AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cone Reminds Royals What They’re Missing

David Cone, a Kansas City native, was traded from the Royals to the New York Mets in 1987 in what is generally regarded as one of the worst moves in Royals’ history.

The Royals watched Cone flourish with the Mets in the National League, and they faced him Wednesday night for the first time since he was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cone received a warm ovation from the crowd at Royals Stadium, then gave up no runs and five hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays beat the Royals, 1-0.

“Not bad for a guy with a tired arm,” said Cone, who struck out five, walked three and improved his AL record to 2-1 with his first complete game for the Blue Jays. “I felt good. I felt my velocity was good. I had a good splitter, and a good sharp slider. I was a little more consistent tonight.”

Tom Henke relieved Cone with one out in the ninth after Wally Joyner singled and stole second. Henke got the last two outs for his 26th save.

The Royals, who were shut out, 5-0, by Jimmy Key on Tuesday night, suffered their first back-to-back shutouts since September of 1989.

Gregg Jefferies of the Royals, who was Cone’s teammate with the Mets, reached base four times with two singles and two walks.

“Toronto’s lucky to have him,” Jefferies said. “They got the best pitcher in the National League,”

Royal starter Kevin Appier (15-8) pitched two innings before leaving because of soreness in his right shoulder.

The Blue Jays scored the only run in the first. Candy Maldonado singled with one out and advanced to second when Pat Borders walked. Alfredo Griffin’s single to center scored Maldonado.

The Blue Jays’ eighth victory in 10 games assured them of a winning season for the 10th consecutive year and stretched their lead in the AL East to 3 1/2 games over Baltimore.

Roberto Alomar of the Blue Jays extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Texas 3, Boston 2--Jose Canseco hit a three-run home run, his second homer in two days, and finished with three hits in the victory at Arlington, Tex.

The Rangers were behind, 1-0, in the third inning when Canseco hit his 24th homer.

In the last two games, Canseco has gone four for seven with five runs batted in. In his six games since being traded to Texas from Oakland, Canseco is hitting .381 with seven RBIs.

Jose Guzman (13-11) gave up eight hits, struck out seven and walked two in his fifth complete game.

Danny Darwin (8-7) allowed nine hits in eight innings.

Minnesota 6, Seattle 2--The Twins had a club-record six stolen bases at Minneapolis and won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Center fielder Shane Mack threw out two baserunners--one at home to end the Mariners’ only threat.

Kevin Tapani (15-10) pitched 8 2/3 innings before leaving with runners on first and third. He gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

Mark Guthrie recorded the final out for his fourth save.

Dave Fleming (15-8) gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in seven innings as the Mariners tied a season high with their seventh consecutive loss.

New York 5, Baltimore 2--Randy Velarde, Don Mattingly and Danny Tartabull homered at Baltimore as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep.

Velarde hit a three-run homer in the fourth, and Mattingly and Tartabull hit back-to-back homers during the eighth.

It was Tartabull’s 22nd homer, his third in two games.

Rookie Bob Wickman (3-0) gave up two runs, eight hits and four walks in seven innings for the Yankees.

Rick Sutcliffe (15-12) was foiled in his bid for a sixth consecutive victory.

Chris Hoiles homered for the Orioles, who have lost four in a row.

Chicago 6, Detroit 4--Tim Raines and Frank Thomas hit consecutive homers during the seventh inning at Chicago to lift the White Sox.

With the score, 4-4, Bill Gullickson (14-10) retired the first two hitters in the seventh before surrendering Raines’ fourth home run and Thomas’ 23rd.

Wilson Alvarez, making his first start since July 12, gave up four runs and three hits in five innings.

Terry Leach (5-4) pitched two scoreless innings and Roberto Hernandez worked the final two innings for his eighth save.

Robin Ventura also homered for the White Sox.

Cecil Fielder hit his 30th homer and Travis Fryman hit his 19th for the Tigers.

Gullickson left the game after Thomas’ homer. He gave up six runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.