American League Roundup : Blue Jays Put Arm on Tigers, 5-3

The Toronto Blue Jays have been doing it with their arms all season.

It happened again Monday night, but it was right fielder Jesse Barfield who made a big pitch as the Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-3, at Detroit.

Toronto got home runs from Cecil Fielder, George Bell and Garth Iorg plus some good pitching by Jimmy Key, but afterward Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson pointed to a play by Barfield as the game’s turning point.

The victory kept the Blue Jays 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the East.

With score tied, 1-1, Barfield turned a long flyball by Darrell Evans with one out and a man on third into a double play in the second inning by throwing out Larry Herndon at home plate by two steps.

“He did everything the way you teach,” Anderson said after his Tigers lost their fifth in a row for the first time since 1982. “And he did it to the letter. That’s the kind of thing right there that wins ball games.

“He’s got a great arm. Everybody else can do that 1-2 (set up and throw)--but they can’t throw it.”

Lance Parrish smacked his 25th home run one out before Herndon tripled to right before Barfield cut loose his throw.

Fielder broke the 1-1 tie with a homer in the bottom of the second and Key (12-6) nursed the 2-1 lead into the eighth when the Blue Jays broke it open on Bell’s 28th home run, a double by Barfield and Iorg’s fifth homer.

Chet Lemon hit a two-run homer in the ninth to make it close, but Tom Henke finished to earn his 10th save in 19 appearances.

New York 9, Milwaukee 4--Mike Pagliarulo’s fourth hit of the game, a two-run single that opened the door four five runs in the 10th inning, pushed the Yankees past the Brewers at Milwaukee for their 10th straight victory.

The Brewers lost their sixth straight.

After Pagliarulo, who also hit his 18th home run, broke a 4-4 tie in the 10th, Bobby Meacham squeezed home a run, Ken Griffey hit a sacrifice fly and Don Mattingly singled home a run with his fourth hit.

Dave Righetti (12-7), gave up Milwaukee’s tying run in the eighth on Charlie Moore’s single, but escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the ninth by retiring Paul Householder on a fly ball.

Dave Winfield hit his 24th homer for the Yankees.

Chicago 5, Minnesota 0--Gary Gaetti hit two homers, and John Butcher pitched a four-hitter as the Twins beat the White Sox at Chicago to remain undefeated at Comiskey Park this season.

Kent Hrbek also had a home run to help the Twins notch their fourth straight victory at Chicago. Butcher (10-12) struck out four and walked none in going the distance.

Texas 3, Oakland 1--Don Slaught had a pair of two-run singles, including one in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie, and lead the Rangers past the A’s at Oakland.

Texas starter Jeff Russell (2-5), struck out 5, walked 3, and allowed 5 hits and 1 run in seven innings. Greg Harris finished for his ninth save.

The A’s run came on a 450-foot home run by rookie Jose Conesco, his first in the majors.

Seattle 8, Cleveland 7--Gorman Thomas, who earlier broke the club home run record with his 30th, hit a fielder’s choice grounder in the 12th inning to score Spike Owen and give the Mariners the win at Seattle.

Owen led off the 12th with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Jack Perconte. Phil Bradley was walked intentionally and Alvin Davis walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Thomas.

Rich Thompson (3-7) took the loss, while Dave Tobik (1-0), who was called up from Calgary earlier Monday, got the victory.

Jim Presley hit his 27th home run for the Mariners. Thomas broke the Seattle club record of 29 homers set by Willie Horton in 1979.