Breakthrough Performance for Guzman Against Royals

As much as Toronto needed this game, Juan Guzman needed it more.

Coming off shoulder surgery and winless for almost a year, the 31-year-old right-hander had given up 10 runs for the first time in his seven-year career in his last start.

But he was his old self Tuesday night, holding Kansas City to four hits through seven innings and striking out six in the Blue Jays’ 5-1 victory at Kansas City, Mo.

“I’m a lot better. I’m close to 100% now,” said Guzman (1-2), who walked only one and had six strikeouts while registering his first victory since last May 8.

“What’s satisfying to me is my shoulder is fine and I know everything else is OK too. I can put it together.”

Guzman had been 0-7 in his nine previous starts going back to an injury-plagued 1997.

Pat Rapp (0-1) gave up four hits and three earned runs in six innings, striking out two and walking four. In three starts covering 20 innings, the Royals have supported Rapp with five runs while he has given up just four earned runs.

“It’s frustrating that we’re not scoring runs,” Rapp said. “But I go out to do my job and I can’t do their job. I control what I control.

“The fact we haven’t scored when I’ve pitched is just a coincidence.”

Paul Quantrill pitched the last two innings for his first save.

Cleveland 8, Seattle 3--In another disaster for the Seattle bullpen, relievers Heathcliff Slocumb and Mike Timlin walked four batters during a five-run eighth inning at Cleveland.

Mariners relievers are 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA.

Seattle’s bullpen blew two save chances last weekend in Boston, and failed to hold a 3-0 lead Monday night against the Indians. The Mariners fired pitching coach Nardi Contreras on Monday, replacing him with Stan Williams.

The score was tied, 3-3, in the eighth when Slocumb (0-2) walked the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth. After a first-pitch ball to Omar Vizquel, Mariner Manager Lou Piniella brought in Timlin.

Timlin threw three straight balls to Vizquel, forcing home the go-ahead run.

Kenny Lofton followed with a two-run double and Shawon Dunston hit a two-run triple as Cleveland broke open the game.

Texas 11, Detroit 2--Lee Stevens enjoyed another big game at the expense of Detroit pitching, driving in four runs with three hits at Arlington, Texas.

Stevens, who hit a career-high three homers and drove in four runs during a 10-1 romp over the Tigers on Monday, led Texas to its third straight win.

The Tigers have lost four in a row and six straight on the road.

Ivan Rodriguez, Tom Goodwin and Kevin Elster also had three hits each for Texas. Mark McLemore, Rusty Greer and Juan Gonzalez all had two of the Rangers’ 19 hits.

Tiger starter Scott Sanders (0-2) was tagged for 16 hits and 11 runs in four-plus innings.

Aaron Sele (3-0) once again got plenty of support from the Texas hitters. The Rangers have scored 42 runs in his three starts.

Backed by an 8-1 lead after two innings, Sele cruised to the victory, giving up two runs and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out three and walked none.

Baltimore 4, Chicago 3--Jesse Orosco fanned pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra with the bases loaded to end the game and the Orioles, despite giving the White Sox an extra out in the ninth inning, won at Baltimore.

Orosco, the fourth Oriole reliever, took over in the ninth with a 4-2 lead after Armando Benitez walked the bases loaded with one out.

Ray Durham flied out and Orosco struck out pinch-hitter Jeff Abbott, but the third strike was a wild pitch that bounced away from catcher Chris Hoiles, enabling a run to score and leaving the bases loaded.

Orosco then struck out Sierra for his second save, sending the White Sox to their third loss in a row.

Rafael Palmeiro drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single and Hoiles hit a solo homer in the seventh to help the Orioles improve to 10-2.

Key (2-0) gave up one run and three hits in seven innings. He walked none and struck out seven, including six of the first seven batters.

Key is just 2-8 at Camden Yards in 13 regular-season starts since last May. He improved his lifetime record against Chicago to 20-7.

Boston 8, Oakland 6--Nomar Garciaparra had a career-high five RBIs and brought Boston from behind with a three-run homer in the eighth as the Red Sox stayed unbeaten at home.

The Red Sox are 5-0 on their first homestand of the year, although the wins are against Seattle and Oakland, who are a combined 5-19.

The Athletics had gone ahead, 6-5, with a four-run eighth, capped by Rafael Bournigal’s two-run single.

Butch Henry, in his 1998 debut after being activated from the disabled list Tuesday, pitched five strong innings.

Billy Taylor (0-2) relieved Buddy Groom to start the bottom of the eighth and retired Jason Varitek. He then walked pinch-hitters Midre Cummings and Jim Leyritz, setting the stage for Garciaparra, who hit the first pitch over the left-center field wall for his third homer.

Troy O’Leary and Mo Vaughn also homered for Boston as Oakland’s losing streak reached five games.