American League Roundup : Streaking Royals Beat A’s Again

Charlie Leibrandt pitched a two-hitter Wednesday night to lead the Kansas City Royals to their fifth straight victory, a 2-0 win over the Oakland Athletics at Oakland.

Kansas City improved its record against Oakland this year to 5-0 and pulled within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Athletics in the American League West. The Royals trailed by 13 games on June 1.

Leibrandt (3-9), walked one and struck out four in his first shutout and second complete game of the season. Leibrandt needed just 92 pitches to defeat the Athletics, who have scored one run--an unearned one at that--in their last 18 innings.

Leibrandt, who had lost eight of his previous nine decisions, won for the first time since May 19 and only the second time since April 16. Oakland starter Bob Welch (8-4), allowed two runs and 10 hits in eight innings.

George Brett left the game in the eighth inning with a bruised right hand after being hit by a Welch fastball. Brett’s status is day-to-day.

Milwaukee 5, Seattle 1--Teddy Higuera had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning, but a .148 hitter ended his hopes.

Steve Balboni hit a home run to lead off the eighth as Higuera joined the growing list of pitchers with near-miss no-hitters this season in the Brewers’ victory over the Mariners at Milwaukee. Higuera retired the next three batters to end the inning.

“That’s baseball,” said Higuera, who did not pitch the ninth inning because of a tender shoulder.

Higuera (6-4) walked one and struck out four. Dan Plesac earned his 15th save.

Bothered by back problems earlier in the season, Higuera has given up only three earned runs in his last 33 innings.

This was the second time in his career that Higuera took a no-hitter into the eighth. He pitched no-hit ball for 7 innings against Kansas City last Sept. 1 before Ross Jones broke it up with a triple.

Seattle’s Mark Langston (5-7) got the loss.

Boston 8, New York 3--Two straight victories over the Yankees have the Red Sox believing that they can get back into the American League East race.

“The thing I hope is that we can keep playing with the emotion and intensity,” Manager John McNamara said after the Red Sox beat New York at Fenway Park.

Ellis Burks went 4 for 5, including his third career grand slam to cap a five-run second inning, and Spike Owen hit a bases-empty home run for the Red Sox.

The win moved Boston, currently in fifth place, within eight games of first-place New York. The Yankees’ lead dropped to one game over second-place Detroit.

Bruce Hurst (8-3) pitched 5 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Rookie left-hander Al Leiter (4-3), making his first start since being hit on his throwing arm by a line drive May 31, took the loss.

Minnesota 5, Chicago 1--Minnesota pitcher Allan Anderson says his team’s recent hot streak can be attributed to one thing--confidence. Not to mention good pitching.

Anderson (4-3) held the White Sox to just an unearned run over 6 innings to win his third straight game and give the Twins their 18th victory in their last 24 games. They also moved within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Athletics.

Anderson allowed nine hits, walked one and struck out four. Keith Atherton retired the last seven batters for his second save.

Jack McDowell (2-6), lost for the fourth straight time and is winless since May 4.

Detroit 1, Baltimore 0--At Detroit, Jeff Robinson pitched his second shutout of the season--a five-hitter--for his seventh straight victory.

Robinson (8-2), struck out four, walked one and didn’t allow a runner to reach third. Baltimore starter Mike Boddicker (3-9), allowed only two hits in seven innings, walked five and struck out three as his winning streak was snapped at three.

It marked the sixth time Baltimore has won the first game of a three-game series and then lost the next two. The Orioles’ road record is 6-28.

Toronto 15, Cleveland 3--The Toronto Blue Jays are making up for the support they failed to give Dave Stieb in recent years.

Stieb, who at times has been critical of his teammates for not scoring enough runs for him, was backed by a 17-hit attack as the Blue Jays cruised to victory over the Indians in front of a crowd of 45,472, the largest at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium this season.

Stieb struck out six in seven innings to improve his record to 9-3. He has won seven times in his last eight starts. Greg Swindell (10-4) was the loser.