AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McRae Runs Into Wall in Game of Basebrawl

Brian McRae never had a chance.

In the eighth inning of a game Thursday against the Texas Rangers, the Kansas City Royals’ outfielder was hit by a pitch thrown by Bob Patterson.

But rather than charge the mound, McRae charged the Ranger dugout.

“I was going after (Ranger Manager Kevin Kennedy), but I couldn’t get to him,” McRae said after the Royals’ 9-4 victory at Kansas City. “I figured since he was the one doing all the talking (Wednesday night) that he’d be the best guy to go after.”

McRae, however, was met by Kevin Brown, Willie Upshaw and Kenny Rogers. They put a bear hug on the outfielder as both benches emptied.

McRae and Patterson were ejected, and no punches were seen to have been thrown.

“He’s probably the guy who gave the orders,” McRae continued. “Hopefully, it’s done and over with. But if they want to continue it, we’re not going to back down.”

The Rangers’ Rafael Palmeiro was struck in the knee by a pitch Wednesday night after hitting his third home run in two games against the Royals. After the game an incensed Kennedy said: “We’ll take care of it. We can take care of ourselves.”

In Thursday’s game, McRae and Kevin McReynolds singled to open the Kansas City seventh, then Patterson relieved Matt Whiteside and got two outs before walking Wally Joyner. Greg Gagne hit Patterson’s next pitch into the left-field bleachers for the second grand slam of his career.

Toronto 7, Detroit 4--Roberto Alomar hit a bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the eighth inning at Toronto, leading the Blue Jays to their fifth consecutive victory and their fourth in a row in which they drove in the winning run in their final at-bat.

Ed Sprague started the winning rally with a single, and Pat Borders moved pinch-runner Alfredo Griffin up with a sacrifice. Loser Tom Bolton (1-4) walked Turner Ward and grazed Devon White on the leg, loading the bases. Alomar then drilled a hit to the gap in left-center field to clear the bases.

The victory increased Toronto’s American League East lead to one game over the idle New York Yankees.

Boston 7, Milwaukee 3--Rookie Aaron Sele won his fourth consecutive start, and Mo Vaughn, Billy Hatcher and Ernest Riles homered as the Red Sox won at Milwaukee.

Sele (5-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings in his seventh major league start and tied Don Schwall for the best start by a Red Sox pitcher. Schwall began his career in 1961 with five consecutive victories.

Sele gave up nine hits, three runs and struck out two before Milwaukee scored twice in the sixth to pull within 7-3.