriends can't beat Venus Williams.'' Anderson's girlfriend is Amanda Coetzer and Alomar is engaged to Mary Pierce, both members of the women's tour.

MILESTONES

Long-time Twins prospect/disappointment Frankie Rodriguez pitched a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader between Triple-A Salt Lake and the Cubs' minor-league affiliate at Des Moines, Iowa. Rodriguez won 2-1, the only run scoring after a first-inning throwing error by former El Camino Real High infielder Dan Cey, son of Ron Cey.

``It means something, but it's not the same,'' said Rodriguez, who came in 2-3 with an 8.10 ERA. ``It's not the same as a nine-inning no-hitter, and it's not the big leagues. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.'' . . .

Toronto's Alex Gonzalez and Carlos Delgado, who had their first major-league hits four days apart in April 1994, nearly reached the 500 milestone in the same game Tuesday night. Gonzalez, who doubled on April 8, 1994, to end an 0-for-10 start, got No. 500 with a first-inning double. Two batters later, Delgado, who came in with 498, scored Gonzalez with a single but went hitless the rest of the night. Delgado, who had one at-bat in '93, had a single and homer on opening day in 1994.

OVERLOOKED?

Yankees coaches Willie Randolph and Chris Chambliss, both of whom are black, were disappointed at being overlooked as the Yankees' temporary replacement to Joe Torre. Both men have been waiting patiently to manage in the big leagues, only to have 68-year-old Don Zimmer - who was on the verge of retiring - take Torre's spot as a favor to George Steinbrenner.

``You have to be patient,'' Randolph said. ``If you keep asking, `When am I going to get a shot?' you start to sound a little bitter, like Davey Lopes. I love the game too much for that.''

The real crossroads comes in two years, when Torre is expected to retire. Chambliss and Randolph are both expecting to be front-line candidates, although there are some in the organization who believe former Met/Yankee Lee Mazzilli is moving up quickly after winning seasons in two years at Single-A and Double-A.