AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : New Plan Helps Cone Top Twins

David Cone got some advice from former Kansas City catcher Jamie Quirk and used it to record a season-high 11 strikeouts Thursday, helping the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, at Minneapolis.

The Royals’ fourth consecutive victory brought them within two games of American League West-leading Chicago.

Cone (9-11) credited advice from Quirk, an unofficial coach for the Royals.

“Jamie told me to use my split-finger (fastball) against righties,” Cone said after giving up three hits and walking two during seven shutout innings. “He said to throw it hard and throw it down and in. I always reserved it for left-handed hitters. But now I feel like an idiot for not using it earlier this season against righties.”

Cone used the split-finger to strike out Kirby Puckett three times, including one strikeout in the third inning that extricated the Royals from a two-out, bases-loaded jam.

Cone has had little run support all season, but Thursday he got more offense than he needed.

Brian McRae had three hits, including a solo homer in the third, and George Brett broke out of a two-for-29 slump with an infield hit and his 14th homer.

Cleveland 5, Boston 1--Julian Tavarez, one month removed from Class A, pitched seven strong innings to lead the Indians at Boston.

Tavarez (2-1) gave up an RBI double to John Valentin in the second, but allowed only two hits in the next five innings.

Tavarez, 20, struck out five, walked one and gave up six hits.

Boston, one game out of first place in the American League East a week ago, has fallen to third place, five games behind Toronto. The loss was the Red Sox’s seventh in 10 games.