AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Brunansky Powers Red Sox Past Rangers

Tom Brunansky, hampered by nagging injuries, hasn’t really provided the power the Red Sox expected when he was acquired from St. Louis for bullpen ace Lee Smith early in the season.

But Brunansky might be ready to provide the punch for the Red Sox as they try to pull away from the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East.

Brunansky hit his sixth home run since joining the Red Sox in early May and drove in five runs to lead a 15-4 victory over the Texas Rangers Sunday at Boston.

The victory, which came after the Rangers chased Wes Gardner in a four-run first inning, kept the Red Sox 3 1/2 games ahead of Toronto.

Left-hander Tom Bolton took over in the first inning and held the Rangers to three hits in 7 1/3 innings to get his first victory. He also eased the burden on the overworked Red Sox bullpen.

Brunansky drove in a run with an infield out in the first inning and the Red Sox scored eight runs in the second, chasing Kevin Brown. Brunansky singled in a run in the second, then hit a three-run home run in the seventh.

Carlos Quintana, who had four hits, drove in two runs in the second with two singles.

When Brunansky joined the Red Sox, he had back problems. Later he suffered a bruised shoulder. But he is starting to hit the ball hard.

Brunansky extended his hitting streak to 11 games during which he is batting .341 and has driven in 11 runs.

The Red Sox, after taking four in a row from the Blue Jays to take over first place in the East, had lost the first two games to the Rangers.

“I’m really starting to feel comfortable at the plate,” said Brunansky, who has hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last eight seasons. “I think I can start providing the kind of power we need to win the division.”

Bolton, 28, has spent most of the past 11 seasons in the minors. He was recalled June 13. In parts of three previous seasons with the Red Sox, he won two games.

“We had to win this one,” Bolton said. “The big guy (Nolan Ryan) goes (for the Rangers) tomorrow.”

Minnesota 4, Baltimore 3--Cal Ripken Jr. broke the American League record for shortstops when he played in his 73rd consecutive errorless game. He also hit a home run and drove in two runs at Seattle, but could not keep the Orioles from losing.

Brian Harper singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth right after Ripken’s diving stop prevented Gary Gaetti from getting the game-winning hit.

Kirby Puckett opened the last inning against Gregg Olsen (4-3) by drawing a walk.

The Twins had been held scoreless for 17 innings before Kent Hrbek hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

Ripken’s home run in the sixth cut the Twins’ lead to a run and Ripken’s single drove in the tying run in the eighth. Last week Ripken’s record was extended only because an official scorer changed his ruling and made an error a hit.

Toronto 4, Oakland 3--It took a jarring play at the plate in the eighth inning at Toronto for the stumbling Blue Jays to end a six-game losing streak.

With the score tied, 3-3, Tony Fernandez and Kelly Gruber singled to start the rally off Todd Burns (2-2). George Bell was safe when shortstop Walt Weiss bobbled his hard grounder.

Rick Honeycutt came in to face Fred McGriff, who had hit his 17th home run in the second inning. McGriff flied to center and Dave Henderson threw to the plate, the ball arrived before Fernandez. However, Fernandez jarred the ball from catcher Terry Steinbach and scored the winning run.

The Athletics, who fell out of first place in the West, tied the score in the seventh on a two-run single by Weiss.

Rookie Willie Blair, who worked out of a jam in the eighth with one out and two runners on base, got his first major league victory.

Detroit 9, Kansas City 4--Besides all of the other problems that has beset them this season, the Royals were victimized by questionable strategy in this game at Kansas City.

Trailing, 5-4, in the ninth inning, the Royals gave an intentional walk to Alan Trammell to set up a potential inning-ending double play. The only problem was that the next hitter was leading the league in home runs and runs batted in. So, Cecil Fielder singled in two runs, the Tigers broke the game open and Jack Morris (7-9) beat the Royals for the fourth time in a row.

The Royals’ Bo Jackson, who dropped a fly ball in center field, also hit a 460-foot home run.

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 5--The Mariners took a grip on third place in the West when Matt Sinatro drew a bases-loaded walk against Tom Edens in the 12th inning at Seattle. It was the Mariners’ fifth consecutive victory.

The Mariners, who have never finished as high as .500, are 40-38.

But Manager Jim Lefebvre isn’t satisified. “Ask any guy in the clubhouse and he’ll tell you our goal is not to play .500 but well over .500,” he said.