AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Viola Keeps Red Sox Rolling

Frank Viola is familiar with fast starts.

In 1991, he was 3-0 with an 0.86 earned-run average during April. He won his first seven decisions in 1990 and won nine of his first 10 decisions in 1988.

On Sunday, Viola gave up nine hits, but pitched his first shutout at Fenway Park in five years as the Red Sox continued their best start since 1978 with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox (9-3) scored three runs or fewer in 11 of Viola’s 12 losses last season, but they have scored at least that many in each of his three starts this season.

“It’s so much easier pitching the first two weeks of the season knowing they’re going to score some runs for you,” said Viola (3-0), who lowered his ERA to 0.75 and has given up only two runs in three starts.

Viola’s previous shutout at Fenway was in 1988, when he won the Cy Young Award as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

Strong performances against the White Sox are nothing new for Viola, who was 2-0 against Chicago last season, giving up one earned run in 24 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox scored all their runs against Rodney Bolton (0-2), who gave up eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. The White Sox, 0-5 against left-handers, have not scored a run for Bolton, who pitched the first 5 1/3 innings of a 12-0 loss to the New York Yankees in his major league debut April 10.

Andre Dawson drove in two runs for the Red Sox.

Texas 12, New York 2--Jose Canseco hit a home run and drove in four runs to lead the Rangers at New York.

Canseco’s two-run shot came against Neal Heaton in the ninth. Canseco and Julio Franco each had three of the Rangers’ 15 hits.

Juan Gonzalez, hitless in three at-bats, left after seven innings because of a bruised left ankle. Gonzalez, who led the majors with 43 homers last year and has five this season, hurt himself chasing a ball in left field.

Charlie Leibrandt (2-0) outpitched Melido Perez (0-1) and won for the first time in six decisions at Yankee Stadium.

Detroit 8, Seattle 7--Travis Fryman hit a two-run homer against Norm Charlton in the bottom of the ninth at Detroit, as the Tigers overcame 15 strikeouts and extended their winning streak to five games.

The Tigers trailed, 7-6, when Lou Whitaker drew a one-out walk from Charlton (0-1). Fryman followed with his homer.

Bob MacDonald (1-0), the sixth Detroit pitcher, worked one inning for the victory.

Mike Felder, Ken Griffey, Pete O’Brien and Dave Valle homered for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Chris Bosio had a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Cleveland 6, Toronto 5--Albert Belle and Paul Sorrento each hit two-run homers for the Indians during a five-run first inning at Cleveland.

Starter Jeff Mutis (1-1) gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings for his first major league victory.

Derek Lilliquist got the final out for his third save.

Belle and Sorrento homered in the first against Al Leiter (1-1). It was Belle’s sixth, Sorrento’s fourth.

Milwaukee 8, Oakland 0--Cal Eldred rebounded from his worst major league start for the victory at Milwaukee.

Eldred (2-1) struck out five and walked none to bounce back from his home-opening loss to the Angels, when he gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Darryl Hamilton drove in three runs.

Kansas City 5, Minnesota 4--Brian McRae tripled, doubled and singled at Minneapolis to lead the Royals.

Hipolito Pichardo (1-0) gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings. Jeff Montgomery finished with two shutout innings for his third save.

Scott Erickson lost his 1993 debut, giving up four runs and eight hits in four innings.

Minnesota’s Dave Winfield had a pinch-hit single for his 2,874th hit, moving him into 29th place on the all-time list, ahead of Babe Ruth.