AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Brett’s 200th Steal Is Milestone

George Brett reached another career milestone and Greg Gagne finally solved Boston pitching during the Kansas City Royals’ 12-inning, 5-4 victory over the Red Sox Sunday at Kansas City.

Gagne, 0 for 27 against the Red Sox this season, drove in the winning run with a single that scored Wally Joyner from third.

Brett, who went four for five, stole second base in the third inning and joined Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only major leaguers with 3,000 hits, 300 homers and 200 steals.

“It’s not like 300 homers or 3,000 hits,” said Brett, who has 312 homers and 3,123 hits. “But it’s nice to be in the same company as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Let’s be realistic. You play 20 years, and get 10 a year, that’s 200. But when you combine it with the 3,000 and 300, it’s pretty special.”

Gagne, who struck out five times Saturday during a 2-1, 11-inning loss to the Red Sox, did not start Sunday. Manager Hal McRae put him in the game in the late innings for defensive purposes.

John Dopson (7-9), the sixth Boston pitcher, gave up a leadoff single to Joyner in the 12th. Gary Gaetti sacrificed and Kevin McReynolds was intentionally walked before Gagne singled.

David Cone gave up 10 hits and four runs in 8 2/3 innings.

Mark Gubicza (4-6) pitched two innings for the victory.

Mo Vaughn hit his 21st home run for the Red Sox.

*

Toronto 6, Seattle 2--Roberto Alomar hit his first grand slam to help the Blue Jays avert a four-game sweep at Seattle.

Alomar’s slam highlighted a five-run third inning against Erik Hanson (10-11). Singles by Darnell Coles, Ed Sprague and Randy Knorr loaded the bases for Alomar, who hit his 14th homer.

Joe Carter singled in a run for the Blue Jays, giving him 100 runs batted in for the fifth consecutive season.

John Olerud of the Blue Jays went 0 for 3, dropping his average to .386.

Todd Stottlemyre (8-9) gave up two runs and seven hits in eight innings.

Bret Boone hit his seventh homer for the Mariners.

*

Chicago 13, Minnesota 5--Frank Thomas hit his 36th home run and drove in three runs in helping Kirk McCaskill to his first victory since Aug. 3.

Thomas raised his major league-leading RBI total to 109 on a first-inning two-run homer and a sacrifice fly in the third at Chicago.

McCaskill (4-7), making his first start since Aug. 3, gave up one run in six innings.

*

New York 14, Cleveland 8--Paul O’Neill hit a three-run double during a six-run sixth inning at Cleveland as the Yankees played their last game at Cleveland Stadium.

Rich Monteleone (7-4) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the victory.

Jim Abbott left after giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

*

Baltimore 6, Texas 3--Jamie Moyer extended his scoreless-inning streak to 20 before giving up a run during the seventh inning at Baltimore.

Moyer (10-6) struck out five and walked one. He became the first Oriole left-hander to win 10 or more games in a season since Jeff Ballard won 18 in 1989.

Cal Ripken and Mark Parent homered for the Orioles who had lost 10 of 11 road games.

*

Oakland 7, Detroit 3--Bob Welch earned the victory at Oakland as the Athletics ended a nine-game losing streak, their longest since 1986, and the Tigers’ seven-game winning streak.

Welch (9-7), in his second start since coming off the disabled list because of a bruised right wrist, struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and six hits.