AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Quintana Delivers Big Homer; Red Sox Win, 7-5

Carlos Quintana had not hit a home run since last July 30 and he had been benched for poor play.

But the Boston Red Sox, who do almost nothing wrong these days, put the Venzuelan back on first base for Tuesday night’s opener with the hot Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis.

Quintana hit a three-run home run with two out in the eighth inning and lifted the Red Sox to a 7-5 victory.

The Red Sox, who are 9-2 since April 19, ended the Twins’ five-game winning streak. Although they closed out the month 9-2, the Twins finished the month below .500.

Oakland 7, New York 3--Although he failed in his attempt to break the stolen-base record against his former mates at Oakland, Rickey Henderson had a single that figured in the winning rally in the sixth inning.

The Athletics, who have beaten the Yankees 15 times in a row, trailed, 2-0, but scored four times in the sixth, with Mark McGwire’s two-run double the big blow.

Jose Canseco hit a two-run home run in the seventh and Bob Welch, after a rocky start, improved to 5-0 lifetime against the Yankees.

After his sixth-inning single, Henderson was on his way for the 939th steal when Canseco ripped a single, sending Henderson to third. That was the beginning of the end for the Yankees.

Detroit 13, Kansas City 7--It was a rainy night in Kansas City, but it didn’t bother the sluggers.

Rob Deer hit a grand slam in the fourth inning for the Tigers and Lou Whitaker hit a tiebreaking shot in the eighth.

The Royals’ young Brian McRae had an inside-the-park home run in the fourth.

Texas 8, Toronto 5--Until he slumped last season and hit only 16 home runs, outfielder Ruben Sierra was a Ranger in demand.

There were few inquiries during the off-season and there are fewer this spring.

It all may change. Sierra, starting to swing the bat again, hit two home runs and drove in five runs at Arlington, Tex. After a slow start, he now has four home runs.

It was his three-run blast in the seventh inning that broke a 4-4 tie and carried the Rangers to victory.

Sierra’s homer made a winner again of Rich Gossage. Since joining the Rangers after a tour of Japan, Gossage is 2-0.

Milwaukee 8, Chicago 2--Two sluggers familiar to Southern California fans, Dante Bichette and Franklin Stubbs, hit home runs at Milwaukee to lead the Brewers.

Stubbs, a former Dodger, hit his first American League home run. Bichette, a former Angel, hit his second of the season.

The Brewers pounded out 13 hits to get the victory for Chris Bosio. Bosio, who gave up five hits and walked three, barely made it through five innings, making 92 pitches, to improve his record to 3-2.

Seattle 6, Baltimore 3--Erik Hanson wasn’t happy with his pitching performance, but the way the Mariners handle the Orioles, it didn’t much matter.

Hanson lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and all three runs. But his teammates came through at Baltimore.

Dave Valle hit a home run for the second game in a row and the Mariners beat the Orioles for the seventh time in a row.

Ken Griffey Jr. made two spectacular catches in center field to help Hanson (2-1).

Dwight Evans hit his first home run as an Oriole and the 380th of his career.

There was some good news for the Orioles. Glenn Davis will not need surgery on his injured shoulder and may return in about three weeks.