AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Jose Prospers When Henderson Sits

Oakland outfielder Rickey Henderson sat out Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, but the defending World Series champions got another all-star performance from reserve Felix Jose.

Jose had four hits, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning off Jay Tibbs as the Athletics defeated the Orioles, 6-4, at Baltimore for their eighth road victory in as many games.

“I’ve been looking forward to having a big night in the big leagues,” said Jose, who drove in four runs. “I hoped I could have one like this one day.”

Jose, 24, has started in place of or was a late-inning replacement for Henderson three times this week and has gone five for nine with five runs batted in.

Jose had only six major league RBIs, none this year, before the Athletics went to Baltimore.

Mike Moore (1-1) earned the victory and Dennis Eckersley pitched the last two innings for his sixth save.

Walt Weiss homered for the A’s.

Cleveland 4, Toronto 3--Knuckleballer Tom Candiotti flirted with a no-hitter at Toronto, but the roof caved in on his bid in the seventh inning when George Bell hit a bloop single up the middle, Fred McGriff followed with a single to right and Greg Myers hit a three-run homer.

Candiotti (3-0) had nine strikeouts and walked three. Doug Jones earned his fifth save.

Cory Snyder and Candy Maldonado hit home runs for the Indians, who avoided a sweep in the four-game series.

Milwaukee 3, Kansas City 2--Rob Deer drove in two runs at Milwaukee with a bloop double, giving the Brewers a three-game sweep and keeping Milwaukee’s starting pitchers unbeaten.

Mark Knudson (1-0) gave up eight hits in 6 2/3 innings and raised the record of Milwaukee’s starters to 7-0.

Mark Gubicza (1-3) lost his third consecutive game, allowing eight hits and striking out 10.

Seattle 6, New York 2--Harold Reynolds hit a home run for the Mariners at New York, the first road homer of Reynolds’ career.

He capped a five-run second inning with his seventh career homer--his first since Sept. 30, 1988.

Jesse Barfield hit two homers for the Yankees, including a seventh-inning shot into the right field bleachers that was the 200th of his career.