Royals Finally Win One for the Road

The Kansas City Royals ended their 12-game road losing streak, rallying for five runs in the eighth inning and four more in the ninth against the Seattle Mariners’ struggling bullpen for a 9-6 victory Saturday night at the Kingdome.

The Royals completed their comeback from a 6-0 deficit when Jeff King hit a game-tying sacrifice fly in the ninth. Craig Paquette followed with a run-scoring single and Shane Halter had a two-run double.

Closer Bobby Ayala (6-4) pitched the ninth. It was the Mariners’ 14th blown save of the season. Seattle has lost five games it led going into the ninth inning this season.

Omar Olivares, who was making his debut with the Mariners after being obtained from Detroit, and Norm Charlton also failed to hold the lead Seattle built behind Bob Wolcott.

Jeff Montgomery (1-3) pitched two perfect innings for the victory.

The Royals trailed, 6-5, when Tom Goodwin and Jay Bell singled with one out in the ninth. Chili Davis walked to load the bases, and King’s fly ball tied it.

Wolcott took a two-hitter and 6-0 lead into the eighth, but left with one out after Goodwin hit an inside-the-park home run and Bell followed with another homer.

Minnesota 7, Oakland 6--Pinch-hitter Roberto Kelly’s run-scoring single and a two-run double by Paul Molitor highlighted Minnesota’s four-run seventh at Oakland.

Jose Canseco hit a 470-foot, three-run home run off Francisco Rodriguez--his 19th of the season--in the bottom of the inning as the A’s closed to 7-6. It was the longest at the Oakland Coliseum since the A’s began measuring every home run in 1992.

Boston 6, Cleveland 3--John Valentin hit two home runs and Wilfredo Cordero had a three-run double at Cleveland as the Red Sox won their fourth game in a row.

Jeff Suppan (4-0) gave up one run and five hits in six innings, retiring the first 10 batters before Tony Fernandez bunted safely in the fourth.

Terry Clark (0-1) gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings.

Baltimore 8, Chicago 3--Chris Hoiles entered the game as an emergency replacement and hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning at Baltimore and the Orioles ended a three-game losing streak.

Rafael Palmeiro and Jeffrey Hammonds also hit home runs for the Orioles, who won for only the third time in 12 games.

Dave Martinez had three singles and three stolen bases for the White Sox, who have lost five of six.

Detroit 6, Texas 5--Brian Hunter singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning at Arlington as the Rangers lost for the fifth time in six games.

Matt Walbeck drew a one-out walk in the eighth from Xavier Hernandez (0-4) and took third on Deivi Cruz’s single. Hunter then lined a single past drawn-in shortstop Bill Ripken.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Jose Canseco Oakland 3 for 5, 2 runs, home run, 4 RBIs Loss John Valentin Boston 2 for 5, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs Win Paul O’Neill New York 4 for 5, 1 run, 4 RBIs Win Tim Salmon Angels 2 for 4, home run, 2 runs, 2 RBIs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result David Wells New York Three-hitter, no walks, 4 strikeouts Win Jeff Suppan Boston 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 2 strikeouts Win

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