AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Baines Hits Grand Slam, Stewart Gets Win

Harold Baines hit a grand slam against relief pitcher Storm Davis and Dave Henderson followed with his 18th homer of the season as the Oakland Athletics scored five unearned runs with two out in the seventh inning to beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, Saturday at Oakland.

Dave Stewart (5-4), winning for the first time since June 6, gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings as the A’s ended a four-game losing streak. Dennis Eckersley pitched two innings for his major league-leading 21st save.

The Royals’ Kevin Appier had a five-hit shutout when he left after giving up a two-out single to Rickey Henderson in the seventh. With Davis (2-7) pitching, Ernest Riles walked and Jose Canseco’s ground ball was bobbled by third baseman Kevin Seitzer for an error, loading the bases.

“He had gotten us into the seventh inning, his pitch count was up, and I wanted to get him out of the game,” Royal Manager Hal McRae said of removing Appier. “Storm did what we asked him to do. We asked him to get a ground ball. He did his job.”

Baines then hit a line drive over the right-field fence for his ninth home run and second grand slam of the season, ending Oakland’s 16-inning scoreless streak. The A’s hit back-to-back homers for the first time this season when Dave Henderson hit another line drive over the left-field fence.

“I just thought it was an out,” Baines said of his drive.

Said Davis, a former Athletic: “This just takes the wind out of your sails . . . Harold and Hendu are obviously two of the better hitters in our league, whether they’re hot or cold.”

The victory cheered Oakland Manager Tony La Russa, whose team had lost 11 of 14 games.

“It’s going to be a pennant race,” said La Russa, “and the A’s will be involved. So will a lot of other teams. It should be fun.”

Toronto 4, Seattle 0--Jimmy Key, who left the game after being hit by a line drive, and two relievers pitched the Blue Jays to victory over the Mariners at Toronto.

Key, who gave up five hits, was struck on the left hand by Omar Vizquel’s line drive in the fifth inning. Key was examined by team doctors, who said the injury was to the fleshy part of his index and middle fingers and was not serious.

Mike Timlin (6-4) relieved and gave up two hits in two innings. Duane Ward pitched three hitless innings for his 14th save, striking out five.

The Blue Jays, leading the AL East, have won eight of their last 10 games.

Detroit 9, Cleveland 4--Alan Trammell’s two-run homer capped a six-run second inning and Rusty Meacham won his major league debut as the Tigers beat the Indians at Detroit.

Meacham (1-0) gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Mike Henneman finished for his 11th save.

Charles Nagy (3-9) lost for the fourth time in June, giving up seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.

Detroit’s Cecil Fielder hit his 18th home run in the eighth inning.

Baltimore 7, Boston 3--Cal Ripken and Randy Milligan hit home runs and Roy Smith won his first game since June 7 as the Orioles beat the Red Sox at Baltimore.

Smith (4-1) got relief help from Kevin Hickey, Mark Williamson and Mike Flanagan as Baltimore won for the sixth time in eight games.

Boston has lost five of its last six games.

Chicago 8, Minnesota 4--Scott Erickson’s winning streak ended at 12 when the White Sox rallied for five runs in the seventh inning and beat the Twins at Minnesota.

Erickson (12-3) took a 3-2 lead into the seventh, but singles by Matt Merullo, Lance Johnson and Ozzie Guillen tied it. Tim Raines hit a two-run double. Steve Bedrosian came in and gave up a two-run triple to Dan Pasqua.

New York 9, Milwaukee 8--Mel Hall hit a two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning, capping a three-run rally as the Yankees beat the Brewers at Milwaukee.

The Yankees scored three in the eighth, then added three more in the ninth after Dan Plesac (0-2) relieved. It was Plesac’s first blown save in six tries this season.

Singles by Steve Sax and Don Mattingly and a walk to Jesse Barfield loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. Kevin Maas grounded into a force play at second base, as a run scored. Hall, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth, doubled to the fence in right-center.

Lee Guetterman (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Steve Farr pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.