AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Against Poole, Red Sox Hopes Take a Dip

The Boston Red Sox haven’t had much success against the Baltimore Orioles this season, and no team has had a lot of luck against reliever Jim Poole.

Nothing changed on Monday night, as the Orioles slowed Boston’s drive toward first place with a 4-3 victory at Baltimore. It was the Orioles’ seventh victory in 11 games against the Red Sox this year.

Poole (2-0) retired 14 of the 15 batters he faced after entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning, giving up only a two-out single to Jody Reed in the eighth. Gregg Olson got the last three outs for his 30th save.

“I was pumped up to play against a team in the pennant race,” Poole said. “The adrenaline was flowing, and I almost hyperventilated.”

After raking starter Jose Mesa for eight hits in just over three innings, the Red Sox couldn’t do a thing against Poole.

Excluding two intentional walks, only 17 of 109 batters have reached base against Poole since he was recalled from Rochester on July 30.

“He kept the ball down, got the slider over and had a pretty good sinker,” Boston Manager Joe Morgan said.

The loss was Boston’s second after four consecutive victories, although the Red Sox did win something Monday. They won the coin toss to determine the home site of a one-game playoff should they finish in a tie with the Blue Jays. The playoff would be held Monday, Oct. 7, at Fenway Park, and would be televised by ESPN.

The Blue Jays lead the Red Sox by 1 1/2 games.

When Poole came into Monday night’s game in the fourth, he got Tom Brunansky to ground into a game-tying double play, and after that let only three balls get into the outfield.

The Orioles made it 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth against Mike Gardiner (9-8) when Leo Gomez doubled and Mike Devereaux singled him home.

Detroit 2, Cleveland 1--Bill Gullickson became the American League’s first 19-game winner as the Tigers ended a six-game losing streak with this victory at Detroit.

Gullickson (19-9) is the Tigers’ first 19-game winner since Jack Morris won 21 in 1986.

Gullickson gave up six hits, walked none, and struck out four in seven innings. Mike Henneman worked two perfect innings for his 20th save.

Eric King (5-11) gave up two runs--one earned--and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Indians.

Oakland 7, Kansas City 6--Harold Baines had four hits and drove in three runs as the Athletics won at Oakland despite 16 hits by the Royals.

Trailing 5-3 in the sixth, the A’s had two on with one out when losing pitcher Tom Gordon (9-13) relieved Luis Aquino. Pinch-hitter Ernest Riles drove in one run with a single, Gordon later walked Terry Steinbach with the bases loaded to force in the tying run and Baines hit a two-run single against Mike Magnante to give the A’s a 7-5 lead.

Joe Klink (10-3), who pitched an inning of relief, got the victory. Dennis Eckersley recorded his 41st save in 49 opportunities.

Texas 11, Seattle 4--The Rangers scored eight runs in the top of the 11th at Seattle, tying a modern major league record.

Julio Franco had a run-scoring bunt single, and Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer had two-run doubles in the outburst.

New York 9, Milwaukee 8--Matt Nokes hit a grand slam to key a five-run seventh inning and Roberto Kelly drove in four runs as the Yankees rallied from a six-run deficit to win at Milwaukee.