American League Roundup : Royals Sweep Tigers, Now Trail Angels by 3 1/2

Hal McRae drove in three runs to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 victory and a doubleheader sweep of the fading Detroit Tigers Thursday night at Kansas City.

A crowd of 35,585, more than 7,000 above the season average, greeted the resumption of the season.

In the first game, Willie Wilson drove in three runs and Bret Saberhagen struck out nine in a 10-3 Kansas City victory that snapped the Tigers’ 12-game Royals Stadium winning streak.

The defending World Series champion Tigers dropped 10 1/2 games behind Toronto in the American League East. while the Royals moved within 3 1/2 games of the Angels in the West.

In the nightcap, Detroit took a quick 2-0 lead off Steve Farr, who started after being recalled earlier in the day from Omaha. Lou Whitaker hit Farr’s first pitch for a triple and scored on Alan Trammell’s sacrifice fly. Trammell singled in the third and scored Lance Parrish’s RBI single.

The Royals took the lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Hal McRae, who then scored on Frank White’s double.

The Tigers got even at 3-3 in the sixth inning as Darrell Evans, who hit his 25th home run in the opener, got No. 26 in the second game. But in bottom of the sixth, George Brett doubled, took third on McRae’s fly ball and put the Royals ahead for good when Iorg singled into right.

Mark Gubicza (8-6) got the victory in relief in the nightcap with help from Dan Quisenberry, who inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the seventh. A groundout by Parrish scored Johnny Grubb before Quisenberry picked up his 25th save.

The Royals scored six runs in the sixth inning of the opener to post their first home victory over the Tigers since Aug. 16, 1983.

The Royals jumped on starter Frank Tanana for three runs in the third inning and put the game out of reach in the sixth as Tanana (6-11) lost to the Royals for the 20th time in his major league career. Tanana has only six career victories against Kansas City and has never beaten the Royals more than once in a season.

Saberhagen (13-5) walked two batters and surrendered seven hits.

New York 8-7, Cleveland 1-6--Don Mattingly hit two home runs, and Don Baylor added a solo shot as the New York Yankees, playing without Rickey Henderson, beat the Indians in the nightcap for a sweep of their doubleheader at New York.

In the opener, Dave Winfield hit two homers and knocked in six runs to lead the Yankees. Winfield drove in another run in the second game.

Home plate umpire Mark Johnson was carried off the field in the seventh inning of the second game after getting hit with a pitch that eluded New York catcher Ron Hassey. It ricocheted off Johnson’s right shin guard and into his groin. He will miss at least three days.

Toronto 7-7, Baltimore 2-4--Jesse Barfield went 3 for 3 with an RBI, and Tony Fernandez drove in three runs to lead the Blue Jays to victory in the second game and a sweep of their doubleheader with the Orioles at Toronto.

In the opener, Doyle Alexander pitched a six-hitter over eight innings and Lloyd Moseby drove in three runs to pace Toronto.

The sweep gave the Blue Jays their 14th victory in their last 16 games and moved the team 30 games over .500, a franchise record.

Fernandez went 4 for 7 with 5 RBIs in the doubleheader, while Barfield was 6 for 6 with a walk, an RBI and 2 stolen bases.

Tom Filer (4-0) worked six innings and allowed four runs on five hits for the victory in the nightcap. Tom Henke hurled a hitless three innings for his second save. Mike Boddicker, who has lost six of his last seven decisions, fell to 10-13.

In the opener, Alexander (12-6) struck out two and walked one while picking up his fifth consecutive win. Gary Lavelle pitched the ninth. Scott McGregor (9-9) took the loss.

Chicago 7-1, Boston 6-6--Rich Gedman and Wade Boggs hit solo home runs to help the Red Sox win the nightcap and salvage a doubleheader split at Chicago.

Ron Kittle hit two home runs to end a two-month homerless streak and help Chicago to victory in the first game as reliever Dave Wehrmeister notched his first victory since April 23, 1978, when he pitched for San Diego. Bob James got the last three outs for his 18th save. Bruce Kison (3-3) took the loss.

In the second game, Tim Lollar (5-6), who pitched for the White Sox the first half of the season, pitched 5 innings and gave up only one run and four hits.

Oakland 11, Seattle 2--Steve Henderson drove in three runs, and Dusty Baker hit a two-run homer to lead the A’s at Seattle.

Oakland starter Chris Codiroli (10-8) allowed five hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Baker’s 14th homer capped an eight-run fourth inning for the A’s.

Milwaukee 7-3, Texas 4-1--After going 3 for 5 and driving in three runs in the opener, Ben Oglivie hit a pair of sacrifice flies to lead the Brewers to a victory in the nightcap and a sweep of a doubleheader at Arlington, Tex.

Pete Vuckovich (6-8) picked up the win in the second game, hurling 6 innings. He allowed just five hits before yielding to Rollie Fingers, who pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his 12th save.

Burt Hooton (5-6) took the loss.

In the opener, Rick Waits (1-2) got the win in relief over Jeff Russell (0-1), who was making his first start for Texas. Russell was acquired in the trade which sent Buddy Bell to Cincinnati.