AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Twins Standing Up to the Athletics, 12-2

The Minnesota Twins are hoping to pull even with the Oakland Athletics today when they play the final game of their four-game series at Oakland.

The Twins put themselves in that position Saturday with a 12-2 victory over the A’s that left Minnesota one game behind the AL West leaders.

Left-hander John Smiley (8-3) gave up four hits in eight innings to win his fourth consecutive decision. Smiley, 8-1 in his last 11 starts, struck out three and walked one. He gave up more than one run for the first time in five starts and is 4-0 with a 1.34 earned-run average in June.

Earlier this season, Smiley gave up gave up five runs in six innings against the A’s.

“I wasn’t really prepared to pitch against them last time,” Smiley said. “But I’ve been watching them the last two nights, and I’ve picked up a lot of stuff.”

The Twins had 18 hits and chased Ron Darling (7-5) after two-plus innings. Kirby Puckett had two of the Twins’ team record-tying seven doubles.

Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire hit consecutive homers in the fourth inning for the A’s. McGwire leads the majors with 26 homers. Canseco has 16.

Boston 8, Milwaukee 7--The Red Sox blew a seven-run lead late in the game but bounced back to win in the 13th inning at Boston on Herm Winningham’s bases-loaded single.

The Red Sox made three errors, contributing to six unearned runs.

The Brewers scored three times in the eighth inning against Roger Clemens, then tied the score with four runs in the ninth. Paul Molitor finished the Brewers’ scoring with a two-out, two-run single against Jeff Reardon.

In the 13th, Jack Clark singled with one out against Darren Holmes (2-3) and took third on Mo Vaughn’s single. Pinch-hitter Phil Plantier was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Winningham lined the first pitch over drawn-in left fielder B.J. Surhoff.

Danny Darwin (4-4) pitched four shutout innings for the victory.

New York 8, Chicago 7--Charlie Hayes hit a run-scoring single against Bobby Thigpen with two out in the ninth inning at New York as the Yankees ended Chicago’s six-game winning streak.

The Yankees, who overcame an early 5-0 deficit, started the game-winning rally when Don Mattingly singled with one out against Scott Radinsky (2-5).

Tim Burke (1-1) pitched two innings for his first AL victory, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

Texas 10, Detroit 8--Kevin Reimer and Ivan Rodriguez hit home runs on consecutive pitches during a six-run second inning that helped the Rangers to victory at Detroit.

Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run double and Rodriguez had a run-scoring single as the Rangers scored four runs in the first inning against Kevin Ritz (1-3).

Jose Guzman (7-5) gave up four runs and 10 hits in six innings. Kenny Rogers got the last four outs for his fifth save.

Mickey Tettleton hit a three-run homer for the Tigers.

Cleveland 6, Toronto 4--Sandy Alomar hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning at Cleveland, which ended a six-game losing streak.

The RBIs were Alomar’s first since June 3. Albert Belle homered and drove in three runs, and Carlos Baerga went four for four and scored three runs for the Indians. Dave Winfield scored twice for the Blue Jays, surpassing 1,500 runs scored in his career.

Duane Ward (3-3) was the loser. Eric Plunk (1-0) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the victory.

Kansas City 2, Baltimore 0--Kevin Appier and Jeff Montgomery combined to limit the Orioles to four hits at Baltimore.

Appier (8-3) gave up a double, three singles and two walks in 8 1/3 innings. He left after Brady Anderson led off the ninth with a walk and took third on Cal Ripken’s one-out double.

Montgomery retired Randy Milligan on a soft liner and got Glenn Davis on a grounder for his 18th save.

Appier, unbeaten since May 19, won his fifth consecutive decision. Mike Mussina (8-3) was the loser.