AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mariners End Royals’ 14-Game Winning Streak

The Kansas City Royals’ 14-game winning streak ended Saturday night as Reggie Jefferson drove in four runs and Edgar Martinez hit a three-run homer to lead the Seattle Mariners to an 11-2 rout at Kansas City.

The Royals’ first loss since June 22 ended baseball’s longest winning streak since the Minnesota Twins won 15 in a row in 1991. Kansas City began its run trailing by 9 1/2 games in the American League Central, but sweeps of Chicago, Minnesota and Oakland helped the Royals move back into the playoff race.

Jefferson hit three doubles for the Mariners, who were playing their 15th game on the road since the Kingdome was closed for structural repairs.

The Mariners handed rookie Tim Davis (2-2) a 9-0 lead after four innings. Davis gave up seven hits and two runs in five innings.

Mark Gubicza (7-9), who was 12-4 against the Mariners, gave up 11 hits and seven runs in only three innings.

“The Royals had a real nice run,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said. “It was a great run. But tonight was just our night.”

Baltimore 5, Milwaukee 0--Arthur Rhodes pitched his second consecutive shutout at Milwaukee.

Rhodes (3-5), who pitched the second shutout of his career Monday after being called up from triple-A Rochester, struck out three, walked five and gave up five hits in his third complete game.

The Orioles, who had not had a shutout this season before Rhodes’ outing on Monday against the Twins, have four shutouts in six games.

Baltimore’s Mark McLemore went two for four and drove in three runs.

Minnesota 10, New York 4--Kirby Puckett reached 100 runs batted in faster than any other Twin player ever at Minneapolis, helping the Twins end the Yankees’ eight-game winning streak.

Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Shane Mack and Pedro Munoz homered for the Twins. Paul O’Neill connected for the Yankees, who had won 10 in a row on the road.

Puckett drove in three runs, giving him 101 RBIs. He reached 100 RBIs for the third time in his career, and did it this season in his 104th game. Harmon Killebrew accomplished the feat in 106 games in 1969, the previous fastest in team history.

Puckett had a solo homer, his 18th, and a two-run double in support of Pat Mahomes (9-5).

Boston 8-0, Cleveland 4-7--Dennis Martinez pitched a two-hitter and Carlos Baerga homered twice as the Indians earned a split at Boston.

John Valentin was five for five and drove in five runs for the Red Sox in the opener.

Martinez (11-6), who has won 10 of his last 12 decisions, gave up a leadoff single by Otis Nixon in the first and a two-out single by Tim Naehring in the second. After Naehring’s hit, he retired 19 in a row before walking Wes Chamberlain to open the ninth.

Oakland 6, Texas 4--Terry Steinbach’s triple scored the go-ahead run and highlighted a five-run eighth inning as the Athletics rallied to win at home.

Steinbach, who also drove in the winning run in a 5-4 victory Friday night, hit a two-run triple off reliever Tom Henke (3-5).

Detroit 3, Toronto 2--Cecil Fielder and Tony Phillips homered at Toronto to help the Tigers end a three-game losing streak.