AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mussina One-Hits Rangers, 8-0

It didn’t look like the ideal time for Mike Mussina to end his slump.

The former Stanford pitcher, who has been a major factor in the Baltimore Orioles’ emergence as the most improved team in the American League, won only once in his previous five starts.

Moreover, he was facing All-Star starter Kevin Brown at Arlington, Tex., Friday night and the Texas Rangers’ pitcher was trying to become the first 15-game winner. He had won five in a row.

But it was Mussina who took charge. Mussina was perfect for four innings and settled for a one-hitter as the Orioles defeated Brown and the Rangers, 8-0.

A one-out double to right by Kevin Reimer in the fifth inning spoiled Mussina’s bid for a no-hitter, but by that time he already had a three-run cushion.

While Mussina (10-3) was striking out 10 and walking only one, Brown (14-5) finally had an off night. He pitched six innings, giving up 11 hits and five runs. Every Oriole batter had at least one hit.

The victory gave Mussina a 7-1 record on the road. It also drew more praise from Manager John Oates.

“He is about as consistent as I’ve seen anybody come into the big leagues in a long time,” Oates said. “He’s given us 29 starts (over two seasons) and only one start when he’s struggled.”

Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3--Jaime Navarro, the Brewers’ ace, didn’t lose his no-hitter at Chicago until the eighth inning. But unlike Mussina, he didn’t even get a victory after giving up one hit in eight innings.

Navarro was working on his no-hitter when he walked Warren Newson to open the eighth. Steve Sax hit a triple into the gap in left-center to spoil the gem and tie the game. Sax scored after a fly ball and Navarro was almost a loser.

But Kevin Seitzer’s second home run of the game tied the score in the ninth. Even after B.J. Surhoff homered in the 10th, the Brewers didn’t have it won. Shawn Abner’s triple and Lance Johnson’s single sent the game into the 11th.

Singles by Paul Molitor, Greg Vaughn and Darryl Hamilton put the Brewers ahead in the 11th.

Minnesota 3, Boston 2--The Twins stretched their winning streak to five games, but it took some juggling by Manager Tom Kelly to pull this one out in the 10th inning at Minneapolis.

Chuck Knoblauch’s single with one drove in the winning run, but before that Kelly had to use All-Star center fielder Kirby Puckett in the infield.

After batting for shortstop Greg Gagne and third baseman Scott Leius while tying the game, 2-2, in the eighth, Kelly was short an infielder.

So, in the ninth and 10th Puckett played at second, third and shortstop and managed to avoid having a ball hit to him.

It was an error by the Red Sox that led to the winning run. With Kent Hrbek on first in the 10th, Knoblauch swung and missed on the hit-and-run. Catcher Tony Pena, with a good chance to catch Hrbek, threw the ball into center field and the first baseman reached third before scoring on Knoblauch’s hit.

Frank Viola, making his first Metrodome appearance in three years, gave up eight hits in 7 1/3 innings and departed with the score 2-2.

Kansas City 4, Cleveland 3--Brent Mayne’s two-out single in the ninth inning at Kansas City scored Kevin McReynolds from third base.

The game almost went into extra innings. McReynolds doubled with one out and Wally Joyner walked. Chris Gwynn grounded to second and barely beat the relay to prevent an inning-ending double play before Mayne delivered.

Jeff Montgomery (1-5) got the victory after blowing his first save in 21 chances.

Detroit 4, Oakland 3--Tony Phillips hit a lead off home run at Oakland and the Tigers never let the Athletics catch up, ending the A’s four-game winning streak and leaving them three games behind Minnesota in the West.

Jose Canseco hit a two-run home run in the sixth, his 19th home run, but Bill Gullickson, with help from three relievers, improved to 10-6.

Seattle 8, Toronto 6--Lance Parrish drove in four runs with two home runs and Ken Griffey Jr. also homered to lead the Mariners at Seattle.

Parrish, 36, signed by the Mariners as a free agent June 27 after being released by the Angels, hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and a solo homer in the sixth, both off Jimmy Key (6-7).

Parrish’s second homer--his seventh of the season and third with the Mariners--came after Griffey, who went four for four, hit his 16th.

The Mariners’ Edgar Martinez went three for four to improve his average to .332.