AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Royals Break Their Slump in a Big Way

When the Kansas City Royals emerged from their season-long slump Sunday night at Toronto, they did it with style.

The Royals had lost nine in a row and their only victory in 17 games had been a gift, a result of errors.

They didn’t just beat the hot team in the American League, 9-0. They beat the Blue Jays’ best pitcher, previously unbeaten Jack Morris, and held the best-hitting team in the league scoreless.

Mark Gubicza limited the Blue Jays to three hits in seven innings, and the first two hitters in the Royals’ lineup made life miserable for Morris, who had won his first three decisions.

Leadoff hitter Keith Miller was four for four, including his first homer as a Royal. He scored four runs and drove in a run. Brian McRae, next in the order, was three for five, scored three runs and drove in three.

McRae, the son of the Royal Manager Hal McRae, followed Miller’s opening double with his first home run of the season.

Gubicza (1-2), whose arm is still tender after having surgery last season, was followed by Hipolito Pichardo and Jeff Montgomery, each of whom pitched an inning.

“We finally got good pitching and good offense on the same day and that did it,” the elder McRae said.

After the rocky first inning, Morris settled down until the fourth when he gave up two more runs. He went six innings, giving up five runs. His earned-run average soared to 3.69.

It was only the fifth loss in 20 games for the Blue Jays, who lead the East by two games over New York. The Blue Jays have played 13 of their 20 in the Toronto Skydome.

Minnesota 8, Oakland 4--Rookie Pat Mahomes struck out 10 in five innings at Minneapolis and improved his record to 2-0.

Although he gave up four runs before being replaced in the sixth inning, the Twins hammered Dave Stewart. The big hit off Stewart (1-2) was a three-run home run by Pedro Munoz.

Texas 3-4, Boston 1-2--With the weather still rainy and cold at Boston, the Rangers decided to wait until later to return 45-year-old Nolan Ryan to the mound.

As it turned out, they didn’t need him. During the first game, Bobby Witt worked out of two bases-loaded jams and Juan Gonzalez homered to help the Rangers end a four-game losing streak.

During the second game, John Cangelosi drove in the tiebreaking run with a single during the ninth inning to give the Rangers a sweep.

Brian Downing’s two-run homer got the Rangers even in the eighth inning.

Chicago 7, Detroit 6--There really isn’t any mystery to why the Tigers are 0-8 at home. They haven’t had anything resembling a well-pitched game at Tiger Stadium.

Robin Ventura had three hits, including his first home run, and the White Sox got eight hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings against Eric King (1-3).

Greg Hibbard, although he gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings, improved to 4-0 because the White Sox gave him a 7-0 lead.

Tiger starters at home have failed to complete four innings in the last four games. In the eight games at home, the Tigers’ starters have a 10.18 earned-run average.

New York 3, Baltimore 1--Roberto Kelly believed his drive to left field during the eighth inning at New York was his first home run. But it hit the top of the wall and proved to be a double that drove in the winning run.

Andy Stankiewicz, who opened the inning with a single, scored, and Kelly eventually scored, too.

Kelly’s double, which increased his average to .370, gave reliever Steve Howe his third victory without a defeat. Howe retired all five he faced.

Milwaukee 9-1, Cleveland 4-3--Kenny Lofton pulled off the Indians’ first straight steal of home in 11 years and it helped them earn a split of a doubleheader at Cleveland.

Darryl Hamilton, a .200 hitter, hit a three-run home run during a six-run fourth inning and drove in four runs in the opener.

In the second game, Lofton stole home in the first inning when Jaime Navarro went into a windup. It gave the Indians a lead they never relinquished and gave Dennis Cook (1-2) his first victory.

“It’s kind of scary,” Lofton said of trying to steal home. “It’s OK, as long as the guy doesn’t swing.”

Lofton, who had sat out the previous five games because of a hamstring injury, is perfect in nine steal attempts.

“In spring training, I asked Kenny about (stealing home), because to me it’s an easy thing to do if they’re not paying attention to you,” said Indian baserunning coach Dave Nelson, who had eight straight steals of home during his career.