AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Gladden Finally Gets to Help Twins Win

Dan Gladden had suffered all season while sidelined with a painful stomach. He could only watch as the Minnesota Twins built their lead in the American League West.

Gladden, one of the few players left from the 1987 Twin club that won the World Series, is finally contributing.

In two games since coming off the disabled list, he has driven in seven runs and helped win two games.

Gladden doubled with the bases loaded, driving in three runs to break a tie and give the Twins a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night at Minneapolis. With Chicago not playing, the Twins increased their division lead to 4 1/2 games.

The double gave Kevin Tapani (7-7) the victory. Tapani gave up five hits in eight innings and Rick Aguilera took over in the ninth to pick up his 26th save.

Tapani had a two-hitter going into the sixth inning when he gave up back-to-back doubles and then a triple to Darryl Hamilton that put Milwaukee ahead. Chili Davis doubled in the tying run in the seventh.

The stage was set for Gladden in the eighth when relief pitcher Darren Holmes failed to field two sacrifice bunts after a lead-off single by Mike Pagliarulo.

“It was a funny inning. They seemed to have trouble hanging onto the ball,” Gladden said. “All I know is that I am happy to get a chance to help our cause.

“It felt good coming back last night and getting those hits.”

Gladden had two hits, including a double Thursday night, driving in four runs and helping Scott Erickson get his 14th victory.

Oakland 12, Baltimore 9--The Athletics’ shaky bullpen failed to save Dave Stewart’s ninth victory, so the Athletics had to score three runs in the ninth at Baltimore to win.

Stewart went into the bottom of the seventh with a 9-3 lead, but needed help with one out. The Orioles scored six runs, four of them on a grand slam by Dwight Evans off Gene Nelson.

Mike Gallego, who has become one of the A’s top hitters, singled in two of the runs in the 12th after bullpen ace Gregg Olson’s throwing error permitted the tiebreaking run to score.

Jose Canseco hit his 26th home run, Harold Baines hit his fifth homer of the season against the Orioles and Ernest Riles hit a grand slam to build the six-run lead.

Toronto 6, Kansas City 5--The Royals hit the ball well enough, they simply didn’t catch it at Toronto.

In a game they should have won in regulation for Mike Boddicker, the Royals blew it in the 11th inning when third baseman Kevin Seitzer bobbled a grounder with the bases loaded.

The largest crowd in Toronto history, 50,326, saw the Blue Jays score four runs in the first inning after rookie center fielder Brian McRae misjudged a fly ball with two out.

Two runs scored when the ball dropped in front of McRae, and two hits produced two more runs. From then until he tired in the seventh, Boddicker was in command.

With the bases loaded and one out in the 11th, Seitzer, a defensive replacement at third base, attempted to grab the ball and try for a play at the plate, but dropped it.

Kelly Gruber, who was called out on strikes with the bases loaded, hit the grounder in the second extra inning that won it.

The Blue Jays remained six games in front in the American League East.

Detroit 3, Texas 2--Scott Livingstone, playing in his first major league game in his hometown of Arlington, Tex., spoiled the night for the Rangers.

Livingstone, playing third base, singled to left in the 10th inning to drive in the winning run from third base. Tony Phillips, who had reached third on errors by center fielder Gary Pettis and catcher Ivan Rodriguez, scored easily.

Travis Fryman, whose error enabled the Rangers to take a 2-1 lead in the eighth, hit a home run with two out in the ninth to tie it.

Seattle 7, Cleveland 4--For most of the season, the Mariners have been streaking.

But since the All-Star break, they have mostly been winning. They have won 11 of 15.

Alonzo Powell hit a two-run home run in the second inning and the Mariners put together five consecutive hits for four runs in the third inning at Cleveland.

Rich DeLucia (9-6) struggled through five innings, giving up four runs, but gained the victory.