AMERICAN LEAGUE : Blue Jays Get 10 Hits in Row to Buoy Cone

David Cone was off to another horrible start Friday night at Toronto. In two innings, he had made two wild pitches, hit a batter and trailed, 3-0.

But then his new teammates took matters into their own hands.

The Blue Jays tied an American League record with 10 consecutive hits during the second inning and scored a 16-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis.

Cone staggered through six innings to even his record at 1-1. He was in constant trouble, giving up seven hits and five runs.

“I feel pretty fortunate tonight,” Cone said. “A tremendous night for our offense. It’s unbelievable the way they came back after I struggled early. I can’t tell you how much of a lift that is. I’m not used to a team as explosive as this.”

Kelly Gruber, who began the streak when he beat out an infield hit with one out, doubled to left-center field for the 10th consecutive hit. But Pat Borders, who singled his first time up, flied out to end it.

This left the Blue Jays two short of the major league record set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920. The AL record was set by Boston in 1901 and tied by Detroit in 1983.

A week ago, the Blue Jays gave up an American League record 31 hits to the Milwaukee Brewers in a 22-2 loss.

Devon White and John Olerud had four hits and Joe Carter and Candy Maldonado added home runs in the 21-hit attack.

The Twins’ Kevin Tapani (14-10) left after the first six hits, but the carnage didn’t stop.

Boston 8, Oakland 3--Even though they were aware before the game started at Oakland that the Twins were being trounced, the Athletics couldn’t halt the slump that began with the trade of Jose Canseco.

Wade Boggs hit a two-run single and Scott Cooper hit his first major league home run as the Red Sox routed Dave Stewart (10-9) and handed the Athletics their fourth consecutive loss.

Stewart, who had won his 10 previous decisions against Boston since Aug. 19, 1988, gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings.

Rickey Henderson homered during the third inning, the first A’s homer since the Canseco trade.

Milwaukee 6, Detroit 3--Chris Bosio went eight innings at Detroit to win his seventh in a row and keep the Brewers’ division hopes alive.

Darryl Hamilton drove in three runs for the Brewers and Robin Yount singled in the first run in the first inning with his 2,993rd hit.

Bosio (13-5) is unbeaten in his last 10 starts. Dan Plesac, once one of the top relievers in the league, retired the last two for his first save in more than a year.

“We know that if we can keep playing well we will have control of our own destiny,” Bosio said. “My key has been to prepare for the other teams and not pay any attention to the pennant race. I just want to pitch my game.”

Hamilton, who hit his fourth home run to beat Bill Gullickson (14-9), said he is having fun.

“Nobody is focusing on us like they are on Toronto and Baltimore,” he said, “so there’s no pressure. We’re playing really well.”

Chicago 8, Kansas City 0--Tim Raines had three hits, drove in two runs and stole his 40th base to help Alex Fernandez win at Kansas City.

Fernandez, getting the second shutout of his career, gave up six hits. One of them was a single by George Brett, who needs 25 to reach 3,000.

Royal starter Kevin Appier (15-7) needed 60 pitches to make it through the first two innings.

Cleveland 7, Seattle 0--Jose Mesa pitched an eight-hit shutout at Cleveland and Carlos Martinez was only a single away from hitting for the cycle.

Martinez had a double, triple and home run to drive in three runs.