SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Chan Ho Park gave up five runs on six hits in two
innings in his first spring start, but the Texas Rangers overcame
their ace's struggles and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 14-8 Sunday for
their first Cactus League win.

Ruben Sierra, the 37-year-old outfielder back in camp as a non-roster
player, hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning off Matt Childers
to put the Rangers ahead 8-7. An inning later, Carl Everett added a
two-run double.

New Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin, who was the Texas GM for
seven years before being fired after the 2001 season, sat in the
front row by the Brewers' dugout. It was his first visit to the
Surprise complex he helped develop while with the Rangers.

Park didn't get an out until the sixth Milwaukee batter, and gave up
four runs in the first inning.

Still, the outing wasn't a huge concern for Park or manager Buck
Showalter. They were pleased that the right-hander was healthy after
an injury-plagued season that started with a right hamstring problem
in the spring.

"Honestly, this was a little test and it didn't fail," Park said.

Park threw mostly fastballs among his 40 pitches, and said he missed
his target early when he tried to throw too hard at times.

"He threw crisp with stuff, and felt good with no problems with the
leg," Showalter said. "It's a step in the right direction. He'll feel
better and better every time out."

Park was 9-8 with a 5.75 ERA last season, his first after signing a
$65 million, five-year contract to be the No. 1 starter for the
Rangers. He had two stints on the disabled list, for the hamstring
and later a blistered finger, before five straight wins.

Alex Sanchez and Manny Alexander led off the game with consecutive
singles before John Vander Wal hit a two-run double. Park then walked
Jeffrey Hammonds and hit Wes Helms on the back of his right shoulder.
Helms left with a bruise and is day-to-day.

Park gave up runs even while getting his first two outs. A wild pitch
on a strikeout allowed a run and wiped out the double-play chance
before an RBI groundout. Vander Wal added another RBI double in the
second for a 5-0 lead.

"I didn't make a first-pitch strike to start and then hit a batter
after two strikes," Park said. "Those two things I have to adjust."

The Rangers tied the game with a five-run second started by Kevin
Mench's leadoff homer, the first of his three hits. Alex Rodriguez
and Rafael Palmeiro had their first RBIs of the spring, Rodriguez
with a two-run double before scoring on Palmeiro's double.

After Joaquin Benoit replaced Park to start the third, Enrique Cruz
had a leadoff single and Robert Machado followed with an RBI double.
Royce Clayton's RBI single put the Brewers up 7-5.

Ray Beasley, the third of seven Texas pitchers, was the winner with
one shutout inning.

Notes: Brewers OF Alex Sanchez, C Javier Valentin and pitchers John
Foster, Wayne Franklin, Mike Matthews, Ruben Quevedo, Luis Vizcaino
and Matt Kinney signed one-year contracts. ... Texas OF Juan
Gonzalez, sidelined for a week with back spasms, went through a full
workout and is scheduled to be the DH in a "B" game Monday. ... LHP
C.J. Nitkowski, the Rangers' scheduled starter Monday against San
Diego, missed workouts because of the flu.