AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Guzman, White Fill the Bill in Blue Jay Victory

The Toronto Blue Jays had two needs Tuesday night in Baltimore: a long, strong performance from their pitcher and somebody to take charge of the offense.

Jose Guzman did the pitching and former Angel Devon White provided the offense as Toronto beat the Orioles, 6-1.

With their third victory in a row and Detroit’s loss, the Blue Jays took sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Guzman (5-2) pitched a five-hitter and gave the overworked Toronto bullpen a rare night off. The rookie right-hander’s first complete game was only the eighth by the Blue Jays in 127 games.

White made it easier for Guzman with bat, glove and arm.

In the first inning White doubled and scored the first run. In the next inning he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and in the fourth he hit a two-run home run.

He made a sensational catch in center field to rob Cal Ripken Jr. of a home run, then his hustle and throw cut down Mike Devereaux trying to stretch a double after driving in the Orioles’ run in the third.

White, in his last six games, has had four home runs, driven in nine runs and batted .391.

“I’m in a groove,” said White. “Home runs seem to come when you’re in one.”

White, who batted only .217 for the Angels last season, raised his average to .291.

Guzman hasn’t lost since June 15.

Cleveland 2, Minnesota 1--With Chicago and Oakland losing, it didn’t matter that the Twins ran into a hot performance by Greg Swindell at Cleveland.

Swindell gave up five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five, coming within one out of a complete game.

Carlos Martinez singled home the winning run in the eighth inning.

Jack Morris, victimized by some shaky fielding, took the loss, something unusual when he faces Cleveland. Morris (15-10) is 29-10 against the Indians, including 2-1 with an earned-run average of 1.19 this season.

Kansas City 3, Chicago 2--Mark Davis and Tom Gordon held the White Sox to six hits, and they lost their eighth game in a row.

Rookie Harvey Pulliam hit two home runs for Kansas City, one inside the park when outfielders Lance Johnson and Sammy Sosa collided trying to catch his fly.

Davis, a flop as a reliever with the Royals, gave up three hits in six innings, including Carlton Fisk’s two-run home run.

Davis (4-1) started because Luis Aguino has an injury.

Texas 7, New York 2--Ruben Sierra hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning at New York to bring the Rangers from behind, and they went on to win for the fifth time in six games.

Juan Gonzalez and Steve Buechele also homered to help Jose Guzman (9-5) continue his comeback. Guzman gave up six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 4--Edgar Martinez hit two homers and Ken Griffey Jr. had four hits as the Mariners got their ninth consecutive victory over Milwaukee at the Kingdome.

The loss dropped the Brewers 9 1/2 games behind Toronto.

Boston 6, Oakland 4--Carlos Quintana doubled in the five-run third inning outburst at Oakland that handed the Athletics their fifth loss in a row.

Quintana also homered.

Bob Welch (11-9) was tagged for three consecutive doubles in the rally.