AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McDowell’s Eighth Victory Lifts White Sox

Jack McDowell became the American League’s first eight-game winner and George Bell drove in four runs as the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox, 11-3, at Chicago on Saturday night.

McDowell (8-4), ended a personal three-game losing streak, giving up eight hits and two runs in seven innings.

“I got out of a tough jam in the seventh, and I felt then everything would be OK,” McDowell said. “I knew my eighth win would come sooner or later.”

He pitched out of a seventh-inning jam after Ernest Riles’ pinch double made the score 5-2. Riles’ single against Terry Leach, the last of three Chicago pitchers, during the ninth drove in the last Boston run.

Bell broke out of a five-for-40 slump with a single, a double and a triple. His two-run double against Frank Viola (4-5) sparked a four-run fourth, helping Chicago win for only the sixth time in 19 games.

After the game, Bell said he won’t talk to reporters again until the postseason.

“If we make it to the playoffs, I’ll go looking for you,” Bell said. “If I make a mistake, I’ll let you know. But now, and for the rest of the season, I will not talk.”

Cleveland 7, Minnesota 6--Left fielder Wayne Kirby threw out a runner at the plate during the top of the ninth, then hit a sacrifice fly to lift the Indians at Cleveland.

The loss ended Minnesota’s three-game winning streak. Cleveland won for only the second time in eight games.

Trailing, 6-3, during the eighth, the Indians tied the score on a run-scoring single by Carlos Martinez and Reggie Jefferson’s two-run homer--his fourth hit of the game and fifth home run of the year. The homer came on the first pitch thrown by Mike Trombley (2-3).

Felix Fermin led off the Cleveland ninth with a single, took second on a wild pitch and third on a sacrifice before pinch-runner Thomas Howard scored easily on Kirby’s fly to deep right.

Toronto 9, Oakland 5--John Olerud hit a homer and drove in three runs at Toronto to lead the Blue Jays to their seventh consecutive victory.

Juan Guzman (5-0) gave up five hits and struck out 11 in seven innings for the victory.

Olerud’s 11th homer of the season--and first at home--gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead during the fourth. Hillegas (2-5) retired nine in a row after opening the game with two walks before walking Paul Molitor to start the fourth.

The last-place Athletics fell to 20-30.

Baltimore 5, Seattle 3--Mike Devereaux’s three-run homer during the eighth inning gave the Orioles their second consecutive comeback victory over the Mariners at Baltimore.

Baltimore trailed, 2-0, during the seventh before Leo Gomez hit a two-run homer. During the eighth, Devereaux followed an infield hit by Mark McLemore and a wind-blown single by Cal Ripken Jr. with his second homer of the season.

One night earlier, Baltimore rallied from a 5-3 deficit during the ninth inning for a 6-5 victory.

The Orioles’ third consecutive victory matched their season high.

Ken Griffey Jr. drove in all three runs for Seattle, which lost its second in a row.

Erik Hanson (5-3) was working on a three-hit shutout until the seventh, when Devereaux led off with a double and Gomez followed with his ninth homer.

Milwaukee 8, Kansas City 2--The Brewers, shut out on one hit for six innings by David Cone, broke loose for eight runs during the seventh at Kansas City, ending the Royals’ five-game winning streak.

B.J. Surhoff doubled with one out to start Milwaukee’s burst, and later hit a run-scoring single against Tom Gordon.

Ricky Bones (3-2) gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings. He struck out two and walked none.

Daryl Hamilton, Bill Spiers, Greg Vaughn, Kevin Reimer and Surhoff all had run-scoring singles during the seventh for Milwaukee.

New York 9, Texas 6--Hensley Meulens, who had only one hit this season, went three for four and hit a bases-loaded triple to key a six-run seventh inning, lifting the Yankees past the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

New York trailed, 6-3, entering the seventh, but got five hits and three walks against four pitchers and took advantage of a key error by right fielder Dan Peltier.

Rich Monteleone (5-3) worked two innings of hitless relief. Steve Howe, making his first appearance since going on the disabled list May 8, also pitched an inning and Steve Farr worked the ninth for his 13th save.