American League Roundup : Twins’ Magic Number Is 4 After a 4-0 Win Over Texas

Frank Viola pitched three-hit ball for eight innings, and Greg Gagne hit an inside-the-park home run as the Minnesota Twins moved closer to the American League West title by beating the Texas Rangers, 4-0, Thursday night at Minneapolis for their sixth straight victory.

The Twins reduced their magic number for clinching the division title to four.

Viola (17-9) and Juan Berenguer combined on a three-hitter. Viola, who did not allow a hit until Steve Buechele led off the sixth inning with a single, struck out 10, walked 3 and lowered his earned run average to 2.88, second-best in the league.

Viola has won nine straight at the Metrodome, and the Twins have won seven in a row at home to boost their record in Minneapolis to 55-23, best home mark in the majors.

Texas’ Charlie Hough (17-12) allowed 6 hits, walked 3 and hit 3 batters. He struck out 7 in his 12th complete game.

Milwaukee 7, Boston 6--Mike Felder’s single to right field, the Brewers’ 17th hit of the game off five Red Sox pitchers, scored B.J. Surhoff from third base with no outs in the ninth inning for the win at Milwaukee.

Paul Molitor had four hits to raise his average to .357 and is now only three plate appearances shy of qualifying for the batting title. Molitor trails Boston’s Wade Boggs, who is hitting .363 but has not started the last two games because of a bruised left knee.

Dale Sveum had three hits to give him 12 in his last 19 at-bats.

Chicago 4, Oakland 2--Floyd Bannister pitched a five-hitter for his sixth victory in seven decisions and his third consecutive complete game as the White Sox won at Oakland.

Bannister (14-11) did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

Bannister had a 4-0 shutout in the eighth inning, but Dwayne Murphy hit a two-out homer and Mark McGwire also connected in the ninth. McGwire’s homer was his 47th, tying Reggie Jackson’s club record set in 1969. Murphy’s seventh homer of the season ended Bannister’s streak of 28 innings without allowing an earned run.