AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Canseco Equals Record With 7 Walks in a Row

Jose Canseco became the fourth player in major league history to draw seven consecutive walks as the Oakland Athletics took sole possession of first place in the American League West on Wednesday night with a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

Oakland (64-43) moved one game ahead of Minnesota, which lost to Chicago.

Canseco, who walked five times against the Rangers on Tuesday, walked his first two at-bats Wednesday night. He missed a chance to break the record--most recently equaled by Eddie Stanky in 1950--when he swung at a 3-and-2 pitch that was almost in the dirt.

After his record-tying walk, Canseco, on a hit by Mike Bordick, scored the run that put the Athletics in front to stay.

Dennis Eckersley, who earlier broke Tom Henke’s record of 25 consecutive saves, recorded the last four outs for his 39th in a row. Eckersley has 35 saves this season.

Eckersley came on after Jeff Parrett gave up back-to-back home runs to Brian Downing and Kevin Reimer in the eighth.

The A’s stopper got Ruben Sierra with the potential tying run on third base to end the game.

Chicago 9, Minnesota 5--The White Sox’s run production fell 10 runs overnight, but they still manhandled the Twins again at Chicago.

With Robin Ventura getting three hits, including a three-run home run, the White Sox finally got Charlie Hough his 200th victory.

The 44-year-old knuckleballer had suffered three defeats and two no-decisions since last winning June 28. He gave up five runs, four earned, and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Lance Johnson of the White Sox singled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to a personal-best 19 games.

The White Sox, who had 19 hits Tuesday night, added 17 more against the staff that until the last two games had been the second-most effective in the league.

Toronto 5, Boston 4--John Olerud limped to the plate in the eighth inning at Boston and delivered a pinch two-run single to end the Blue Jays’ frustration.

After losing two one-sided games to the Red Sox, pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, second baseman Roberto Alomar and Manager Cito Gaston were ejected for arguing with umpires.

Olerud, not in the lineup because of a hamstring injury, said that when he came up with the bases loaded and Boston leading, 4-3, he was trying only to get the ball in the air because he knew if he hit a grounder it would result in a double play.

Baltimore 4, Detroit 0--The Orioles simply refuse to be counted out of the race in the East. Mike Mussina (11-4) pitched a five-hitter at Baltimore and the Orioles won their sixth in a row.

Mussina struck out nine and walked only one. He is 3-0 lifetime against the Tigers.

The game was scoreless until the seventh when Jeff Tackett, in a three-for-28 slump, singled with the bases loaded to drive in a run. Mike Devereaux climaxed the four-run inning with a two-run single.

Milwaukee 8, Seattle 1--Bill Wegman gave up four hits in seven innings at Milwaukee and became a 10-game winner.

The Brewers took advantage of Randy Johnson’s wildness. Johnson, who leads the majors in walks, had six to run his total to 97. He also had two wild pitches, hit his major league-leading 16th batter and, while he was on the mound, the Brewers stole six bases.

Leadoff batter Pat Listach had three hits and scored two runs for the Brewers.

Cleveland 4, New York 3--Glenallen Hill, in a one-for-20 slump against the Yankees this season, singled home the winning run in the 11th inning at New York to give the Indians their eighth win in their last 13 games.

The victory pulled the last-place Indians to within 1 1/2 games of Detroit in the East.

The Yankees lost despite two home runs by Charlie Hayes that helped them overcome a three-run deficit.