AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Franco Homers Again, Tigers Lose Again, 8-6

A two-run home run by Julio Franco in the ninth inning was the difference Sunday as the Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers, 8-6, at Detroit, sending the Tigers to their 12th loss in 13 games.

Franco’s home run was his eighth of the season and second in two days. He hit a grand slam in Saturday’s 11-5 victory.

Roger Pavlik (4-4) won for the first time since June 13, giving up three runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out two. The Rangers, who took an 8-3 lead, won for the seventh time in nine games.

Mark Leiter (6-5) remained winless in five starts since June 8, giving up five runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Boston 6, Seattle 0--Paul Quantrill pitched a two-hitter at Seattle, where the Red Sox finally got a hit against Chris Bosio.

Bosio, who pitched a no-hitter against Boston on April 22 at Seattle, held the Red Sox hitless until the seventh, when Mike Greenwell singled. Andre Dawson also singled and Mo Vaughn followed with his 12th home run.

Quantrill (4-5), meanwhile, gave up only single by Jay Buhner and a double by Mackey Sasser, both in the second inning.

Kansas City 3, Toronto 1--George Brett hit his 652nd career double to move past Honus Wagner and into fifth place on the all-time list, helping the Royals complete a sweep of a three-game series at Kansas City.

Chris Haney (5-1) and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter, with Jeff Montgomery pitching the ninth for his 25th save.

Brett doubled in the fourth against Todd Stottlemyre (5-6) and scored on a double by Gary Gaetti, who came home on Greg Gagne’s single.

Minnesota 4, Milwaukee 3--Dave Winfield singled twice and hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, carrying the Twins at Minneapolis.

The home run off Jaime Navarro (5-5) was Winfield’s 442nd, tying him with Dave Kingman for 19th on the all-time list. Winfield’s three-hit game gave him 2,931 hits, moving him past Rogers Hornsby into a tie with Jake Beckley for 23rd place.

Winfield is 10 for 25 with three homers and six runs batted in in his last six games, rebounding from a slump that included a 30-game homerless streak. Winfield, making a rare start in right field, also robbed Robin Yount of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch, helping Eddie Guardado (1-2) to his first major league victory.

Chicago 3, Baltimore 1--Tim Raines tripled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning at Chicago, helping Rod Bolton pick up his first major league victory.

Bolton (1-4) gave up three hits in seven innings, struck out three and walked none. Roberto Hernandez finished for his 15th save as Chicago retired Baltimore’s final 20 batters in order.

Oakland 7, New York 6--Rickey Henderson’s sacrifice fly capped a five-run eighth inning rally by the Athletics at Oakland.

Oakland got five consecutive singles against reliever Bobby Munoz (2-1), with Terry Steinbach making it 6-4 with the fourth single.

Steve Farr came in with the bases loaded and walked pinch-hitter Troy Neel to force in a run, and Mike Bordick tied the score with a sacrifice fly. Lance Blankenship singled, bringing up Henderson.