AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McDowell Outshines Brown, 3-0

Two of the best young pitchers in the American League hooked up Tuesday night at Chicago and the pitching was as good as advertised.

Jack McDowell outpitched Kevin Brown of Texas and the White Sox beat the Rangers, 3-0.

McDowell (16-7) pitched a six-hitter to join Brown (16-8) as the top winners in the league. McDowell struck out six and walked only one in his first shutout of the season. It was the former Stanford star’s 10th complete game, best in the majors.

“I like complete games, but they fall in place,” McDowell said. “But shutouts are tough. In the past, I’ve given up the long ball in the eighth or ninth innings and lost some shutouts. You don’t want to give up the long ball, because that changes things.”

Brown gave up nine hits in also going the distance, but only two of the runs against him were earned.

“I’ve given up 20 hits in the last two games and only about five balls have been hit hard,” Brown said. “It’s not thrilling and it’s not the highlight of my life.”

Said Chicago Manager Gene Lamont: “It was a game between two great pitchers and both had great stuff.”

Tim Raines had three hits and scored two runs for the White Sox, who won their third in a row and 15th in the last 20 games.

Toronto 12, Milwaukee 1--About a week ago it appeared that at 40, Dave Winfield was beginning to find a full season too long.

After a tremendous first half, the Blue Jays’ designated hitter was in a mild slump and some observers thought he looked tired.

Apparently Winfield has gotten a second wind.

Winfield hit a three-run double during the first inning at Milwaukee to start the Blue Jays on their way to an easy victory that stretched their lead in the East to four games over Baltimore.

Winfield, who drove in five runs during Sunday’s second game, is 10 for 24 (.417) in the last six games with 10 runs batted in.

“That first inning was a great way to start the series,” Winfield said. “It was a good way to get everyone loosened up. But it’s only the first game, and there are two more to go. It’s a big road trip and we need to keep winning.”

The Blue Jays chased Bruce Ruffin with five runs in the first and pulled 6 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee.

Jimmy Key (8-10) gave up only three hits in eight innings.

Cleveland 8, Minnesota 1--Catcher Junior Ortiz of the Indians was thinking about putting in for combat pay after surviving two collisions at home plate during the sixth inning at Cleveland.

Ortiz had barely recovered from the encounter with Gene Larkin trying to score on Chili Davis’ single when Davis came barreling in on Shane Mack’s double. Ortiz made both putouts, each preventing the tying run from scoring.

Glenallen Hill homered and doubled for the Indians, who handed the Twins their 10th loss in 14 games.

New York 7, Oakland 3--Mel Hall is known as one of those good-hit, no-field players. But his diving catch during the eighth inning at New York was the big play in this game.

The right fielder came up with his spectacular play on Carney Lansford’s sinking liner with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth. If the ball had gotten past him, the Athletics would have scored three runs and taken the lead.

Earlier in the inning, Jose Canseco singled with the bases loaded to cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-3.

Hall also had three hits, as did teammate Don Mattingly. Mattingly’s two-run double was the big hit during a three-run eighth inning.

Despite the loss, the Athletics lead the West by five games.

Seattle 8, Baltimore 3--Talented rookie Dave Fleming became a 14-game winner and the host Orioles dropped four games behind the Blue Jays in the East.

Jay Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr. hit home runs to help Fleming (14-5). Fleming gave up six hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings.

The Orioles have lost three in a row and seven of their last 11.

Detroit 5, Kansas City 1--Cecil Fielder continued his drive toward his third consecutive major league RBI title.

Fielder had three hits and drove in two runs in a rain-soaked game at Kansas City. He has 103 runs batted in.

Eric King gave up five hits in six innings to win for the first time since May 3. The Tigers have won nine of their last 11.