Major League Roundup : Viola Is First to Win 19 as Twins Defeat Tigers

Before Frank Viola chases Cy Young, he wants to chase the Oakland Athletics.

Viola became the first 19-game winner in the majors and John Moses went 4 for 4 with a tie-breaking solo home run in the seventh inning Monday night as Minnesota beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1, at Detroit, moving the Twins within eight games of the A’s in the American League West.

“That (the Cy Young Award) doesn’t mean anything right now,” Viola said. “I’ll take it at the end of the season. If I look back and I say, ‘Hey, I did pretty good,’ then that will come into play.

“The most important thing we ever achieved was the world championship last year. We know how to do it. I’m just trying to give ourselves a chance again. All the individual stuff will be great--after the season.”

Viola (19-4) gave up seven hits and lowered his league-leading earned-run average to 2.36. He struck out seven and walked one in his sixth complete game.

The Twins beat the Tigers, in first place in the East, for the sixth time in seven games, with Viola going 3-0. Last year, Minnesota defeated Detroit in five games in the league championship series to advance to the World Series.

“Viola pitched outstanding, he deserved to win,” Walt Terrell said. “They’ve got pretty good pitching, play good defense and hit the ball very well.”

Moses’ home run, his second of the season, came with two outs in the seventh inning against Terrell (6-10). Moses also had three singles.

Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 3--Ken Oberkfell hit a double and scored in the sixth inning and then put the Braves in the lead with a two-run triple in the seventh to key the victory at Pittsburgh.

Charlie Puleo (3-3) pitched 4 scoreless innings in relief, allowing four hits and striking out five. Ed Olwine got the final out for his first save since Aug. 21, 1987, also against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s Bob Walk (11-9) lost his fifth straight start since July 20 as the Pirates fell 5 1/2 games behind the NL-leading New York Mets, who were idle.

“This club was not ready to play, and I’ll take the responsibility for that because that’s the manager’s job,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said. “There was absolutely no excuse for that. I can tolerate anything, but I can’t tolerate not being prepared to play.”

Added outfielder R.J. Reynolds: “I hope everybody remembers this game, because some games you get beat and some games you beat yourselves, and this was a game we beat ourselves. We didn’t have any life. We’ve got everything to gain, and these are the games we can’t let get away.”

Andy Van Slyke was 2 for 4 with a double, triple and 2 stolen bases for Pittsburgh.

Kansas City 12, Texas 3--Danny Tartabull, Frank White and Kurt Stillwell each had a two-run doubles to power the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.

The Royals took a 6-0 lead on only three hits, all doubles, as Texas pitchers walked 6 batters in the first three innings. In all, Kansas City collected 6 doubles, 8 walks, 1 triple and a home run.

Said Kansas City pitcher Charlie Leibrandt: “I came in to this game 6-11. I was just thinking about what I had to do to keep from blowing it.”

Willie Wilson went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 runs scored, and George Brett broke an 0-for-9 slump with his 20th home run.

Houston 7, San Diego 3--The Astros kept the pressure on the Dodgers in the National League West at Houston as Nolan Ryan (9-10) won for the first time since July 27.

The victory was career victory No. 270 for Ryan.

Houston broke the game open with four runs in the seventh. Gerald Young and Terry Puhl both had two-run singles.

“A bases-loaded situation is a hitter’s dream,” Young said. “I was shaking in my boots when I was up there, but I came through in a pressure situation.”

Glenn Davis homered for the Astros, his 23rd of the season but first since July 22.

Milwaukee 4, Baltimore 1--Teddy Higuera allowed five hits over eight innings and Jim Adduci delivered a two-run double at Milwaukee to end the Orioles’ two-game winning streak.

Higuera (9-8) struck out nine--including five straight at one point--and walked none. Dan Plesac struck out two in the ninth to earn his 28th save.

The Brewers scored three runs in the fourth off Jose Bautista (6-11).