AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McDonald, Smith Lead Orioles

Lee Smith got his eighth save quicker than anyone else, and Ben McDonald became the American League’s first four-game winner as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, Friday at Baltimore.

McDonald has won all four of his starts, and Smith has saves in each of his eight appearances. The 36-year-old reliever also has an 0.00 ERA over seven innings.

McDonald gave up eight hits and three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one in becoming the first Oriole since Jeff Ballard in 1989 to win his first four starts in a season.

Reggie Jefferson went three for four with a homer for the Mariners, who have allowed a major league high 20 unearned runs in 14 games, compared to 53 unearned runs all last year.

Texas 7, Cleveland 3--Juan Gonzalez hit a bases-loaded pop fly that dropped for a tiebreaking two-run single at Arlington, Tex., as the Rangers ended a four-game losing streak.

With the score tied 3-3 in the seventh, Indian third baseman Jim Thome called off shortstop Alvaro Espinoza on the two-out fly but then backed off at the last second and the ball dropped without being touched as Manuel Lee and David Hulse scored.

Jack Morris (1-2) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. Kenny Rogers (1-2) became only the second Texas starter to win this year, giving up three runs and nine hits in eight innings with six strikeouts and three walks.

Milwaukee 9, Kansas City 8--Dave Nilsson hit a two-run double in the ninth inning at Milwaukee, as the Brewers rallied and ended the Royals’ 151-game streak of holding leads after eight innings.

The Royals’ streak was the longest of that type in 50 years. The last time Kansas City wasted a lead after eight was Aug. 25, 1991, against Texas.

Chicago 7, Detroit 2--Robin Ventura hit a three-run home run and Frank Thomas hit his seventh homer in 10 games, at Chicago.

Scott Sanderson (2-0) gave up both runs and four hits in seven innings for Chicago, which has 31 home runs in 16 games. Sanderson has given up only two earned runs in 13 innings for a 1.38 ERA.

New York 8, Oakland 6--Luis Polonia doubled in Bernie Williams with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning at New York.

Williams, who returned to the Yankee lineup after missing two games while in Puerto Rico for the birth of his daughter, hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run second and also walked and scored when New York scored twice in the fourth.

Scott Kamieniecki (1-0), the second of four Yankee pitchers, allowed two runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings in relief of Bob Ojeda, who made his first start at Yankee Stadium since signing with New York on Jan. 28.

Toronto 8, Minnesota 2--Pat Hentgen pitched a five-hitter, and Joe Carter went three for five with a home run at Toronto, as the Blue Jays extended their winning streak to five.

Carter homered in his first at-bat against Scott Erickson (1-3) since the Twin starter broke Carter’s thumb with a pitch during spring training. Carter ran the bases slowly and stared at Erickson after rounding third.