AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Groom Finally Gets Win

If good luck comes in threes, Buddy Groom should head straight for the lottery-ticket store.

On Thursday, Groom became a father for the second time when his wife, Angela, gave birth to Evan Daniel in Dallas.

On Friday, Groom became a winner for the first time in 77 major league appearances, shutting out the Texas Rangers for 5 2/3 innings of Detroit’s 6-1 victory at Arlington, Tex.

“It’s been a good two days,” Groom said. “We brought our son home tonight, and then I get my first win where I grew up as a fan. It’s a weight off (me). Now I need to string a few together.”

Presumably, he means victories.

Groom (1-1) was 0-9 in 11 starts and 65 relief outings in the major leagues. He overcame three walks in the first inning.

Kevin Gross (0-3) failed for the fourth time to record his first AL victory, walking six of the 19 batters he faced.

Seattle 6, Chicago 4--Unbeaten Randy Johnson (3-0) struck out 11 in seven innings at Seattle as the Mariners ended a three-game losing streak.

Edgar Martinez and Tino Martinez homered for Seattle.

Tim Raines of the White Sox tied an AL record with his 32nd straight stolen base. He matched the mark shared by Willie Wilson and Julio Cruz; Vince Coleman has the major league mark with 50.

New York 12, Boston 2--Sterling Hitchcock (1-2), in owner George Steinbrenner’s doghouse because of his 12.15 earned-run average, limited Boston to two singles in seven-plus innings, and Luis Polonia had four hits and scored four runs at Boston.

The Yankees scored four times in the eighth inning for a 6-0 lead, capped by pinch-hitter Dave Silvestri’s three-run homer.

Minnesota 9, Oakland 5--Rookie Scott Stahoviak had three hits, and the Twins won at home to end a four-game losing streak.

Marty Cordova hit a two-run double during a four-run third inning that finished Dave Stewart (2-2). Kevin Tapani (1-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Twins, allowing four runs and nine hits.

Cleveland 3, Baltimore 2--Dennis Martinez (3-0) scattered seven hits in 6 2/3 innings at Baltimore, where the Indians won their fifth game in a row.

Martinez, whose 222 victories are the most among active pitchers, is 3-0 in four career starts against the Orioles, for whom he was 108-93 between 1976 and ’86.

Milwaukee 14, Toronto 5--Joe Oliver had four hits, and the Brewers scored 10 runs in their last two at-bats to break away from the Blue Jays at Milwaukee.

With the score tied, 4-4, Kevin Seitzer’s RBI single started a five-run seventh inning. Jeff Cirillo homered during a five-run eighth.