AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Royals Lose to Blue Jays, Cone’s Record Falls to 0-4

David Cone, an $18-million free agent, dropped to 0-4 as rookie Pat Hentgen pitched four-hit ball for eight innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat Cone and the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, Thursday night at Kansas City.

John Olerud and Paul Molitor each drove in two runs for the Blue Jays.

Cone, signed last December to a multi-year deal that included a $9-million signing bonus, gave up six hits in seven innings. In the right-hander’s four starts, the Royals have scored six runs.

Hentgen, making his fifth major league start, gave up a double to Brian McRae and a run-scoring single to Chris Gwynn during the first inning, then did not allow another hit until Gwynn singled with one out in the seventh.

Hentgen (2-1) struck out three and walked two as the Blue Jays avoided being swept in a three-game sweep at Kansas City for the first time in six years. Duane Ward pitched the ninth inning for the Blue Jays, allowing a run.

Olerud, who has 13 runs batted in during his last 10 games, hit a 2-1 pitch deep into the right-field bullpen after Joe Carter walked and stole second leading off the second inning. It was his second homer in four days.

In the seventh, Pat Borders doubled and Robby Alomar and Darnell Coles walked to load the bases with two outs. Molitor then singled.

Greg Gagne hit a solo home run for Kansas City in the eighth, his first.

Chicago 3, Baltimore 2--The White Sox scored two ninth-inning runs on an error by center fielder Mike Devereaux to defeat the Orioles at Baltimore.

Gregg Olson (0-1) started the ninth by giving up singles to Robin Ventura and Bo Jackson. Ellis Burks, running for Jackson, moved to second on a wild pitch.

Both runners scored when Devereaux couldn’t handle Dan Pasqua’s liner to center. Pasqua was credited with a sacrifice fly.

The rally enabled Jack McDowell (4-0) to earn his 11th consecutive April victory. McDowell gave up six hits, walked two and struck out five in eight innings. Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth for his second save.

Baltimore starter Rick Sutcliffe had a no-hitter going until Jackson led off the fifth with a double. Sutcliffe gave up one run in 7 1/3 innings.

The game, a makeup of Wednesday’s rainout, was played in 47-degree temperatures before an announced crowd of 22,317. It was the smallest crowd in Oriole Park at Camden Yards since the stadium opened in 1992 and ended the Orioles’ major league record string of 65 consecutive sellouts.

New York 5, Oakland 1--The Yankees made Ron Darling pay for five third-inning walks, scoring five runs and going on to beat the Athletics at Oakland.

The A’s, who have lost six of their last seven games, are three games under .500 (5-8) for the first time since May 1987.

Sam Militello (1-1) and Scott Kamieniecki combined on a seven-hitter for the Yankees. Kamieniecki gave up four hits in four scoreless innings for his first major league save.

Darling (0-1), who left his first start of the season on April 7 when he strained a muscle in his rib cage, pitched for the first time in 15 days. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on two hits.

Minnesota 5, Milwaukee 4--Jim Deshaies allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings at Minneapolis to capture his fourth victory.

Dickie Thon’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly off Deshaies (4-0) made it 3-2. Mike Trombley relieved and ended the threat by striking out John Jaha.

The Twins took a 5-2 lead in the eighth by scoring two runs against Bill Wegman (1-3), who has lost both of his complete games this season.

Milwaukee scored twice in the ninth off Rick Aguilera on a homer by Greg Vaughn and an RBI double by Thon. But Aguilera earned his fifth save by getting Jaha, who beat the Twins with a 10th-inning hit Wednesday, to pop out.