AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Twins’ Erickson Stops Rangers’ Streak at 14, 3-0

After two almost-perfect weeks, the Texas Rangers finally lost Tuesday.

The Rangers ran into a hot pitcher and their 14-game winning streak ended at Arlington, Tex.

The Rangers, who batted .348, averaged eight runs, and scored at least five runs in every game of the streak, were shut out by the Minnesota Twins, 3-0.

Scott Erickson, working out of four jams, gave up seven hits in eight innings to improve his record to 7-2. Rick Aguilera retired the Rangers in order in the ninth for his ninth save.

“Now it’s over,” Texas Manager Bobby Valentine said. “Erickson pitched a great game.”

Less than a year ago, Erickson was merely a prospect in the double-A Southern League. He joined the Twins late in the season and showed promise.

Now he’s pitching as well as anyone. Erickson, 24, has made 10 starts and has gone into the seventh inning in every one. He lost the first two, mainly because the Twins didn’t score.

In the past eight, he has had seven victories and a no-decision against the Rangers. He has lowered his earned-run average to 1.63.

“They hit me pretty good last time (10 hits in seven innings last week),” Erickson said. “But the important thing is that I learned something. Tonight I mixed my pitches well.”

Jose Guzman, in only his second start after being out more than two years with a rotator cuff injury, pitched pretty well. He gave up a 399-foot home run to Dan Gladden on the third pitch of the game, but he lasted 7 2/3 innings.

Boston 6, New York 2--Roger Clemens broke out of his personal slump and brought the Red Sox with him.

Clemens, bouncing back from two weak performances, gave up only one run and three hits in eight innings at New York, improved his record to 7-2 and ended the Red Sox’s three-game losing streak.

Luis Rivera hit his third home run and doubled in two more.

Mike Greenwell also homered as the Red Sox beat Tim Leary (3-4).

Baltimore 5, Cleveland 2--Johnny Oates had lost four games, his appetite and nine pounds, but the Orioles finally gave him a victory at Baltimore.

Oates’ weight before the game was 174, the lightest he has been since he was a catcher with the Dodgers in 1977.

But Randy Milligan and Tim Hulett hit home runs and the Orioles won for the third time in the past 13 games.

Roy Smith (1-0) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He had all the help he needed when Milligan hit his three-run home run in the second inning.

Oakland 8, Toronto 4--Jose Canseco hit a three-run home run at Toronto and Mike Gallego had a career-high four RBIs for the Athletics.

Gallego hit a two-run homer and a two-run single to back Mike Moore (7-2). Moore gave up three runs and four hits in six innings to pitch the A’s to their fourth victory in a row.

Dennis Eckersley got the last two outs in the ninth for his 12th save.

It was a disappointing night for a record SkyDome crowd of 50,299.

Milwaukee 15, Detroit 2--The Brewers, seething over a tough loss less than 24 hours earlier at Milwaukee, had five home runs and 15 hits.

Dale Sveum hit one of the homers and drove in five runs, and Dante Bichette hit two two-run home runs. Robin Yount had his 2,800th hit.

Dan August went seven shutout innings to improve to 4-2. Teddy Higuera, out all season with a small tear in his rotator cuff, pitched the last two innings. He gave up four hits, but struck out three.

Higuera will start Sunday against the Yankees in New York.

Kansas City 6, Seattle 5--Ken Griffey Jr. hit a home run at Seattle, but the Mariners, who always seem to be on a streak, lost their seventh in a row.

Tom Gordon improved his record to 4-2 and Mark Davis survived a rally in the ninth to get his first save.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Royals under Manager Hal McRae, who replaced John Wathan last week.

Gordon beat the Mariners for the second time in less than a week.