AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Smiley Lifts Twins to Victory

The Minnesota Twins, after losing 1991 World Series star Jack Morris to free agency, hoped to fill the void this year with 20-game winner John Smiley.

A month into the season the Twins didn’t look good enough to repeat in the American League West. They were below .500 after April, and Smiley was 0-2 with an earned-run average of 6.84.

But as times have changed for Smiley, they have improved for the Twins. After the 0-2 start, the former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher is 9-2, and the Twins have gone from near the bottom of the West standings to the top.

Smiley held the New York Yankees to three hits in 7 2/3 innings Wednesday night at New York and the Twins won, 3-2, for their 10th victory in the last 12 games. They stretched their lead over Oakland to two games.

After giving up a two-run home run to Mel Hall in the first inning, Smiley went on to earn his sixth victory in his last seven decisions.

The Twins scored all three runs in the second inning. Greg Gagne, who had only 20 hits in his previous 113 at-bats, delivered the tiebreaking single.

“That home run really sparked me,” Smiley said. “I knew I had to get my act together. They had a lot of tough hitters coming up.”

Rick Aguilera replaced Smiley with a runner on second and two out in the eighth. Aguilera, with help from an impressive play by third baseman Scott Leius, retired the last four batters for his 24th save. Roberto Kelly, the first batter Aguilera faced, ripped a shot toward left. Leuis dived, came up with the ball and threw Kelly out.

“That was the game,” Hall said. “It was a terrific play by Leius.”

Although the Twins rested Kirby Puckett and Chuck Knoblauch, they still won for the 17th time in the last 21 games.

Toronto 6, Seattle 0--Left-hander Jimmy Key, who has often struggled this season, pitched a six-hitter at Toronto for his first shutout in more than a year.

Joe Carter hit his 19th home run and drove in four runs for the Blue Jays.

The Mariners lost for the fourth time in a row and have dropped 15 of their last 19.

Carter, who was fifth in the All-Star balloting, has made a strong bid for selection to the team. He has 62 runs batted in to go with his 19 home runs.

“I can’t worry about whether I’m picked,” Carter said of the selection that will be made by Twin Manager Tom Kelly. “I think I deserve it, but that’s his decision. Hopefully, my numbers will speak for themselves.”

Detroit 6, Oakland 3--The Athletics, who had to go to their bullpen even for a starting pitcher, had a 3-2 lead in the sixth at Detroit, but couldn’t hold it.

The Tigers, after tying the score in the sixth, used five singles and a sacrifice bunt to score three runs and break it open in the seventh.

Gene Nelson, a reliever most of his career, gave up the first two Tiger runs, going 3 1/3 innings.

Les Lancaster (3-2) pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief to win it. The Tigers are only 4-23 in games in which Lancaster has pitched.

Milwaukee 4, Texas 3--Paul Molitor singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning at Arlington, Tex. The Brewers trailed, 3-1, going into the eighth. But shortstop Dickie Thon’s second error of the night opened the way for three unearned runs.

Molitor, the No. 3 hitter in the league, extended his hitting streak to 10 games with the hit that proved decisive.

Boston 5, Kansas City 4--Phil Plantier lined a game-winning single after a gaffe by third baseman Gregg Jefferies set up the Red Sox victory at Boston.

With the score tied, 4-4, Tony Pena hit a ground-rule double with two out in the eighth. Jody Reed grounded to Jefferies. Pena stopped running in front of Jefferies and confused him. Jefferies threw too late and Reed was safe.

Plantier, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth, then singled in the go-ahead run.

Baltimore 5, Chicago 3--Joe Orsulak hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning at Baltimore to foil another Charlie Hough bid for his 200th victory.

Hough had held the Orioles to one hit after the second inning before Orsulak drove a pitch into the right-field seats.

Hough, 44, who has lost two tough games after reaching 199, threw 148 pitches, giving up five runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Not all went well for the Orioles. Bullpen ace Gregg Olson had to come out in the ninth inning after throwing only five pitches. He left with an unspecified injury and was replaced by Todd Frohwirth, who picked up his third save.