American League Roundup : Athletics Continue to Lull Opponents With Their Storm, Win, 5-0

With all the fine pitching the Oakland Athletics have, one of their best pitchers--Storm Davis--is often overlooked.

The right-hander, rated “sneaky fast” by the experts, is sneaking up on the other pitchers in the American League.

Although he has given up more than a hit per inning and has an earned-run average of 4.50, Davis has a shot at 20 victories.

Davis (16-6) pitched six shutout innings Sunday at Milwaukee for a 5-0 victory that kept the Athletics 2 1/2 games in front in the American League West. He left after six innings because of he slightly twisted his knee but is not expected to miss a turn.

Oakland’s one-two punch of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire finally cooled off, but others stepped forward. Carney Lansford, battling Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins and Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox for the batting title, doubled and singled, scored a run and drove in another. And Walt Weiss had three hits, drove in two runs and scored another.

Davis, who equaled his victory total for last season, struggled at times early in the season. He suffered dizzy spells at Seattle two weeks ago, but recovered and won. He has been brilliant since. He has given up only 12 runs in his last 51 2/3 innings.

“Milwaukee is one of those teams that is real aggressive and I’m an aggressive pitcher, so it’s either going to be me or them,” Davis said.

“You have to bear down against them. Paul Molitor is one of my worst nightmares and a reason the Brewers are tough for me.”

Kansas City 13, Texas 2--If the Raiders are hoping that the arrival of Bo Jackson will help solve their their problems, they might have a longer wait than they expected--say, until after baseball’s postseason.

Jackson, bothered for more than a month by a thigh muscle problem, is healthy again. As a result, the Royals are challenging Oakland in the West.

Jackson hit a three-run home run at Arlington, Tex., the third game in a row in which he has homered. He has 29 for the season.

The Royals have won 16 of their last 19 games to pull into contention. They trail Oakland by 2 1/2 games.

Jim Eisenreich also drove in three runs and helped make it easy for Mark Gubicza (14-10). He left after giving up an unearned run in five innings with an 8-1 lead.

Chicago 4, Baltimore 2--The Orioles, with a chance to move back into first place in the East, couldn’t solve Melido Perez (8-13) at Chicago.

After Carlton Fisk’s two-run single put him in front, Perez held the Orioles to six hits and two runs before Bobby Thigpen got the last five outs for his 29th save.

“We’re getting good pitching but we’re not scoring,” Oriole Manager Frank Robinson said. “We should have moved back into first. I don’t know why we’re not hitting.”

Minnesota 9, Toronto 4--The Twins have waited patiently for Rick Aguilera to deliver. He finally did, at Toronto.

Aguilera, who pitched mostly in relief the last two seasons before the New York Mets traded him for Frank Viola, was making his seventh start for the Twins. He gave up six hits and an unearned run in seven innings.

Left fielder Dan Gladden homered and threw two runners out at the plate as the Twins ended the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak.

Seattle 3, Boston 2--Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd was the loser of the game at Boston, but he was a winner in that he was able to pitch.

It was considered doubtful that the right-hander would ever make it back after a blood clot was found in his pitching arm May 1.

But Boyd went 5 2/3 innings in his return at Boston, giving up six hits and three runs, but only one earned. Henry Cotto’s two-run homer was the big blow in the fifth.

“I saw a new light about myself,” Boyd said. “I’m very positive about me.”

Detroit 12, Cleveland 3--It’s too late to accomplish much, but the Tigers figure they can hurt some pennant contenders.

Jack Morris (4-11) went the distance, giving up nine hits at Detroit and the Tigers beat the fading Indians for the third time in a row.