AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : A’s Welch Becomes First 14-Game Winner

There are three goals that have eluded the Oakland Athletics’ Bob Welch after 13 major league seasons. He has never been a 20-game winner, he has never been the ace of a staff and he hasn’t won a World Series game.

All seem to be within reach in what may be his best season ever.

Welch, 33, held the Milwaukee Brewers to five hits and an unearned run in 7 1/3 innings Saturday at Oakland and, with the A’s winning, 3-1, became the majors’ first 14-game winner.

Jose Canseco hit his 24th home run of the season and Walt Weiss singled home two runs as the Athletics maintained their one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the American League West. Welch had a shutout until the eighth when Jamie Quirk, filling in at third base, made an error after Rick Honeycutt replaced Welch. Dennis Eckersley got the last four outs for his 28th save.

Welch, who lasted only three innings in his previous start because of a minor leg injury, threw 90 pitches in the first four innings and walked four before settling down.

Since May 5, Welch has been the key starter in the battle to hold off the White Sox. He has not given up more than four earned runs in his 19 starts and in his three defeats the A’s have scored a total of five runs.

“I’m not ready to even think about those things,” Welch said of his career goals. “I just want to do my part in the pennant race.”

Chicago 8, New York 7--The White Sox, who blew 6-4 and 9-3 leads in losing last week, had a 7-0 lead in this game at New York.

But the White Sox pulled out a victory this time on Ron Karko-vice’s fourth hit of the game, his fourth home run of the season, in the 10th inning.

The White Sox scored six runs in the second inning and took a 7-0 lead against Tim Leary.

Rookie Kevin Maas hit two home runs and drove in five runs to rally the Yankees. Don Mattingly, recently back in the lineup, singled in a run for his first hit in 14 at-bats.

Bobby Thigpen came in with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 10th to strike out Bob Geren and get his 29th save.

Cleveland 3, Seattle 0--The Indians continued their surge into contention in the East and Bud Black extended his scoreless string to 23 2/3 innings.

Black (8-4) gave up four hits in 7 2/3 innings and Doug Jones got his 25th save.

The Indians ended a six-game winning streak by left-hander Randy Johnson. Johnson (9-4) gave up all three runs and six hits in eight innings. Included was Cory Snyder’s 12th home run.

Texas 5, Detroit 3--Despite walking seven batters in 5 2/3 innings at Detroit, Nolan Ryan won No. 298.

Ryan had to leave after giving up four hits and three runs because his back, which has been bothering him most of the season, tightened.

In seven starts since his last no-hitter, June 11 at Oakland, Ryan is 5-1 with 60 strikeouts.

The Rangers, with Ryan’s first victory at Tiger Stadium in two years, have won seven in a row.

Kansas City 2-7, Boston 1-8--Ellis Burks’ pinch three-run home run highlighted a five-run eighth inning that brought the Red Sox behind for a split of their doubleheader at Boston.

In the opener, Roger Clemens tired after seven innings with a 1-0 lead and Jeff Reardon gave up run-scoring singles to Willie Wilson and Bill Pecota.

Reardon got the final out to save the second game.

Gerald Perry had seven hits in the doubleheader for the Royals.

Baltimore 3, Minnesota 2--Do the Orioles welcome Phil Bradley off the disabled list? In three games he has provided two game-winning hits.

His grand slam won the first game at Baltimore Friday night. In this one he singled home Mike Devereaux in the 11th inning with the winning run.