American League Roundup : Royals Win, 5-2, and Gain Share of Lead With Angels

Steve Balboni hit his 35th home run, and Charlie Leibrandt and Dan Quisenberry combined on an eight-hitter Thursday night to lead Kansas City to a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners and move the Royals into a first-place tie with the Angels in the American League West.

California, which was idle Thursday, and Kansas City each have 10 games remaining, including four games against each other next week at Kansas City.

Balboni’s two-run homer at Seattle highlighted the Royals’ three-run sixth inning and staked Leibrandt (17-8) to a 5-0 lead.

Leibrandt, who in one stretch retired 18 consecutive batters, departed in the eighth, and Quisenberry picked up his 35th save.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Willie Wilson led off with a walk, stole second and, one out later, scored on George Brett’s double.

The Royals made it 2-0 in the fourth. Frank White led off with a single and stole second. Balboni walked, and Omar Moreno was safe after Seattle first baseman Alvin Davis booted his grounder to load the bases.

With one out, pinch-hitter Dane Iorg grounded to Davis, who once again dropped the ball but was still able to get Iorg at first as White scored an unearned run.

In the sixth, Balboni’s homer, which broke the Royals’ club record of 34 set by John Mayberry in 1975, followed a leadoff walk to White. Moreno singled, and Seattle starter Billy Swift (5-10) walked Jim Sundberg. Moreno was forced at third on Onix Concepcion’s bunt. Wilson forced Concepcion, but Lonnie Smith singled home Sundberg.

Boston 4, Toronto 1--Rookie Jeff Sellers, a former Paramount High School player, tossed a three-hitter, and Mike Greenwell, also a rookie, hit his second two-run homer in two games to spark the Red Sox over the Blue Jays at Toronto. The game was delayed 3 hours 18 minutes at the start by rain.

The loss dropped Toronto’s lead in the East to 5 1/2 games over the New York, which had its game with Detroit at Yankee Stadium rained out.

Chicago 11, Oakland 7--Ron Kittle hit two homers and drove in five runs to lead the White Sox over the A’s at Oakland.

Baltimore 9, Milwaukee 1--Dennis Martinez tossed a seven-hitter, and Alan Wiggins and Mike Young each drove in two runs to lead the Orioles over the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Texas 2, Minnesota 0--Jose Guzman and Dwayne Henry combined on a six-hitter, and Pete O’Brien hit a home run as the Rangers beat the Twins at Arlington, Tex.