American League Roundup : Twins Put End to Rangers’ Streak

Tom Brunansky and Kent Hrbek showed Monday night why they are two of the highest-paid players in baseball.

Hrbek scored from first base on Brunansky’s double in the 10th inning as the Minnesota Twins beat Texas, 3-2, at Minneapolis and ended the Rangers’ seven-game winning streak.

“That’s why those heady players make pretty good money,” Twin Manager Ray Miller said. “Herbie covers ground and has a great first step. I knew he could score. I was right behind (Twins third-base coach Tom Kelly) yelling, ‘Come on!’ ”

Hrbek singled with two outs off Mitch Williams (5-1) for his third hit of the game. Greg Harris relieved, and Brunansky followed with a looper that center fielder George Wright backed up to field, and Hrbek scored ahead of second baseman Toby Harrah’s relay.

“It was a good offensive play on their part,” Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine said. “It was a good aggressive play . . . by two pretty good players.”

Keith Atherton (3-3) pitched two perfect innings to gain the victory.

Gary Ward’s two-run, eighth-inning triple after an error by Minnesota starter Frank Viola broke up a scoreless pitching duel between Viola and Ranger rookie right-hander Bobby Witt.

But Minnesota rallied to tie it, 2-2, in the eighth on Randy Bush’s two-out RBI double that chased Witt, and Hrbek’s run-scoring single off Williams.

For seven innings, Viola and Witt engaged in a strikeout contest, with Viola getting eight of his 10 and Witt 11 of his career-high 12 in that span.

Atherton relieved Viola to start the ninth. Williams struck out five to give Ranger pitchers a team-record 17 strikeouts.

Seattle 5, Kansas City 3--Mark Langston threw a three-hitter over eight innings at Kansas City as the Mariners ended a five-game losing streak.

Langston evened his record at 5-5. Mark Huismann, despite allowing an RBI double to Steve Balboni, notched his third save.

Dennis Leonard, who gave up Bob Kearney’s first home run of the year, was roughed up for nine hits and five runs over 5 innings to fall to 6-5.

The Mariners notched their seventh consecutive victory at Kansas City. The Royals have not beaten Seattle here since Sept. 9, 1984.

New York 9, Detroit 7--Pinch-hitter Butch Wynegar stroked a two-out, two-run single in the 11th inning at Detroit as the Yankees broke a three-game losing streak.

Losing pitcher Bill Scherrer (0-1) started the 11th and recorded the first two outs, but walked Dave Winfield and gave up a single to short to Mike Easler before walking Dan Pasqua to load the bases.

Wynegar, hitting for Ron Hassey, lined a 2-and-1 pitch to left center that just eluded diving left fielder Larry Herndon.

Toronto 5, Boston 1--Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield homered and Dave Stieb allowed six hits over eight innings at Toronto as the Blue Jays won for the eighth time in their last 11 games.

Stieb (2-7) entered the game with a 6.23 ERA. He struck out five and walked two. He left with two on and none out in the ninth. Tom Henke finished.

Boston’s Wade Boggs went 0 for 3, falling to .389. The Red Sox have lost four of their last five.

Cleveland 6, Oakland 5--Brett Butler singled home Andy Allanson from second base with two out in the ninth inning at Cleveland as the Indians extended the A’s losing streak to six straight games.

With one out, Allanson singled off loser Jose Rijo (2-3) and stole second as Fran Mullins struck out. Butler worked the count to 2-and-2 before singling up the middle.

Milwaukee 3, Baltimore 2--Robin Yount delivered a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Milwaukee as the Brewers broke Baltimore’s four-game winning streak.

With one out, Earnest Riles singled off Storm Davis (5-5), and Rick Cerone doubled down the right-field line. Rich Bordi came in and intentionally walked Mike Felder to load the bases. Yount then lifted a fly to right, allowing Riles to score standing up. The winner was Dan Plesac (4-3).