American League Roundup : Kansas City’s 5-Run 7th Downs Oakland, 5-2

Jamie Quirk broke up a scoreless game with a bases-loaded single off Jose Rijo in the seventh, and the Kansas City Royals scored four more runs in the inning to beat the Oakland A’s, 5-2, Friday night at Oakland.

Winning pitcher Mark Gubicza (13-7) had allowed only one hit in the first six innings. Rijo (3-3) yielded just two while striking out nine batters before leaving in the seventh.

Gubicza gave up three hits and two runs in the seventh before Dan Quisenberry came out of the bullpen to earn his 34th save.

Kansas City maintained its two-game lead over the Angels in the West by winning for the 11th time in 12 games.

Hal McRae opened the seventh with a single off Rijo. After Frank White flied out, the Royals loaded the bases on a walk to Steve Balboni and a bloop single by Darryl Motley.

Quirk’s tie-breaking hit was a blooper to left field. Rijo was relieved by Steve Ontiveros, and the second run scored when pinch-hitter Jorge Orta grounded into a force play. Oakland shortstop Alfredo Griffin booted what appeared to be a certain double-play grounder, but he was able to make the force at second.

Omar Moreno singled in a run, a throwing error by right fielder Mike Davis allowed one to score, and Lonnie Smith had an RBI single.

Oakland’s Tony Phillips hit his third homer leading off the bottom of the seventh, and the A’s got their second run on a double by Davis and a single by Dwayne Murphy.

Cleveland 3-1, Minnesota 2-3--Frank Viola and Ron Davis combined on an eight-hitter, and Mark Salas and Gary Gaetti homered as the Twins beat the Indians in the second game for a split of their twi-night doubleheader at Cleveland.

In the first game, Curt Wardle, acquired from Minnesota in the Bert Blyleven trade on Aug. 1, improved his record to 7-7. He allowed seven hits in 7 innings against his former teammates, and the Indians scored all their runs in the first inning.

Baltimore 6, Detroit 4--Floyd Rayford hit a three-run homer and Eddie Murray a solo shot as the Orioles extended the Tigers’ losing streak to eight games.

Scott McGregor (12-12) gave up two runs in the first inning but settled down to blank the Tigers until he left with two out in the seventh. Don Aase got the last three outs for his 11th save.

Milwaukee 6, Boston 3--Paul Householder hit two doubles, walked, scored a run and drove in a run at Milwaukee in leading the Brewers to their second win in a row after seven straight losses.

Tim Leary (1-0) making his first American League appearance, held Boston to seven hits while striking out six in 7 innings. Danny Darwin, the third Milwaukee pitcher, got two outs for his first save.

Leary was obtained from the New York Mets in an off-season trade and was 10-7 for Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League before joining the Brewers Wednesday.

Chicago 6, Seattle 1--Julio Cruz singled with the bases loaded in the ninth, and Joe DeSa followed with a grand slam, breaking up a 1-1 game at Seattle.

Both Cruz and DeSa were pinch-hitting.

The White Sox loaded the bases off starter Matt Young (11-15) with singles by Tim Hulett, Harold Baines and Carlton Fisk. After reliever Ed Nunez struck out Greg Walker, Ed Vande Berg came on, and Cruz, hitting just .235, lined a single to break the tie.