AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : A’s Eckersley Gets F’s in Games Against Twins

It’s getting to be habit-forming, and Dennis Eckersley wants to break the habit.

And the Twins.

“I’ve been snake bit by this team,” Eckersley said Thursday after blowing a three-run, ninth-inning lead in the Athletics’ 5-4 loss at Oakland. “That’s baseball. I couldn’t stop the bleeding again, just like I did last week.”

Last Friday at Minneapolis, Eckersley (0-1) failed to hold an 8-4 lead in a game the A’s went on to win, 10-9.

This time, Oakland led, 4-1, when Dave Winfield reached on an error by second baseman Junior Noboa. Scott Leius struck out and Rich Becker grounded out as Winfield took second.

Matt Walbeck singled in a run, pinch-hitter Chip Hale singled and Alex Cole’s double made it 4-3. Chuck Knoblauch then singled in the tying and go-ahead runs.

Minnesota Manager Tom Kelly said Eckersley’s performance was atypical.

“A whole bunch of us would like to have Eckersley on our staff,” Kelly said. “We’d be lined up to get him.”

Mike Trombley (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings to win, and Rick Aguilera got three outs for his third save.

New York 10, Chicago 3--Paul O’Neill hit two homers and drove in five runs for the Yankees at Chicago.

O’Neill also had a double as New York ended its four-game losing streak while stopping the White Sox’s four-game winning streak by roughing up 1993 AL Cy Young winner Jack McDowell (1-2) with four runs in the sixth inning.

Jimmy Key (2-1) improved to 18-7 against the White Sox. He gave up seven hits, including homers to Frank Thomas and Darrin Jackson, in 6 2/3 innings.

Baltimore 3, Detroit 1--Mike Mussina increased his lifetime record against the Tigers to 5-0, getting a home run from Brady Anderson as support at Detroit.

Mussina (3-0) gave up one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven. He has a 1.64 ERA in eight starts against Detroit.

Alan Mills struck out Eric Davis with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, and Lee Smith pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Baltimore won two of three in Detroit, its first series victory at Tiger Stadium in five years.

Milwaukee 7, Texas 2--John Jaha drove in four runs and Ricky Bones (2-0) pitched a five-hitter in beating the Rangers at Arlington, Tex. Kevin Brown (0-3) gave up five runs in the first inning and two in the second.