AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Twin Pitching Is Made to Order for Orioles, 8-4

It was more of the same for the Minnesota Twins because the Baltimore Orioles did something different.

Baltimore sent Minnesota to its sixth consecutive loss, using two big innings and a three-run home run by Cal Ripken for an 8-4 victory Wednesday night at Baltimore. The Orioles had lost six of seven and were averaging a league-low 3.4 runs per game.

“We ran the bases well and got some big hits,” Baltimore Manager Johnny Oates said. “It’s a much better feeling tonight than it has been most nights lately.”

Ripken’s second homer highlighted a four-run third inning, and Baltimore snapped a 4-4 tie with four unearned runs in the sixth against Scott Erickson (0-3).

The Orioles had eight home runs in their previous 18 games.

Pedro Munoz hit two homers for the Twins, who have given up an average of 11 runs per game during their slide. Minnesota’s losing streak is its longest since April 1991.

Mike Devereaux opened the sixth by reaching on a throwing error by shortstop Jeff Reboulet. Singles by Ripken and Harold Baines produced the go-ahead run, and two outs later Mark McLemore lined a two-run single to right. Mike Trombley replaced Erickson and gave up a run-scoring double to Jeff Tackett.

Texas 6, Detroit 5--Julio Franco doubled home the winning run in the 11th inning as the Rangers rallied from a four-run deficit and beat the Tigers at Arlington, Tex.

Rafael Palmeiro led off the 11th with a pop-fly single off Mike Munoz. Franco took two strikes attempting to bunt, then delivered his game-winning hit.

Tom Henke went three innings and gained his first victory for Texas. Henke (1-0) struck out four in three perfect innings.

Kansas City 5, Toronto 3--Mark Gardner pitched six-hit ball for seven innings as the Royals beat the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Gardner (2-1) allowed all three runs, struck out six and walked two before Jeff Montgomery got the final six outs for his sixth save.

Scott Brow lost in his major league debut, giving up four runs and five hits in six innings.

The game’s decisive run was scored in the eighth when Blue Jay reliever Mark Eichhorn walked Phil Hiatt with the bases loaded.

Boston 3, Oakland 1--Frank Viola combined with two relievers on a four-hitter and Mo Vaughn hit a homer at Oakland as the Red Sox stopped a losing streak at six games.

Viola (4-1) gave up three hits in 7 1/3 innings as he lowered his earned run average to 1.47. He has allowed six earned runs in his last five starts.

Jeff Russell pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings for his fourth save, sending Oakland to its ninth loss in 11 games.

Chicago 11, Milwaukee 2--Frank Thomas continued his hot hitting with a two-run home run, and Kirk McCaskill pitched seven strong innings at Chicago.

Thomas has five hits in his last 11 at-bats and nine runs batted in for his last three games. Thomas was hit by a pitch from Josias Manzanillo in the eighth and was later removed for a pinch runner.

McCaskill (2-3) gave up one run and six hits. Chicago had scored just nine runs for him in his previous four starts.

Milwaukee Manager Phil Garner was ejected in the ninth by home plate umpire John Shulock for arguing a called third strike on Alex Diaz.

Seattle 4, Cleveland 0--Ken Griffey Jr. had three hits, including his seventh home run of the season, and three RBIs at Seattle.

Four Mariner pitchers combined for a second shutout in a row against the Indians and the fifth this season. Seattle had nine shutouts last year.

Erik Hanson (3-0) gave up four hits in seven innings, stretching his scoreless streak to 15 2/3 innings.