AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Even Though Bullpen Falters, Ryan Picks Up First Victory

Nolan Ryan’s season-long string of no decisions and defeats came to an end Sunday at Detroit, but not without more anxious moments.

The 45-year-old right-hander pitched seven shutout innings, and, although the bullpen faltered again, the Texas Rangers managed to hold on for an 8-4 victory over the Tigers.

A Tiger Stadium crowd of 42,394 gave the majors’ oldest pitcher a standing ovation when he left the mound after seven innings with a 6-0 lead.

The fans figured he had a victory, but Ryan already had watched the Ranger relievers blow 4-1 and 5-1 leads in the late innings of other starts.

Terry Mathews gave up three runs in the eighth, two on Cecil Fielder’s 14th home run, and Jeff Russell hit a homer in the ninth, but Ryan finally had his 315th victory. It was his first since September.

Ryan gave up five singles, struck out seven and walked three in improving his record to 1-3.

This marked the seventh time Ryan, who has eight no-decisions, pitched six or more innings without allowing more than three earned runs.

Kevin Reimer’s home run in the second inning off Mark Leiter (5-4) gave Ryan a lead, and Brian Downing’s two-run home run sparked a five-run fifth.

Rain deprived Ryan of a chance last Tuesday after he pitched an inning. With all the rest he appeared to be strong and throwing hard.

“The only time I think about (relievers blowing leads) is when the media asks me,” Ryan said. “I don’t worry about my won-lost record, just the team’s.

“You always like to pitch in front of a big crowd and the Detroit fans have always been great. When you get that kind of support, it’s a great feeling.

“I was getting behind in the count and I walked some people. But the key was that I could wriggle out of those innings until I got command of my pitches.”

Minnesota 10, Oakland 2--The Twins used a 10-run fourth inning at Oakland to move into a tie for first place in the West.

Kirby Puckett and Greg Gagne hit home runs in the big inning that gave the Twins three victories in the four-game weekend series at Oakland. In the last two games the Twins outscored the Athletics, 22-4. The faltering A’s have been beaten by at least eight runs four times in the last 12 games.

The Twins had nine hits and two walks against four pitchers in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.

With that support, it was easy for Scott Erickson to win his third in a row. Erickson (6-5), a 20-game winner last season, moved above .500 for the first time this season. He gave up both runs and eight hits in eight innings.

One of the runs came on Jose Canseco’s 17th home run, leading off the eighth.

Milwaukee 9, Boston 3--The Brewers shook off the effects of a disappointing loss in 13 innings Saturday at Boston to rout the Red Sox and pull within five games of first-place Toronto.

Dante Bichette had four hits, scored three runs and drove in three to lead the rout of Frank Viola, who gave up nine hits and seven runs in four innings.

The Brewers made it easy for Jaime Navarro (8-6). Navarro gave up three runs in 8 1/3 innings, leaving with a slight groin injury that doesn’t figure to force him to miss a start.

On Saturday, the Brewers, after falling behind, 7-0, with Roger Clemens on the mound, rallied against the Boston bullpen to tie with a four-run ninth inning. But the they couldn’t score again and finally lost.

“We had to come back in this one because you can’t afford an 0-3 start on the trip,” Manager Phil Garner said. “

Cleveland 7, Toronto 6--Duane Ward gave up a two-run home run to Paul Sorrento in the eighth inning to lose the game.

It was the second loss in a row for Ward (3-4). After 13 consecutive appearances, covering 18 1/3 innings without giving up a run, Ward on Saturday gave up a two-run single to Sandy Alomar in the eighth inning of a 6-4 loss to the Indians.

Indians’ Manager Mike Hargrove accused Jack Morris of throwing at Kenny Lofton’s knees. After Lofton beat out bunts in the first and third, Morris’s first pitch in the fourth sailed at Lofton’s knees.

Kansas City 9, Baltimore 2--Left fielder Kevin Koslofski made a favorable debut for the Royals at Baltimore.

As part of a 19-hit attack that prevented the Orioles from moving into a tie for first in the East, Koslofski had three hits, scored a run and drove in another.

Gregg Jefferies had four hits for the Royals and Wally Joyner and Jim Eisenreich each drove in three runs.

“It was a great feeling,” said Koslofski, 25, who was called up from Omaha Thursday. “I was pretty confident and more relaxed than I thought I’d be.”

Chicago 6, New York 3--Charlie Hough held the Yankees hitless for 4 1/3 innings at New York, then settled for his 199th victory.

Robin Ventura homered for the third game in a row and George Bell doubled in to runs to build a 4-0 lead for Hough.

Hough gave up five hits, but needed help in the eighth from Bobby Thigpen.