AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Erickson Returns to Form and Beats White Sox

As the Minnesota Twins march resolutely to the pennant in the American League West, they have something else to be happy about.

Scott Erickson, who sparked their early surge to the top by winning 12 in a row, apparently has finally recovered from his elbow injury.

Erickson had a no-hitter for 6 1/3 innings in his best outing in three months Tuesday night at Minneapolis as the Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox, 9-2. The victory reduced the Twins’ magic number to three.

It was the 19th victory for Erickson, who was 12-2 before hurting his elbow June 29.

Erickson retired the first 16 batters. Dan Pasqua spoiled his bid for a no-hitter with an opposite field, two-run home run to left in the seventh inning.

Pasqua’s home run was the first ball hit in the air. Of the first 19 outs, 15 were on grounders and four on strikeouts.

Mark Guthrie completed the one-hitter, replacing Erickson (19-7) after seven innings.

In his three previous starts, Erickson pitched 13 2/3 innings and given up 18 hits and 12 runs.

He was 6-5 with a 6.75 earned-run average since winning his 12th in a row June 23.

“My arm has been fine for a long time,” Erickson said. “I just haven’t pitched well. Tonight I kept the ball down and they couldn’t hit it.

“I ran out of gas, to be honest. I want to be rested for the playoffs. I got the ball up to Pasqua and he hammered it.”

His catcher, Junior Ortiz, said, “I’m the happiest man in the world for him. He really needed a big game. He needed to get back on track and he did.”

The Twins knocked out Jack McDowell (17-10) in the second inning.

McDowell, who had pitched two consecutive shutouts, was removed after Kent Hrbek’s two-run home run in the second inning made the score 6-0.

Detroit 7, Cleveland 2--The Tigers kept their slim title hopes alive in the East as Mickey Tettleton hit his 28th home run at Detroit.

Rookie Scott Aldred pitched a strong eight innings, departing in the ninth after giving up Albert Belle’s 28th home run.

The Tigers scored four times in the first inning off Charles Nagy (10-13), the rookie who has been the Indians best pitcher this season.

Milwaukee 5, New York 4--Cal Eldred won his major league debut at Milwaukee and Robin Yount tied Babe Ruth on the hit list with his 2,873rd hit.

Eldred, the No.1 draft choice in 1989, gave up seven hits in 5 1/3 innings to get the win.

Kansas City 5, Oakland 4--This defeat at Oakland eliminated the Athletics from the race in the West and ended their string of three consecutive American League pennants.

The Athletics, with 11 games left, trail Minnesota by 12 games.

Danny Tartabull hit his 30th home run for the Royals.

Texas 8, Seattle 7--Brian Downing singled in the winning run in the ninth inning at Seattle.

Jeff Russell (6-4) got the victory by pitching the ninth after blowing his 10th save in 38 opportunities in the eighth.

The Rangers appeared on their way to an easy victory until the Mariners rallied for four runs in the eighth to tie it.