White Sox Add to Woes of Mariners

Ray Durham’s tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning combined with Chicago’s four-hit pitching gave the White Sox a 2-1 victory Sunday at Seattle.

The struggling Mariners lost for the 12th time in 14 games, but stayed 2 1/2 games ahead of Oakland in the American League West because the Athletics lost to New York, 7-5.

Durham homered into the right field stands off Freddy Garcia (4-4) with one out in the eighth.

“I don’t try to hit home runs and I’ve been in a rut at the plate so I’ve been trying to hit the ball up the middle,” he said. “This one felt good, but it felt good for the team.”

Sean Lowe came out of the bullpen for Chicago and started in place of James Baldwin, whose turn was moved back to Tuesday night because of a tired arm. Lowe gave up one run, four hits and two walks in five innings.

He made his second start in five days. Manager Jerry Manuel said more starts might be assigned to Lowe.

Toronto 6, Texas 4--Darrin Fletcher hit three homers and Steve Trachsel (7-11) won for the first time since June 27, leading the Blue Jays at Arlington, Texas.

Jose Cruz Jr. and Shannon Stewart also homered, giving the Blue Jays a major league-leading 214.

New York 7, Oakland 5--Pinch-hitter Bernie Williams drove in the go-ahead run by grounding into a force play in a three-run eighth inning for the Yankees, who won at Oakland.

Jim Mecir (8-3) walked David Justice to start the eighth and Jose Canseco singled. After Jose Vizcaino pinch-ran for Canseco, Terrence Long dropped Tino Martinez’s fly in center field, loading the bases.

Eric Chavez threw away Luis Sojo’s ground ball, Scott Brosius was walked intentionally and Williams’ ground ball scored Martinez to make it 6-5.

Kansas City 11, Boston 7--Dave McCarty and Jermaine Dye each hit two-run homers and Dan Reichert (8-6) won his fourth decision in the Royals’ victory at Kansas City.

The Red Sox’s Tim Wakefield (6-9), who began the year 7-2 lifetime against Kansas City, lost to the Royals for the second time this month and fell to 0-4 over his last eight starts.

Minnesota 7, Detroit 6--Midre Cummings hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning and Ron Coomer had three RBIs for the Twins, who won at Minneapolis.

Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 2--Jay Spurgeon, who started the season in Class A, played six games with double-A Bowie and two with triple-A Rochester, gave up two runs in seven innings at Baltimore to win his first start in the major leagues.

Melvin Mora’s two-run homer tied the game for the Orioles in the fifth, and Mike Kinkade doubled in the go-ahead run in the same inning.