AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : A’s Catch Twins on Fox Homer

Despite Bill Krueger’s 9-2 record, the Minnesota Twins’ 34-year-old left-hander doesn’t command much respect.

Even his manager, Tom Kelly, doesn’t have faith in the much traveled veteran.

In a bid to salvage the finale of an important three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night at Minneapolis, Krueger had the Twins in front, 4-2, after eight innings.

After a shaky start, Krueger had held the Athletics to one hit since the second inning. But Kelly went to his bullpen ace, Rick Aguilera, who has 29 saves, to pitch the ninth.

Rookie Eric Fox followed singles by Jerry Browne and Harold Baines with a home run to give the Athletics a 5-4 victory and a tie for the AL West lead.

The Athletics have won six in a row, three apiece from each of the division leaders, and Fox, brought up because Rickey Henderson was hurt again, has been prominent.

He was six for 15 against the Twins, driving in six runs and scoring four. He also hit safely in each game against Toronto.

In the six games against the leaders, the A’s outscored them, 47-21.

Dennis Eckersley retired the Twins in order in the ninth for his 33rd save in his 33rd opportunity.

The A’s are 42-0 when Eckersley pitches.

Jeff Parrett (7-0) gave up a run in 1 1/3 innings but gained the victory.

Jose Canseco was back in the lineup for the A’s and was 0 for 5. Henderson was a late inning replacement--but not for Fox.

Kansas City 5, Toronto 2--After ending their three-game losing streak Tuesday night, the Blue Jays ran into Kevin Appier at Toronto.

Appier (12-3) continued to be one of the sharpest pitchers in the majors. With Gregg Jefferies leading the offense, Appier won his ninth in a row. He gave up eight hits but only two runs in 8 1/3 innings.

Jefferies had four hits, including two doubles, and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning as the Royals ended a three-game losing streak.

Jeff Montgomery got the last two outs for his 25th save. Appier has given up only seven runs in 63 1/3 innings in his last eight starts.

Dave Stieb, starting for the first time in a month, pitched well for the Blue Jays, giving up one run and six hits in six innings.

Baltimore 6, New York 0--Left-hander Arthur Rhodes, brought up from the minors when Storm Davis was disabled, is playing a key role in the Orioles’ bid to overtake Toronto in the East.

Rhodes pitched a five-hitter at New York in only his fourth start since coming up from triple-A Rochester and the Orioles moved to within three games of first place.

Rhodes, 22, has pitched well in all four starts, winning three of them and getting a no-decision in a game in which he gave up two hits and two runs in six innings.

He has pitched 30 2/3 innings, giving up 17 hits and six runs, with complete games in his last two starts.

Bill Ripken and Mike Devereaux hit home runs for the Orioles, who handed the Yankees their fourth loss in a row.

Cleveland 4, Milwaukee 3--The last-place Indians put another crimp in the Brewers’ drive to the top in the East.

Kenny Lofton went three for three at Cleveland and his two-run single in the sixth inning brought the Indians from behind for their second victory in a row over the Brewers.

Jack Armstrong, with four strong innings of relief for Scott Scudder, earned the victory. After giving up a home run to Paul Molitor, he gave up only two more hits.

Chicago 8, Detroit 6--The White Sox, held in check by a trio of pitchers for eight innings at Detroit, scored six runs in the ninth inning to win their third game in two nights from the Tigers.

Detroit relief ace Mike Henneman started the ninth with a 6-2 lead. He left after giving up a two-run single to Tim Raines.

The White Sox wound up with seven hits in the inning, the last by Lance Johnson to drive in the go-ahead run.

It was the sixth consecutive loss for the Tigers.

Boston 6, Texas 5--Roger Clemens wasn’t very impressive at Boston, but he won for the second time in his last six decisions.

Clemens (11-7) gave up four runs and seven hits before needing help with one out in the seventh.

After the Rangers got within a run, Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth for his 21st save.