AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Anderson, Orioles Arriving Together

Brady Anderson, who grew up in Carlsbad and attended UC Irvine, was long considered a player with potential. In the final month of last season, the fleet left fielder served notice he was no longer merely a prospect.

In the first month of this season, he is acting like someone developing into a star.

Anderson hit a two-run home run and two singles Wednesday night at Baltimore to lead the Orioles to a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins, their seventh victory in eight games.

Anderson has played a key role for the Orioles, who have a 18-9 record and 11 victories in 13 home games.

Until he hit .385 after August last season, Anderson was a .200 hitter with little power in parts of four seasons.

Now, he is showing so much power and clutch hitting, it’s a question whether Manager Johnny Oates can afford to keep him in the leadoff spot.

The two-run homer gave Anderson 24 runs batted in. Last season he played in 113 games and despite his hot finish, drove in only 27 runs. His three hits raised his average to .308.

“The hot finish last season did wonders for my peace of mind,” Anderson, 28, said. “I’m not doing anything differently this season, just picking up where I left off.

Oates says Anderson will remain in the lead-off spot.

“I think a lot of the success can be linked to Brady’s success,” Oates said. “He’s dominated more than one game with his hitting and his baserunning.”

Oriole pitcher Ben McDonald (4-0) gave up six hits, including home runs to Shane Mack and Kirby Puckett in the eighth inning.

McDonald walked three and struck out five in his third complete game of the season. He did not permit a runner past second until Mack hit his fourth home run.

Leo Gomez also homered for the Orioles, who have hit home runs in the last 11 games and have hit 20 in the last 10 games at Camden Yards.

The Orioles’ Glenn Davis, out since opening day, came in as a pinch-hitter for the designated hitter and went 0 for 2.

Chicago 7, Boston 5--The White Sox were sensational at coming from behind in the late innings last season and they are doing the same this season.

The White Sox spotted the Red Sox a 4-1 lead at Chicago and went into the eighth inning trailing, 5-3.

But Warren Newson’s two-run single capped a four-run eighth inning that carried the White Sox to their fourth victory in a row.

Newson’s hit gave the White Sox a 6-5 lead and he later scored on Mike Huff’s single. Bobby Thigpen got the last two outs for his sixth save.

Kansas City 3, Milwaukee 1--With Mark Gubicza pitching, the struggling Royals have a legitimate chance to win.

Gubicza held the Brewers to a 1-1 tie until the seventh when Jim Eisenreich hit Jaime Navarro’s first pitch of the inning for the home run that broke the tie.

Gubicza (2-2) worked seven innings and Cliff Montgomery pitched two shutout innings for his fourth save.

Oakland 5 , Detroit 2--Dave Stewart (2-2) combined with two relievers for a four-hitter at Oakland.

Dennis Eckersley got the last four outs for his 10th save and the Athletics ended a four-game losing streak.

Willie Wilson, off to a fast start for Oakland, had the key hit, a two-run double in the sixth that handed Walt Terrell his fourth consecutive defeat. Wilson is batting .289 and has 17 RBIs.

Rob Deer hit his eighth home run of the season in the fifth for the first run off Stewart.

Cleveland 7, Texas 2--Paul Sorrento hit a three-run home run at Arlington, Tex., and rookie Kevin Wickander earned his first save.

Wickander gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Toronto 12, Seattle 4--Kevin Mitchell hit his first American League home run at Seattle, but it did not halt a rout by the Blue Jays.

Joe Carter and Manuel Lee hit home runs for the Blue Jays, who have won four in a row.