AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Brown Stifles White Sox for 17th Victory

The Chicago White Sox, held to one hit in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in their previous game, improved only a little during a 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers Friday night at Arlington, Tex.

Ranger right-hander Kevin Brown, on his way to his 17th victory, held the White Sox hitless until Robin Ventura doubled inside first base with two out in the seventh inning. Brown (17-8) settled for a five-hitter. He gave up one run against a team that was held hitless for 7 1/3 innings Wednesday night by the Blue Jays’ Todd Stottlemyre in a 9-0 loss at Chicago.

Monty Fariss and Rafael Palmeiro hit consecutive run-scoring singles against Greg Hibbard (9-6) in the first inning and that was all Brown needed.

“I didn’t feel I had overpowering stuff; more mediocre than anything,” Brown said.

“When you think you have this game figured out, it reaches back and proves you don’t know a thing.”

White Sox Manager Gene Lamont, at a loss to explain his team’s sudden inability to hit, was inclined to side with Brown.

“I didn’t think he pitched any better than he did a couple of weeks ago when we beat him,” Lamont said.

Brown retired the first 11 White Sox before walking Frank Thomas in the fourth. Just before Ventura ruined the bid for a no-hitter, first baseman Palmeiro made a diving stop on a ball hit by Thomas.

“I made a mistake on Ventura,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to walk him and gave him a meaty fastball.”

Brown, who never won more than 12 games in three previous seasons, has blossomed into a star. With a little luck he could already have 20 victories for a team three games below .500.

Minnesota 4, New York 3--The Twins blew a 3-0 lead at Minneapolis but finally pulled out the victory in the 14th inning when Lenny Webster’s double scored Shane Mack.

Scott Erickson was breezing with a 3-0 lead until Matt Nokes hit a three-run home run during the seventh inning.

Carl Willis (5-3) pitched 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for the victory.

Detroit 4, Kansas City 2--Dan Gladden’s two-run homer broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning at Detroit and gave the Tigers a victory in their first home game under new owner Mike Ilitch.

Cecil Fielder opened the eighth with a single. With one out, Gladden was given new life when first baseman Wally Joyner dropped his foul pop. Gladden hit Rusty Meacham’s next pitch into the left-field seats for his seventh home run.

George Brett scored one of the Royals runs to reach 1,500. He also had two hits and needs 33 to reach 3,000. The Royals have 35 games left.

Oakland 7, Cleveland 6--Carney Lansford put the Athletics ahead with a two-run homer during the sixth inning at Oakland, then preserved the victory with a fine play in the eighth.

With the bases loaded and two out in the eighth, Lansford made a diving stop of a grounder while playing an unfamiliar position, first base.

Dennis Eckersley gave up a run in the ninth but earned his 41st save.

Seattle 6, Baltimore 4--Tino Martinez broke a 3-3 tie with a fifth-inning homer and four pitchers limited the Orioles to five hits Friday at Seattle.

Edgar Martinez, the AL’s leading hitter, raised his average to .343 with two hits.

Tim Leary (6-6), in his second start since being acquired from the New York Yankees last Saturday, got his first victory for Seattle.