AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rangers’ Brown Wins 11th, 5-2

Kevin Brown became the American League’s first 11-game winner Thursday with a four-hitter at Detroit as the Texas Rangers defeated the Tigers, 5-2.

Brown (11-4) pitched his fifth complete game, giving up two runs, with two walks and nine strikeouts. He joined the Atlanta Braves’ Tom Glavine as the only 11-game winners in the major leagues.

“I was moving the ball around a lot, which you have to do against this team,” Brown said. “If you don’t, or you fall behind, these guys can kill you.”

The victory was Texas’ second in its last nine road games, and snapped Detroit’s three-game winning streak. Ruben Sierra had four singles and scored twice for the Rangers.

“He did a heckuva job tonight,” Texas Manager Bobby Valentine said of Brown. “His ball really sinks, so you have to go the other way. Home run hitters usually pull the ball. That’s why he’s only given up one homer this year.”

Buddy Groom (0-2) lost in his second career start, giving up four runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.

Oakland 5, Minnesota 1--The Twins made three errors--all of them in foul territory while circling under wind-swept pop flies--in losing to the Athletics at Oakland.

“I’ve seen teams come in here that don’t like playing here,” said Mark McGwire, whose 25th home run in the first inning gave Oakland the lead. “They don’t like how bright it is, the wind, the foul territory. I guess we have a little advantage there.”

The A’s extended their lead over the second-place Twins to three games with their fourth consecutive victory. The Twins’ five-game winning streak ended in their first game outdoors in almost two weeks.

“We had a bad time in the field, we had a bad day,” said Manager Tom Kelly, whose Twins are 23-14 at home at the Metrodome. “Professional players are supposed to catch those balls that went for errors.”

Bob Welch (4-4) gave up eight hits before Dennis Eckersley came in to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings for his 25th save this season and 29th consecutive over two seasons, a major league record.

Rickey Henderson, who scored two runs and stole two bases, continued his hot streak. In Oakland’s last four games, Henderson is eight for 14 (.571) with four walks, nine runs scored and six stolen bases.

New York 4, Kansas City 3--Kevin Maas hit a three-run home run, his second homer in as many games, to lead the Yankees at Kansas City.

Scott Sanderson (6-5) held the Royals to five hits in six innings before leaving with mild stiffness in his left side. The right-hander was relieved by Rich Monteleone, Greg Cadaret and Steve Farr, who pitched the ninth inning for his 12th save.

Maas, who struck out against Mark Gubicza with the bases loaded earlier in the game, worked the count to 3-and-2 in the seventh inning. He then fouled off four consecutive pitches before hitting the 10th pitch of the at-bat for his ninth home run of the season.

“I feel a combination of relief, excitement, accomplishment,” Maas said. “He made me look bad the previous two at-bats. I was thankful to get another chance. I knew the team needed a pickup. I wasn’t able to do it the time before so I was glad to get another chance.”

Milwaukee 1, Baltimore 0--Ricky Bones gave up five hits in eight-plus innings and Robin Yount drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly as the Brewers avoided a three-game sweep by the Orioles at Milwaukee.

Bones (4-3) struck out two and walked two before leaving with runners on first and second and none out in the ninth inning. Doug Henry finished, striking out two and getting a fly ball out to earn his 13th save in 15 chances.

Rick Sutcliffe (9-6) gave up five hits in his fourth complete game of the season for Baltimore.