AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankee Left-Hander Pettitte a Royal Pain

The Kansas City Royals, who always seem to struggle against left-handers, are absolutely helpless against Andy Pettitte.

The New York Yankee rookie, who gave up one run against Kansas City in 8 1/3 innings on July 12, was even better Thursday, going 7 1/3 innings in a 1-0 victory over the slumping Royals at Kansas City.

The Royals are 6-15 against left-handed starters.

Pettitte might have been the first Yankee rookie to throw a shutout since 1986 if Manager Buck Showalter hadn’t lifted him with one out in the eighth.

“It was a tough call,” said Showalter, whose team has won eight of nine and stands 11-5 since the All-Star break. “But he hung a breaking ball to Wally Joyner that he got away with. I thought he was starting to get pitches up.”

Pettitte (6-6) beat Mark Gubicza (7-8), and John Wetteland got his 16th save.

Mike Stanley knocked in the game’s only run with a fourth-inning single and stretched his hitting streak to 13 games.

Texas 2, Baltimore 1--The Rangers ended their 10-game losing streak as Will Clark and Mickey Tettleton hit consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth inning at Baltimore.

The Rangers were on the verge of their fourth consecutive one-run loss before rallying to beat the Orioles for the first time in five games this season. The 10-game skid was the longest in the majors this season and Texas’ longest since a 12-game drought in 1982.

Ed Vosberg (5-2) got the victory and Jeff Russell got the save, his 15th in 17 tries.

Jesse Orosco (2-2) took the loss.

Oakland 11, Detroit 3--Stan Javier drove in a career-best four runs at Detroit to help the Athletics end a five-game losing streak.

Todd Stottlemyre (9-3) gained his first victory since July 12, beating Mike Moore (5-10).

Oakland won for only the third time in its last 14 games, all three victories coming against the Tigers.

Chicago 5, Boston 4--Tim Raines, Lance Johnson and Ron Karkovice delivered base hits in a ninth-inning rally at Boston, giving Chicago its 15th comeback victory of the season and third win in its last four games.

Chicago’s outburst came against Boston reliever Rick Aguilera (1-2). Matt Karchner (1-0) got the victory for Chicago with Roberto Hernandez picking up his 15th save.

Toronto 9, Minnesota 2--Roberto Alomar drove in three runs at Toronto and rookie Edwin Hurtado (3-0) pitched his first complete game as the Blue Jays won for the eighth time in nine games against the Twins.

Minnesota starter Greg Harris remained winless at 0-4.

Seattle 11, Cleveland 5--The Mariners hit a season-high five home runs, including two by Mike Blowers that produced five RBIs, to rally from five runs down at Seattle.

It was the third consecutive loss for the Indians, who have baseball’s best record at 57-25.

Tim Belcher (7-5) beat Chad Ogea (5-3).