AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Sierra, Witt Help Athletics End Losing Streak

It did not take long for Ruben Sierra and Bobby Witt to make an impact with the Oakland Athletics.

The two players, acquired with pitcher Jeff Russell from Texas in a trade for Jose Canseco, were instrumental in the A’s 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox Sunday night at Oakland.

Sierra, who hadn’t played since Monday’s trade because he had the chicken pox, was the designated hitter and scored the winning run from first base when center fielder Bob Zupcic overthrew the cutoff man after Dave Henderson singled. He had one hit in four at-bats as the A’s ended a five-game losing streak and stretched their lead over Minnesota to 5 1/2 games in the West.

“I hadn’t held a bat in a week,” Sierra said, “but I felt strong, especially after the way the fans greeted me.”

Witt, making his first start for the A’s, gave up one run and seven hits, walked four and struck out two in seven innings. In his last six for Texas, Witt was 0-6 with a 6.63 earned-run average and 28 walks in 36 innings.

Dennis Eckersley (7-1) held the Red Sox hitless in the ninth and 10th.

Frank Viola gave up one run and five hits in eight inning for Boston.

Kansas City 3, Chicago 2--George Brett hit his sixth career inside-the-park home run during the seventh inning to lead the Royals at Kansas City.

Brett’s homer came after a double by Curtis Wilkerson. Shawn Abner dove to catch the ball and knocked it away from left fielder Tim Raines and sending it into the left-field corner.

Brett’s 2,977th hit extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Three Royal pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, including 11 of the last 17 batters.

Tom Gordon (6-9) pitched three innings of hitless relief, striking out six, and Jeff Montgomery got six outs for his 33rd save.

Detroit 6, Milwaukee 2--Robin Yount had two hits, moving to within three of 3,000, but the Brewers still lost at Detroit.

John Doherty (5-3) gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings for the Tigers. Mike Henneman finished.

Jamie Navarro (14-11) gave up four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Brewers.

Mickey Tettleton hit his 29th homer for the Tigers.

Cleveland 12, Seattle 9--Albert Belle hit three home runs and Carlos Martinez hit a grand slam with two out in the 12th inning as the Indians completed a three-game sweep at Cleveland.

Belle has 29 this season.

Jay Buhner hit two home runs for the Mariners, including a two-run shot against Steve Olin (7-4) during the top of the 12th that gave the Mariners a 9-7 lead.

But Carlos Baerga hit a run-scoring single in the bottom half of the inning, an intentional walk to Thomas Howard loaded the bases and Martinez homered against Mike Schooler (2-7).

It was the fourth grand slam against Schooler this year, tying a major league record.

Tino Martinez and Mike Blowers also homered for the Mariners.

New York 7, Texas 0--The Yankees scored six runs during the eighth inning en route to the victory at New York.

Roberto Kelly and Danny Tartabull hit run-scoring doubles, Mel Hall had a two-run single and Matt Nokes hit a two-run homer during the rally.

Scott Kamieniecki (5-11) struck out five and walked three in eight innings.

Toronto 4, Minnesota 2--Ed Sprague hit a three-run homer at Toronto as the Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the seventh inning and completed a three-game sweep.