AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : A’s, Welch Right Ship After Year Gone Wrong

Last season almost everything seemed to go wrong for the Oakland Athletics. After three seasons of dominating the American League, injuries, slumps and poor luck sent the Athletics reeling out of contention.

Lately, everything seems to be going right and the Athletics are moving comfortably along in front of the Western Division.

The latest piece of good fortune came Sunday at Oakland when veteran right-hander Bob Welch came off the disabled list to beat the Texas Rangers, 6-1.

Welch, sidelined because of a knee injury since May 27, gave up only two hits in 5 2/3 innings and the Athletics increased their lead to 3 1/2 games over Minnesota.

Welch (3-3) was replaced after throwing 85 pitches. Four relievers finished up as the Athletics prevented Kevin Brown from becoming the first 10-game winner in the majors.

Willie Wilson and Mike Bordick led the A’s to their fifth consecutive victory and their first three-game sweep at home. Both had two hits and drove in a run. Bordick did it with his second home run of the season.

“We didn’t blow them out by any means,” Welch said. “I don’t consider them an easy team to pitch against. I feel fortunate to come out and pitch well against them.”

Texas had its three best pitchers ready for the series--Nolan Ryan, Bobby Witt and Brown.

“Coming into the series and seeing those matchups, we knew we were going to have our hands full,” A’s Manager Tony La Russa said. “We are just on a fortunate run.”

Toronto 6, Boston 2--John Olerud spent Saturday night watching a video. Then he put the Blue Jays back into first place in the East.

Olerud watched himself on tape because he has been in a slump. He doubled with the bases loaded during the sixth inning at Toronto to drive in three runs and break a 2-2 tie.

“I was looking at the videos and I noticed my weight was back on my heels,” he said. “I worked on staying on my toes and moving toward the pitch.”

Juan Guzman (8-1) struggled early, but gave up six hits in six innings. Duane Ward gave up one hit in the last three for his seventh save.

Minnesota 8, Chicago 7--The Twins blew a 6-0 lead at Minneapolis, fell behind and still pulled out the victory.

Kirby Puckett, hitless in four previous at-bats, delivered a run-scoring double with none out in the ninth to break up the game.

Puckett’s line drive into the gap in left-center extended his hitting streak to 11 games and scored Chuck Knoblauch, who was hit by a pitch, from first base.

Puckett, who usually hits the first pitch close to the plate, had a 2-and-0 count against Scott Radinsky (2-3).

“I don’t usually reach that count,” Puckett said. “I expected him to throw heat, and he did.”

Asked if he thought of having the hot-hitting Puckett sacrifice, Manager Tom Kelly said, “If I had him bunt, I’d be run out of town.”

Detroit 7, Baltimore 4--Tony Phillips and Lou Whitaker drove in two runs apiece and Chad Kreuter hit a home run at Detroit as the Tigers knocked the Orioles out of first place in the East.

With the score 4-4, Milt Cuyler opened the seventh with a double. Phillips greeted reliever Storm Davis with a run-scoring single. After Phillips stole second, Whitaker singled him home.

Milwaukee 14, Seattle 4--The Brewers wasted no time ending rookie Dave Fleming’s nine-game winning streak at Seattle.

Paul Molitor had four hits to lead a 22-hit attack. The Brewers scored six times against Fleming on seven hits in the second inning.

Dave Nilsson’s four hits included a three-run double during the second.

Fleming, who had not lost since April 9, has faced Milwaukee twice. He has lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up 15 hits and 11 runs for an earned-run average of 26.70.

New York 4, Cleveland 3--Mel Hall and Roberto Kelly opened the 10th inning at Cleveland with doubles for the Yankee victory.

Cleveland took the lead on Albert Belle’s two-run homer during the sixth. After the Yankees went ahead, 3-2, Belle’s RBI grounder tied the score during the eighth.