AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Deshaies Adjusts, Handles Royals

Jim Deshaies turned a slight adjustment into a large advantage.

Troubled all season by an inability to keep his pitches down in the strike zone, Deshaies (4-7) used a shortened windup and a different release point Friday night to limit the Kansas City Royals to one run and four hits in eight innings in a 4-1 victory for the Twins at Minneapolis. The victory, which ended Minnesota’s three-game losing streak, was only Deshaies’ second victory since April.

Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Deshaies, who leads the major leagues in home runs allowed, gave up his 22nd of the season, to Vince Coleman in the third inning. But after a leadoff double in the fourth, Deshaies retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced.

Baltimore 5, Toronto 1--Chris Sabo homered in the first inning at Toronto and broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth with a two-run double as the Orioles sent the Blue Jays to their sixth straight loss.

Mark Eichhorn (3-1) beat Dave Righetti (0-1).

Boston 4, Milwaukee 3--Damon Berryhill hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning at Milwaukee to beat the Brewers’ Mike Fetters (1-4).

Berryhill got the chance for the game-winning hit when Tom Brunansky, traded by the Brewers to Boston last week, reached second base in a rundown with two out in the ninth to put runners at second and third.

Greg Harris (2-4) got credit for the victory by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Oakland 4, Detroit 3--Although he couldn’t finish, Steve Ontiveros got the Athletics off to a strong start with his third straight impressive performance. Ontiveros (4-2) allowed no runs in five innings at Oakland before leaving with a tight groin.

In his last three games, he has given up no runs and six hits and allowed only five runners as far as second base.

Chicago 6, Seattle 2--Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura hit solo homers and Scott Sanderson (6-2) got the victory at Seattle. Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 32nd home run.