AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reynolds Helps Orioles With Rare Homer

In 11 seasons and more than 4,300 at-bats, Harold Reynolds never hit a ball as he did Thursday night.

Reynolds’ first homer in more than a year highlighted a three-hit night and helped the resurgent Baltimore Orioles defeat the struggling Minnesota Twins, 5-3, at Baltimore.

Minnesota held a 3-2 lead until Reynolds hit his first homer since July 4, 1992, a solo shot off Scott Erickson (5-10) in the fifth inning. The ball cleared the center-field wall, nearly 400 feet from the plate.

“It was a bomb, the best I can hit,” Reynolds said. “I’ve never hit a ball to center field that far--never. I was kind of shocked.”

It was his 18th homer in 4,380 at-bats.

A reporter jokingly asked Reynolds if he was fearful of being tested for steroid use in the wake of his mighty blast.

“They’ll probably check my bat before they check for steroids,” he said, laughing.

Cal Ripken Jr. also homered for the Orioles, who have won five of seven. Baltimore’s 28-12 record since May 31 is the best in the major leagues.

Oakland 8, New York 3--Ruben Sierra matched a career best with five runs batted in--including a three-run homer during Oakland’s six-run seventh inning--and the Athletics beat the slump-ridden Yankees at New York.

Sierra drove in runs in the first and third innings with a sacrifice fly and a single before greeting reliever Steve Howe with his 13th homer in the seventh as the A’s sent the Yankees to their fourth consecutive defeat and ninth in 11 games.

Mike Mohler (1-1), the second of five Oakland pitchers, worked two hitless innings. Melido Perez (5-9) was the loser after giving up nine hits and five runs with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

Chicago 6, Milwaukee 4--Pinch-runner Steve Sax stole a base and then scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error by Milwaukee third baseman B.J. Surhoff as the White Sox rallied to defeat the Brewers at Milwaukee.

The White Sox tied the score with two runs in the seventh--the fourth run scoring on a wild pitch--and then went ahead with two more in the eighth against Milwaukee’s shaky bullpen.

Ellis Burks singled to finish reliever James Austin, and George Bell greeted Mike Fetters (2-2) with another single. When Lance Johnson missed a bunt, Burks was caught off second and tagged out.

Toronto 7, Kansas City 2--John Olerud homered in the seventh inning, then broke a tie with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth at Toronto as the Blue Jays ended a five-game losing streak.

With the score tied, 2-2, Roberto Alomar started the eighth with a single against loser Enrique Burgos (0-1), then stole second. Burgos hit Paul Molitor on the foot, and reliever Mark Gubicza walked Joe Carter to load the bases before Olerud greeted Billy Brewer with a four-pitch walk.

Tony Fernandez followed with a two-run double off Tom Gordon, making the score 5-2, and the Blue Jays, who lost 10 of their previous 11 games, scored two more runs on Pat Borders’ run-scoring groundout and a wild pitch by Gordon.

Al Leiter (5-5) got the victory in relief of Toronto starter Juan Guzman, giving up one hit in two innings. Burgos gave up two runs on one hit in his major league debut, facing only two batters.

Seattle 3, Boston 2--Dave Fleming and three relievers combined on a six-hitter as the Mariners won their sixth consecutive game, handing the Red Sox only their fifth loss in 20 games.

Fleming (5-1) gave up five hits in seven innings at Boston. The left-hander, who started the season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his pitching elbow, has won five consecutive decisions. The Mariners are 9-2 in his starts this season.

Mike Hampton, 20, the youngest player in the major leagues, got his first save by retiring Scott Cooper for the final out.

The Mariners scored all their runs in the fourth inning. Trailing, 1-0, they tied the score on a run-scoring groundout by Dave Valle and then got a run-scoring double from Omar Vizquel and an RBI single from Rich Amaral.

The runs came against Frank Viola (5-8), who has not won at Fenway Park since April 18. Viola gave up nine hits in eight innings and struck out five.

Texas 12, Detroit 7--Rafael Palmeiro had two homers, two doubles and four RBIs as the Rangers won at Arlington, Tex.

Palmeiro’s two-run homer in the sixth inning broke a 7-7 tie and helped the Rangers to their ninth victory in 10 games. Palmeiro--hitting .512 in his last 10 games--extended his hitting streak to 14 games.