AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Eckersley Down After Giving Up Homer

Dennis Eckersley has given up bigger home runs, such as the one to Kirk Gibson of the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, but he can’t remember feeling worse about a loss.

“This is right there, for my whole career. I just feel so responsible,” Eckersley said after he gave up a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Jerry Browne that capped a four-run eighth inning that gave the Cleveland Indians an 8-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics, 8-7, Thursday night at Cleveland.

“(Gibson’s home run) I’ve forgotten,” Eckersley said. “The pain for me has gone away from that. This was the toughest game for me that I can remember.”

Eckersley (1-2) blew a save for the fifth time in 29 opportunities this season. Three of the blown saves have been against Cleveland, which has scored six runs in 5 1/3 innings against him.

“It’s hard to explain that,” Eckersley said. “It wasn’t on my mind.”

He entered the game with a 7-4 lead and runners at second and third with two out in the eighth. Mike Aldrete’s bad-hop single off first baseman Mark McGwire drove in two runs, and Browne followed with his first home run of the season, ending the A’s three-game winning streak.

Eckersley has given up eight home runs this season in 44 2/3 innings, compared with two in 73 1/3 innings last year.

Browne improved to six for 13 as a pinch-hitter, which he considers little consolation for losing his starting job at second base.

Mike York (1-2) got the victory after getting two outs in the top of the eighth. Steve Olin pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Minnesota 9, Detroit 3--Dan Gladden drove in four runs, and Scott Erickson gained his major league-leading 14th victory as the Twins beat the Tigers at Detroit.

Erickson (14-3) gave up three runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Scott Aldred (0-1) gave up six runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings for Detroit.

Minnesota broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the fourth inning.

With one out, Kent Hrbek walked and Scott Leius singled. One out later, Gladden doubled past Lloyd Moseby’s glove to score both runners. Rusty Meacham relieved Aldred, and gave up a run-scoring single to Kirby Puckett.

The Twins added a run in the fifth when Meacham balked home Shane Mack.

Kansas City 2, Milwaukee 0--Luis Aquino pitched four-hit ball over eight innings at Kansas City and Todd Benzinger drove in his ninth run in the past three games as the Royals extended their winning streak to five games.

Aquino (4-2), a part-time starter, struck out five and walked none before Jeff Montgomery finished for his 18th save. Jim Hunter (0-4) remained winless as the Brewers fell to 1-6 on a 10-game trip.

The Royals had three hits, a walk and a hit batsman in the fourth but managed only two runs.

Chicago 7, Toronto 1--Ron Karkovice doubled home three runs at Chicago and Charlie Hough ended his three-game losing streak with his 101st complete game in the White Sox victory.

Karkovice’s fourth-inning opposite field double against loser Todd Stottlemyre (10-4), was barely fair, striking the foul line and erasing a 1-0 Toronto lead.

Dan Pasqua had a two-run triple during a four-run fifth, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.

Hough (6-6), gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out four for his 192nd career victory. He gave up a third-inning sacrifice fly to Roberto Alomar, but in the fifth he escaped trouble by retiring Alomar on a flyball, stranding runners on second and third.

Seattle 6, New York 3--Jay Buhner homered over the left-field bullpen and Harold Reynolds hit a go-ahead, two-run single at New York as the Mariners won for the 10th time in 14 games since the All-Star break.

Bill Krueger (8-3) gave up four hits and three unearned runs in six innings against the Yankees as he won his third consecutive start. He struck out two and walked three.

Krueger also evened his career record at 44-44, the first time he has been at .500 since Sept. 1, 1986, when he pitched for Oakland and was 27-27. He increased his record against the Yankees to 7-2.

Wade Taylor (5-5) lost for the third time in four starts, giving up six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.