AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mussina Keeps Orioles Rolling, 8-1

The Baltimore Orioles are off to their best start in 21 years with the help of pitching performances reminiscent of the franchises’ glory years.

Thursday night at Kansas City, Mike Mussina pitched a six-hitter to lead the Orioles to an 8-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, who are off to their worst start ever.

Mussina (2-0) walked one and struck out four for the Orioles, who have won seven consecutive games and are 10-5 for the first time since 1971. It was the 11th time in Mussina’s 15 major league starts that the right-hander from Stanford has given up fewer than three runs.

“Mussina is a good young pitcher and he has good stuff,” Royal Manager Hal McRae said. “You don’t want to take anything away from him when he pitches that well, but everyone has been shutting us down so far.”

The Royals’ seventh consecutive loss gave them a 1-14 record, worst in the major leagues. The loss left them 1-8 in their first home stand, the worst in the franchise’s 24-year history.

Mark McLemore of the Orioles had four singles and scored three runs in the first four-hit game of his career.

David Segui had two doubles as a replacement at first base for Randy Milligan, who was released from the hospital Thursday after sustaining a minor concussion Wednesday night in a collision with second baseman Bill Ripken.

Seattle 3, Minnesota 2--Greg Briley broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single during the seventh inning to give the Mariners the victory at Seattle.

Jay Buhner had tied the score earlier in the seventh with his first home run, which came off a pitch from Scott Erickson (0-2).

Erickson walked Tino Martinez and Jeff Schaefer sacrificed Martinez to second. One out later, Briley delivered his single to right field.

Russ Swan (2-2) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings. Mike Schooler earned his fourth save.

Milwaukee 3, Boston 2--Bill Wegman (2-1) won a rainy duel against Roger Clemens (2-2) as the Brewers sloshed to victory at Milwaukee.

Dante Bichette had a two-out single during a three-run third inning for the Brewers, who ended Clemens’ 20-inning scoreless streak. Bichette also made an over-the-shoulder catch in right field to save a run in the seventh.

Toronto 13, Cleveland 8--Kelly Gruber hit two home runs and a double to lead a 15-attack by the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Gruber drove in four runs with his seventh two-homer game. Devon White and Joe Carter, who extended his hitting streak to 16 games, also hit two-run homers.

Albert Belle homered for the Indians.

Todd Stottlemyre (2-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings for the victory.

Detroit 11, Texas 5--Mickey Tettleton had a three-run double during a five-run first inning to lead the Tigers at Arlington, Tex.

The Tigers, who scored six times during the first inning of Wednesday’s 12-8 victory, swept the series. Detroit had 27 runs in the three games and 36 hits, including 15 in the finale.