Major League Baseball : Yankees Win Again, but There’s a Catch to It

Dave Winfield had four RBIs, Don Mattingly hit in his 17th straight game and Don Baylor drove in the game-winner, yet all anyone could talk about Monday at Yankee Stadium after the New York Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox was “The Catch”.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Marty Barrett of the Red Sox sent a high fly to left. But Ken Griffey planted his right foot in the padding of the wall, extended his arm into the second row and came out with the ball to preserve the win.

“Really, I’m just stunned by the whole thing,” Griffey said. “I didn’t do any planning or thinking, I just reacted.

“The ball came down and hit in my glove and then bounced and I had to recatch it. I was glad I was stuck in the wall.”

It was New York’s fifth straight win and its 12th in 13 games.

The Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays by only four games.

Griffey said: “I didn’t think it would go out, but as I got close to the fence I saw that it would. I timed my jump and leaped. The one thing I thought about after the catch was that the fans didn’t interfere with me. That was a break.”

Boston has lost nine of its last 10 games and its last seven against the Yankees.

Marty Bystrom (2-1) gave up six hits and five runs in seven innings. Bob Shirley pitched 1 innings and departed after Griffey’s catch. Rich Bordi got the last out for his second save.

Milwaukee 4, Minnesota 1--Danny Darwin ended a 10-game losing streak by pitching a one-hitter at Milwaukee. Roy Smalley’s leadoff home run in the fifth inning was the only hit that Darwin (7-14) allowed. He struck out eight and won his first game since June 11.

Cleveland 5, Toronto 3--At Cleveland, Tom Waddell allowed seven hits in his first career complete game, and Tony Bernazard hit his 10th home run of the season.

Waddell (6-5) making his third start after 98 career relief appearances, struck out four.

Dave Stieb (11-9) took the loss for the Blue Jays, who had a 9 1/2-game lead on Aug. 4.

Baltimore 9, Texas 2--Lee Lacy’s surprise steal of third base keyed the Orioles’ six-run fifth inning at Baltimore. A wild throw by Ranger catcher Geno Petralli on the steal enabled Lacy to score the tying run, and Eddie Murray followed with an RBI single to put the Orioles ahead.

The Rangers have lost six in a row and 15 of their last 18 games.

Ken Dixon (6-3) won the Battle of the Mason-Dixon Line as he allowed six hits and struck out a career-high eight batters. Mike Mason (5-12) took the loss.

Kansas City 2, Detroit 1--Former USC outfielder Dave Leeper hit a grounder to Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell, and pinch-runner Onix Concepcion slid home from third base with one out in the 10th inning at Kansas City.

Bret Saberhagen (15-5) allowed just four hits and struck out seven. Jack Morris (13-7) struck out five and took the loss.

New York 1, Montreal 0--The Mets moved out to a one half-game lead over St. Louis in the National League East as Wally Backman doubled home Danny Heep from third base in the eighth inning at Montreal.

Ron Darling combined with Roger McDowell on a four-hitter.

Darling (11-5) pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and five walks and striking out three. McDowell finished and earned his 11th save.

Rookie Tim Burke (8-1) dropped his first decision in relief.