American League Roundup : Blue Jays Lead East by Four Games

When the Toronto Blue Jays became contenders last season, almost nobody noticed because they had to contend with the Detroit Tigers.

This time around, it’s different.

Dave Stieb pitched a three-hitter Tuesday night at Chicago and the Toronto Blue Jays won their eighth straight game and built a four-game lead over the idle Tigers with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The Blue Jays’ 29-14 record, the best in baseball, is the same as it was at this point last season. However, last year they trailed Detroit by seven games.

“The record was great a year ago, and it’s great now,” Manager Bobby Cox said. “Chasing the Tigers was fun last year. We got within 3 1/2 games of them last year and we were the last team to fall out.

“We’re playing as well as last year. It was fun chasing them but more fun to have them chase us.”

The winning streak is the longest in the Blue Jays’ nine-year history. The White Sox lost for the seventh straight time.

Stieb (5-3) posted his fourth straight victory and said his tender right elbow felt the best it has this season.

While running his career record against the White Sox to 11-3, Stieb struck out five and walked one. He ran his string of scoreless innings to 19 before his only walk and his own throwing error allowed Chicago to score an unearned run in the sixth.

Chicago’s Richard Dotson (2-3) held the Blue Jays hitless until Len Matuszek tripled to open the fifth inning and scored on a single by Ernie Whitt, who had two other hits, including a solo homer as Toronto scored four runs in the sixth inning.

Texas 6, Kansas City 1--Burt Hooton scattered seven hits and Oddibe McDowell knocked in two runs with a double and a sacrifice fly at Kansas City, and the Rangers’ halted the Royals’ six-game winning streak.

Ex-Dodger Hooton (2-1) scattered seven hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter while pitching his first complete game in the American League.

McDowell’s drag bunt bounced into right field for a run-scoring double off Mark Gubicza (1-3) in the third and he added a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 in the fourth.

The Royals scored a run in the fourth inning on a double by Willie Wilson and a single by Jorge Orta.

Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 2--Moose Haas and Rollie Fingers combined on a five-hitter as the Brewers held off the Indians at Milwaukee.

Haas (5-2) left with one out in the eighth, when the Indians scored both their runs. Fingers picked up his seventh save.

The Brewers took a 1-0 lead on doubles by Paul Molitor and Charlie Moore off Neal Heaton (3-4) in the first inning.