AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Darling Beats Blue Jays With Two-Hitter

Ron Darling is an enigma. Often during a major league career that began in 1983 with the New York Mets, the right-hander has seemed on the verge of stardom.

As recently as 1988, Darling was a 17-game winner. Every time he seems about to break loose, he goes into a slump.

This season has been no different. After a solid start, he suddenly went sour a couple of weeks ago. It had reached the point where the only thing Manager Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics was sure of was that Darling, 31, would show up for his turn to pitch.

Darling was at his best Sunday at Toronto, and he held the Blue Jays hitless for seven innings. He settled for his second two-hitter of the season and the A’s won, 8-0, their third victory in a row over the American League East leaders.

Mark McGwire hit his major league-leading 28th homer to lead the A’s.

Darling had faced only one batter over the minimum. Candy Maldonado singled to open the eighth inning against him, and Manny Lee had the other hit during the ninth.

Darling had lost three in a row. In the first two of the losses, he lasted a total of five innings and gave up 10 runs.

Before that, he had a two-hitter May 24 and seemed to be on a roll.

Darling can understand the strong performances. It’s going 3-5 since then that befuddles him.

“What surprises me is how bad I can be in some games,” Darling said. “I got away with a few pitches today. I kept Willie (center fielder Wilson) busy.”

He added that he tried to throw Maldonado an outside fastball. “I didn’t get it outside and Candy knew what to do with it,” Darling said.

The A’s Mike Bordick had four hits, increasing his average to .314.

With hopes that Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco soon will return, the A’s went into the All-Star break only two games behind Minnesota in the West.

During the four-game series, Blue Jays’ hitters batted only .156 (19 for 122).

Minnesota 9, Baltimore 4--The Twins beat the stumbling Orioles for the third time in a row at Baltimore to maintain their lead in the AL West.

In the previous two games, Kent Hrbek came through with the key hits for Minnesota.

Manager John Oates decided Hrbek wouldn’t beat them again. Hrbek didn’t, but the strategy backfired and the Orioles were out of it early.

With Chuck Knoblauch on third and two out in the first inning, Hrbek, who had five hits in his previous seven at-bats, was given an intentional walk. But Pedro Munoz foiled the move by hitting his 10th home run.

Oates defended his move, saying that Hrbek is batting .350 against the Orioles.

“What difference does it make whether it’s the first or the seventh (inning)?” Oates asked. “You have a guy coming up behind him you’ve gotten out all year. I’d do it 100 times out of 100.”

Seattle 7, New York 6--Jay Buhner hit a three-run home run during the seventh inning to lead the Mariners to their third victory in a row over the Yankees.

Friday night, Buhner hit two home runs against his former mates. He has 15 this season, four against the Yankees.

“He’s been a Yankee killer ever since they traded him,” Seattle Manager Bill Plummer said.

Buhner’s home run erased a 6-4 Yankee lead and made Erik Hanson (7-11) a winner in his first relief appearance.

One of the Yankee runs came on a home run by Matt Nokes. The ball caromed off Buhner’s glove in right field and cleared the fence.

Russ Swan, the winner Saturday night, pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save.

Boston 3, Chicago 0--The Red Sox are sorry to see the All-Star break. They are finally playing up to expectations.

Frank Viola (8-5), winless in his previous four starts, gave up three hits in seven innings at Boston to give the Red Sox their third victory in a row.

Tom Brunansky, who hit a grand slam Saturday, gave Viola a lead by hitting a home run during the second inning.

Kansas City 5, Milwaukee 1--Kevin Appier made it through five innings at Milwaukee to win his 10th game.

Appier worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings to beat the Brewers for the second time in 10 days.

Kevin McReynolds led the Royals’ attack, driving in two runs and scoring another.

After opening the season 1-16, the Royals have are 37-50.

gone 36-34.

Cleveland 6, Texas 3--It took a three-run home run by Mark Whiten during the eighth inning at Arlington, Tex., to hand interim Ranger manager Toby Harrah a defeat after three victories.

Rafael Palmeiro tried to keep the winning streak going. He went five for five, including a triple that tied the score during the seventh. However, Kenny Rogers gave up Whiten’s seventh home run.

In addition to the RBI, Palmeiro scored the other two Texas runs.