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BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Changing Speed, Rasmussen Gets Past Astros, 4-0

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From Associated Press

Dennis Rasmussen got better, and faster.

Rasmussen, in his second start since being sidelined by a shoulder injury in spring training, pitched seven rapid innings Thursday as the San Diego Padres snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating the Houston Astros, 4-0, at San Diego.

“I’ve been a slow worker and it’s kept the infielders and outfielders on their heels more than they should have been,” Rasmussen said.

“(Working quickly) doesn’t give the hitters as much time either to think about what I’m going to throw.”

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In two starts, both against Houston, Rasmussen (1-0) has given up one run in 14 innings. He gave up eight hits, but the Astros stranded 10 runners.

Jose Mota, son of Dodger coach Manny Mota, gave Rasmussen some breathing room with a two-run single off Jimmy Jones in the sixth to make it 4-0. Those were Mota’s first major league runs batted in.

Tony Fernandez hit a run-scoring single to give San Diego a 1-0 lead in the third, and Tom Lampkin hit an RBI single before Mota connected in the sixth.

Oakland 8, Toronto 6--Rickey Henderson led off the game with a homer and walked with the bases loaded in the eighth to force in the go-ahead run as the Athletics rallied to beat the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Toronto had a 6-5 lead in the eighth when Terry Steinbach, Willie Wilson and Jamie Quirk hit consecutive singles off Duane Ward (0-2) to load the bases.

Walt Weiss tied it with a sacrifice fly and Ward hit Mike Gallego with a pitch to reload the bases before Henderson walked. Ernest Riles added an RBI single.

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Joe Klink (4-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley went two innings to get his 13th save.

Jose Canseco hit his eighth home run for Oakland off the facing of the third deck. Mookie Wilson hit a three-run shot for Toronto and Roberto Alomar added a solo shot.

Seattle 11, Texas 4--Jay Buhner homered and drove in a career-high six runs at Arlington, Tex., as the Mariners sent the Rangers to their third consecutive defeat after a club-record 14-game winning streak.

Rookie Rich DeLucia (5-2) won his fourth in a row.

Seattle tagged Kenny Rogers (4-4) for eight runs, four earned, in two-plus innings. Rogers gave up four hits, walked seven and had two wild pitches.

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 2--Mark Gutrie stifled the Royals for 7 1/3 innings and the Twins spoiled Hal McRae’s home debut as manager at Kansas City.

Guthrie (4-3), pounded by Kansas City in an 11-2 defeat last week, gave up six hits and struck out four while winning for the fourth time in five starts. Rick Aguilera got the final five outs for his 10th save.

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Kurt Stillwell tripled leading off the Kansas City fifth and scored on a double by Bill Pecota before Guthrie retired three consecutive batters.

Greg Gagne singled home a run and Chuck Knoblach’s grounder scored another off Mark Gubizca (1-3) to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the third.

Chili Davis hit his ninth homer in the Twins’ ninth.

Baltimore 9, Boston 3--The Orioles, who have the league’s worst record, won their third consecutive game after losing their first four under Manager Johnny Oates by defeating the Red Sox at Boston.

Despite losing for the fifth time in six games, Boston kept its East lead by percentage points over Toronto.

Jeff Ballard (3-6) earned his first win since April 23, giving up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

After Matt Young (3-3) walked the first two batters in the fifth, Mike Devereaux hit a two-run double. Young walked the first three batters in the sixth and David Segui’s double made it 4-1. Bob Melvin singled home a run and Billy Ripken’s sacrifice fly made it 6-1.

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Sam Horn added a three-run homer in the ninth.

Atlanta 7, San Francisco 2--David Justice and Ron Gant each homered and had three hits as the Braves beat the Giants at San Francisco.

Jeff Blauser and Sid Bream also homered for the Braves, who won their fourth consecutive game, to back the five-hit pitching of John Smoltz (2-6).

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