Vitiello Powers K.C. To Fourth Win In Row

American League

The A.L. wild-card race has become a four-team battle following Kansas City’s 10-8 victory over California on Sunday in Anaheim, Calif.

“This was a huge series for us. This was a dogfight all the way, but we held on. Now we’re right back in it,” Joe Vitiello said after homering twice and driving in five runs.

With their fourth straight victory, the Royals moved within one game of Seattle in the wild-card race. New York and Texas also are one game back.

“This was really terrible,” said Mark Langston (15-5), who allowed three homers for the second time in three starts. “The team is struggling, looking for someone to pick them up. I let down the team and the fans. I was horrible.”

California, which lost for the 22nd time in 30 games, remained three games ahead of Seattle in the A.L. West.

Each team hit four homers. Vitiello hit a three-run shot in the first and a two-run drive in the fifth. Langston, tagged for seven runs and seven hits in 4-1/3 innings, also allowed a two-run homer to Juan Samuel, his 12th.

Hipolito Pichardo (8-4) pitched 1-1/3 innings, allowing Greg Myers’ solo homer in the eighth. Jeff Montgomery got four outs for his 31st save in 38 chances, giving up a ninth-inning homer to Tony Phillips.

Blue Jays 5, Brewers 0

Toronto

Al Leiter pitched a six-hitter and struck out 10 as Toronto beat Milwaukee and sent the Brewers to their 15th loss in 19 games.

Leiter (11-9), who walked two, set a personal high for victories in a season. The victory was Toronto’s second straight following a seven-game losing streak and completed a 3-7 homestead.

Red Sox 9, Indians 6

Cleveland

Boston blew a five-run lead but then capitalized on Alvaro Espinoza’s double error for two runs in the eighth inning to beat Cleveland.

The victory, coupled with the New York Yankees’ 2-0 loss at Baltimore, lowered Boston’s magic number for clinching the A.L. East to two. The Red Sox went 3-7 on their 10-game road trip.

Orioles 2, Yankees 0

Baltimore

Kevin Brown allowed four hits in 8-1/3 innings and Jesse Orosco escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth as Baltimore slowed New York’s playoff drive with the victory.

Brown (8-9) struck out eight and walked two. Ruben Sierra ruined Brown’s no-hit bid with a fifth-inning double that dropped inside the left-field foul line, a few feet beyond the reach of Brady Anderson.

Rangers 5, Tigers 0

Detroit

Roger Pavlik, pitching on three days’ rest, struck out a season-high 12 and combined on a three-hitter as Texas beat Detroit for its seventh win in eight games.

Will Clark and Juan Gonzalez drove in two runs each for the Rangers.

Athletics 4, Twins 1

Oakland

Todd Van Poppel pitched the first complete game of his career and Mark McGwire hit his 33rd homer of the season as Oakland beat Minnesota, sending the Twins to their fifth straight loss.

Van Poppel (4-7) pitched a six-hitter, struck out five and walked none as Oakland won its third straight. Van Poppel, 0-3 in his previous four starts, won for the first time since Aug. 22 at New York.

Clearing the bases

California Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina was activated from the 15-day disabled list after tearing a ligament in his left thumb while breaking up a double play Aug. 3 against Seattle… . With his double in the fourth inning, Cleveland’s Albert Belle became the first Cleveland player to hit 50 doubles in a season since Odell Hale had 50 in 1936… . Boston’s Jose Canseco has hit safely in 34 of his last 36 games… . Bobby Bonilla went 2-for-4 for Baltimore and is hitting .484 during an eight-game hitting streak.