AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Alvarez Beats Indians to Run Streak to 13

Wilson Alvarez won his 13th consecutive decision spanning two seasons and improved to 6-0 this year, pitching a six-hitter as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-1, on Wednesday night at Chicago.

Alvarez is two shy of LaMarr Hoyt’s club-record 15 consecutive victories in the regular season, set from July 1983 to April 1984.

Alvarez’s streak does not include his victory in last year’s American League playoffs, when he won against the Toronto Blue Jays at Toronto in his only postseason start.

“I don’t think about the wins,” Alvarez said. “I just want to win for my team. I want to go to the playoffs again. That’s my dream, I want to be in the World Series.”

Baltimore 4, Oakland 3--Lee Smith blew a save chance for the first time this season, but the Orioles bounced back to win in Oakland on Mike Devereaux’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

Smith relieved in the ninth after the Orioles had taken a 3-2 lead, and entered with a 0.00 ERA and 12 saves in 12 appearances. Pinch-hitter Troy Neel, however, tied it with a home run with one out.

The Orioles, who went ahead in the ninth on Chris Sabo’s solo homer with two outs off Dennis Eckersley (0-3), won it in the next inning.

Jack Voigt reached on third baseman Mike Brumley’s error, and Edwin Nunez relieved Eckersley. After Brady Anderson walked, Voigt went to third on a wild pitch by Nunez and scored on Devereaux’s fly ball.

Boston 4, Seattle 2--Danny Darwin gave up four hits in 7 1/3 innings and Mike Greenwell and Mo Vaughn homered at Boston to lead the Red Sox to their seventh consecutive victory.

The Red Sox improved baseball’s best record to 20-7, their fastest start since opening the 1946 season 23-4. But they are 13-2 against American League West teams, none of which has a winning record.

Darwin (5-1) retired the last 13 batters he faced, but the last forced him out. Felix Fermin hit a liner off Darwin, who threw to first for the out, then knelt in pain and was replaced by Todd Frohwirth.

Darwin struck out four and walked none. Frohwirth, in his first appearance since being called up Tuesday from the minors, picked up his first save.

Kansas City 6, Toronto 4--Felix Jose hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Royals the victory at Toronto.

After Gary Gaetti singled with two outs against Darren Hall (0-1), Jose followed with a drive to right field for his first home run of the season.

Billy Brewer (2-0) pitched two perfect innings for the victory. Jeff Montgomery picked up his second save.

The Royals tied the score at 4-4 in the eighth when Gaetti led off with a double and scored on a one-out single by pinch-hitter Hubie Brooks against Tony Castillo.

Minnesota 8, Milwaukee 7--Shane Mack’s two-out triple scored Kirby Puckett with the winning run in the ninth inning at Milwaukee.

With the score tied, 7-7, and two outs in the ninth, Puckett singled against Graeme Lloyd (1-2). Mack then ripped a liner down the right-field line that deflected off first baseman John Jaha’s glove and rolled into the corner.

Right fielder Turner Ward quickly retrieved the ball and relayed it to second baseman Alex Diaz, whose throw to the plate just missed getting Puckett.

Darryl Hamilton went four for five for the Brewers.

Detroit 14, Texas 7--Lou Whitaker, back in the lineup after sitting out two games because of a sore left foot, hit a grand slam and a three-run homer for the Tigers at Detroit.

Whitaker’s three-run homer highlighted Detroit’s six-run third inning, and he added his third career grand slam in the eighth to set a career high with seven runs batted in.