AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Buechele Helps Rangers Extend Streak to Eight

Almost everybody who sees Steve Buechele play third base marvels at his defensive ability.

A lifetime .237 hitter, the 29-year-old infielder hasn’t been getting those kinds of raves for his hitting. That might be changing.

Buechele hit a home run in his third consecutive game, and the Texas Rangers set a club record by beating the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, Tuesday night at Minneapolis for their eighth victory in a row.

Buechele, who has hit four home runs and driven in nine runs in the past six games, hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Buechele, who bats in the No. 8 spot in the lineup, also singled and scored a run in the eighth when the Rangers took a 6-3 lead and barely lasted.

The Rangers learned shortly before the game that pitcher Nolan Ryan’s right shoulder is still painful and he had to go on the disabled list. But that didn’t deter from their determined drive into contention in the West.

With the two teams ahead of them losing, the Rangers are only one game out of first place in the American League West.

“We have an eight-game winning streak,” Buechele said. “But now we need to win one more in a row. We have a real confident feeling. Whether we’re down 1-0 or 3-0, we feel we can comeback.”

Bobby Witt (2-3) was the winner, overcoming a two-run home run by Kirby Puckett.

Boston 10, Milwaukee 6--After a disastrous weekend in Texas, the Red Sox have reasserted themselves as the leaders of the East.

They spotted the Brewers an early 5-0 lead and stormed back to win their second in a row at Boston.

Tom Brunansky hit a three-run home run to climax a six-run third inning when the Red Sox took over.

Mike Greenwell also played a prominent role, going four for four.

Winner Joe Hesketh (2-0) gave up one run and five hits in four innings of relief.

“It’s good to come back from a deficit and win the ballgame,” Greenwell said. “These are confidence-building types.

“It is a good feeling for our pitchers, who have carried us for a long time, to know that we can wipe out a big deficit.”

Kansas City 4, Seattle 3--Even when the Mariners lose these days, they go down battling.

Warren Cromartie singled in a run in the eighth inning at Kansas City and the Royals handed the Mariners only their second defeat in the past nine games.

Kevin Appier, who had lost five in a row, pitched a five-hitter for the victory.

Cromartie had never faced Mike Jackson, but he called on his 12 years of experience. “I looked for the ball and got lucky,” he said. “Generally, in that situation, the pitcher has the advantage. You just have to use your natural instincts and try to see the ball.”

Cleveland 5, New York 2--Greg Swindell has been the victim of some tough-luck defeats, but it hasn’t upset him.

Although he lowered his earned-run average to 2.39, Swindell earned only his second victory against five defeats.

Swindell gave up eight hits but only one earned run and pitched his second complete game.

The Indians had scored two runs or fewer in six of his previous eight starts.

Baltimore 5, Detroit 4--Tim Hulett hit a two-run home run with one out in the ninth inning at Detroit to end the Orioles’ three-game losing streak.

Billy Ripken started the ninth with a single against Paul Gibson, but Brady Anderson struck out trying to sacrifice. Hulett then hit an 0-and-2 pitch for his fourth home run.

Mike Flanagan, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, picked up the victory.

Former Oriole Mickey Tettleton had given the Tigers a 4-3 lead in the third inning. The pitchers then took charge until Hulett unloaded.

Hulett turned out to be the right replacement for injured Craig Worthington at third base.

Toronto 11, Oakland 7--After losing a 1-0 game to the Blue Jays Monday night at Oakland, the A’s were outslugged in this one.

Greg Myers’ three-run double highlighted a six-run fourth inning that put Toronto in charge.