AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Eckersley, McGwire Team Up Against White Sox

Dennis Eckersley became the second pitcher to save 50 games in a season and tied Dan Quisenberry’s career American League mark, and Mark McGwire reached the 40-homer mark for the second time in his career as the Oakland Athletics beat the White Sox, 6-5, Monday at Chicago for their 12th victory in 13 games.

Eckersley, Oakland’s fifth pitcher, worked the ninth for his 50th save in 52 chances. Chicago’s Bobby Thigpen saved 57 in 1990. That also gave Eckersley 238 career saves.

McGwire, who hit 49 homers in 1987, his rookie season, put the A’s ahead to stay in the third inning when he followed a walk to Harold Baines with a 411-foot shot into the left-field stands. That tied Texas’ Juan Gonzalez for the major league lead in home runs.

Ron Darling (15-9) won for the seventh time in eight decisions despite giving up nine hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Baltimore 4, Milwaukee 1--Mike Mussina won his sixth consecutive decision and Mike Devereaux reached the 100-RBI mark with a three-run double as the Orioles salvaged the finale of the four-game series at Milwaukee.

The Brewers, who won the first three games of the series to move past the Orioles and into second place in the East, fell 4 1/2 games behind idle Toronto. Milwaukee has 12 games remaining, all against West teams.

Third-place Baltimore, which opens a three-game series against the Blue Jays tonight, moved within five games of the top. The Orioles have 13 games left.

Mussina (17-5) gave up seven hits and has allowed only four runs his past five games.

Kansas City 3, Seattle 0--The Mariners lost for the 16th time in 17 games as Luis Aquino, Bill Sampen and Jeff Montgomery combined on the four-hitter for the Royals at Kansas City.

George Brett, needing 11 hits to reach 3,000 for his career, went 0 for 4 against Dave Fleming (15-10). Fleming lost his sixth decision in a row despite pitching an eight-hitter and his sixth complete game.

Detroit 6, Boston 5--Dan Gladden’s pinch-single in the bottom of the 10th inning broke an 0-for-15 slump and scored Skeeter Barnes with the winning run.