AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Guzman Is Back With Two-Hitter

It was a major surprise last season when veteran right-hander Jose Guzman returned from serious arm problems to win 13 games for Texas and earn comeback honors in the American League.

Guzman is proving last season was no fluke and at 29 is once again an outstanding major league pitcher.

Guzman held the Yankees hitless into the seventh inning, settled for a two-hitter Wednesday night in a 5-1 victory at New York.

Matt Nokes spoiled the no-hit bid and the shutout when he drilled a home run over the right-field fence with one out in the seventh. Kevin Maas had a bloop single and Guzman finished with his third career two-hitter.

Guzman (2-2) struck out eight and walked three in his fifth strong performance this season. He received all the offense he needed from Kevin Reimer, who drove in three runs with three hits, including a home run.

Guzman won a total of 25 games for weak Ranger teams in 1987 and 1988, then suffered a shoulder injury and missed 1989 and 1990.

But when he returned last spring, it was quickly evident that he had regained his fastball. He struck out 125 batters in 170 innings.

“I was thinking about a no-hitter and I was getting nervous, too,� Guzman said. “I didn’t think Nokes’ drive would carry that much. It was a fastball away, but I got behind. I didn’t want to walk him.�

Texas Manager Bobby Valentine was impressed. “He had a good breaking ball early to go with his fastball,� he said. “He’s a really good pitcher.�

It was the second consecutive strong pitching performance for the Rangers against the Yankees. Tuesday night, Kevin Brown and two relief pitchers held the Yankees to no runs and three hits.

Boston 6, Chicago 1--Frank Viola gave up five hits in 8 2/3 innings at Boston to win his second consecutive game for the Red Sox after losing his first two.

Phil Plantier drove in three runs with a pair of doubles to give the veteran left-hander, signed last winter as a free agent, all the help he needed.

After his first two starts in which he gave up nine runs in 8 2/3 innings, the Red Sox were wondering about Viola’s arm. But in his last three outings, he has given up only four runs in 24 innings.

Baltimore 5, Minnesota 4--Twin Manager Tom Kelly appeared to have made the right move at Minneapolis in the ninth inning.

With the score tied, two out and the potential winning run on second, he ordered an intentional walk to Cal Ripken Jr., so reliever Gary Wayne could face Randy Milligan.

Milligan, playing his first game since being injured in a collision last week, foiled the strategy by lining a single to drive in the winning run.

“Randy’s a good offensive player,� Oriole Manager Johnny Oates said, “but the guy they walked is pretty good, too. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision.�

Milligan also agreed with the decision. “It has happened four or five times already this season,� he said. “He’s a future Hall of Famer.�

Kelly let Wayne, a left-hander, stay in and pitch to the right-handed hitting Milligan, even though right-hander Rick Aguilera was warmed up.

“It seemed like the matchup to have,� Kelly said. “It just didn’t work out this time.�

Milwaukee 5, Kansas City 3--Ricky Bones needed the help of four relievers at Milwaukee, but he earned his first victory in the American League.

Bones (1-0), acquired from San Diego in the Gary Sheffield trade, gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He left after spraining the middle finger on his pitching hand in a collision with Kansas City runner Jim Eisenreich at first base.

Tom Gordon (0-3) gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings and the Royals lost for the 17th time in 20 games.

Cleveland 5, Oakland 2--Mark Whiten homered, tripled and singled twice at Cleveland to spark the Indians.

Mark McGwire became the first player in the majors to hit 10 home runs when he hammered one in the ninth inning, but Whiten’s hitting had given the Indians a big lead.