AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Valenzuela Gives Himself and Orioles a Lift

If nothing else, a victory would give Fernando Valenzuela some reassurance that he still has what it takes to make a legitimate comeback.

He received that boost Wednesday night at Oakland, pitching the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-2 victory over the Athletics.

“It meant a lot to me because the last couple of games I haven’t been doing well,” said Valenzuela, who gave up one earned run in 6 1/3 innings.

Valenzuela (2-5), who spent last year in the Mexican League after being released by the Angels in 1991, picked up his second victory since returning to the major leagues with Baltimore.

“A lot of people thought it was all over for me but really, as long as I feel good, I can keep going,” said Valenzuela, the rookie of the year and Cy Young Award winner in 1981 with the Dodgers.

Roughed up for three homers during an 8-4 loss to the Angels last Friday at Anaheim, Valenzuela gave up five hits, walked four and struck out five in his first appearance against the A’s.

“That was the way he pitched all spring,” Baltimore Manager Johnny Oates said. “Really, all of his ballgames with the exception of a couple of innings have been just what you saw today. He’s been very consistent. I just want him to go out there and pitch like he is right now. Then it’s a matter of whether we score runs.”

Valenzuela was relieved by Mark Williamson with one out in the seventh, and Gregg Olson pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Kansas City 7, Boston 2--Brian McRae went four for five with four runs batted in and led an 11-hit attack against Roger Clemens as the Royals swept a three-game series at Boston.

McRae was one for 12 lifetime against Clemens (6-5) before Wednesday night. But he tripled and scored in the first, singled in the fourth and hit a two-run homer that made it 5-1 in the sixth.

McRae added a two-run single in the eighth against Tony Fossas as Kevin Appier (6-4) won for the fourth time in five starts.

Clemens lasted six innings and gave up the most hits since Minnesota got to him for 12 early last season. He has struggled at home, going 2-8 in his last 11 starts at Fenway Park.

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 3--Catcher Dave Valle, who made a costly throwing error, tied the score in the seventh inning with a home run and the Mariners went on to win at Seattle.

The Brewers took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh when Valle’s throw to third base hit runner Bill Spiers on the helmet and bounced into left field. Spiers and Darryl Hamilton each scored on the play.

Valle then hit a solo homer to left field off starter Cal Eldred (6-6) to tie it. In the eighth, Valle added a two-run single.

Jeff Nelson (2-1) was the winner in relief and Norm Charlton got his 10th save.

Chicago 10, Detroit 1--Ron Karkovice hit two homers, including a grand slam, as the White Sox routed the Tigers at Detroit.

Joey Cora hit his first major league homer and Jason Bere (1-1) earned his first victory as the White Sox handed the Tigers their third consecutive loss.

Karkovice’s grand slam highlighted a six-run first inning for Chicago. He added a solo homer in the eighth, his seventh of the season. The five RBIs matched Karkovice’s career high.

Bere, making his second start since being called up May 25, held the Tigers to four hits and one run in five innings. Donn Pall, Scott Radinsky and Bobby Thigpen held the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way.

New York 8, Cleveland 5--Mike Humphreys’ first major league home run capped a seven-run fifth inning and Matt Young lost his 14th consecutive decision as the Yankees defeated the Indians at New York.

Humphreys’ two-run homer came off Tom Kramer, the second of three Cleveland pitchers in the inning. The other runs scored on an RBI double by Spike Owen, a two-run single by Kevin Maas and a two-run triple by Gerald Williams.

Yankee starter Jimmy Key (6-2) gave up eight hits and five runs before being replaced in the eighth.

Young (0-4) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings. He has gone 24 consecutive starts since his last major league victory May 20, 1991, against Milwaukee.

Minnesota 6, Texas 3--Mike Pagliarulo hit a three-run homer as the Twins won at Minneapolis.

Willie Banks (5-2) left the game with tightness in his right shoulder after escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth inning. He gave up two runs on six hits as the Twins won for the sixth time in their last seven games.