BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Going to Fast Forward, Guzman Beats Orioles

Jose Guzman had seen the worst, so he went with his best.

Guzman, who had not won in nearly a month, relied on his fastball and pitched the Texas Rangers past the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, on Thursday night at Baltimore.

“My changeup wasn’t working good today and I didn’t want to get beat by my slider,” Guzman said. “If I was going to get beat, it was going to be with my best pitch--the fastball.”

Guzman (8-8) limited the Orioles to two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and two walks but battled out of trouble for his first victory since June 27. In his last start, Guzman gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Baltimore’s first three batters produced a 2-0 lead. Brady Anderson doubled, Mike Devereaux tripled and Cal Ripken hit a run-scoring grounder, but the Orioles were through for the night.

Jeff Huson got the Rangers even with a two-run homer in the second and Brian Downing hit a solo shot in the third to give Texas the lead. Ivan Rodriguez doubled home another run in the sixth.

Both homers came off Ben McDonald (9-7), who pitched a two-hit shutout against Texas last Saturday. McDonald has given up 25 homers, the most in the majors.

Jeff Russell got three outs for his 24th save.

Toronto 9, Oakland 3--It wasn’t a good night for pitching at Oakland.

Blue Jay right-hander Juan Guzman, 12-2 entering the game, left after 2 2/3 innings because of tightness in his pitching shoulder. He will be examined today.

By the end of the game, seven pitchers gave up 21 hits and walked 17, including 10 by A’s pitchers. Toronto and Oakland combined to leave 25 men on base.

Dave Stieb (4-6), Toronto’s third pitcher, was the winner and first pitcher to retire a side in order--in the seventh and eighth innings. Mike Moore (10-9) gave up five runs and nine hits in four innings.

Pat Borders hit a home run and drove in four runs and Candy Maldonado also hit a homer for Toronto.

A’s outfielder Rickey Henderson left after one inning because of a strained left hamstring.

New York 5, Seattle 4--Randy Velarde homered in the 10th inning to complete a comeback from three runs down and the Yankees beat the Mariners at Seattle.

Velarde homered against Russ Swan (3-6), who failed to hold a 4-3 lead in the ninth when Mike Stanley hit a two-out run-scoring single.

Stanley started the Yankee comeback from a 4-1 deficit with a solo home run in the eighth. Don Mattingly hit a run-scoring single later in the inning.

Chicago 6, Milwaukee 2--Jack McDowell, who lost to the Brewers on Saturday, bounced back to get his 13th victory for the White Sox at Milwaukee.

McDowell (13-5), who is 7-1 against the Brewers, gave up nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Carlton Fisk hit a two-run triple off Ricky Bones (6-6) in a four-run fourth inning. It was the first triple since 1989 for the 44-year-old catcher.

Cleveland 1, Kansas City 0--Carlos Baerga hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 14th inning to lift the Indians to a victory over the Royals at Cleveland.

Kansas City’s Kevin Appier struck out four in 10 innings and permitted only three runners on a single, double and walk. The Royals missed a chance to give him his 12th victory in the ninth when left fielder Glenallen Hill threw out Gregg Jefferies at home.

Cleveland’s Rod Nichols, called up from Colorado Springs on Wednesday, permitted only one runner past first in eight innings. He gave up two hits, struck out four and walked one.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 2--Rheal Cormier pitched seven innings and drove in the go-ahead run with a squeeze bunt as the Cardinals defeated the Reds at St. Louis.

Cincinnati has scored only two runs in each of its last three games, all defeats that have dropped the Reds one game behind Atlanta in the NL West.

Cormier (3-8) gave up two runs on eight hits. Lee Smith got the last four outs for his 24th save.

Jose Rijo (7-7) got the loss.