American League Roundup : Blue Jays Hand Yankees Record Ninth Straight Loss at Yankee Stadium

For many years teams have hated to visit Yankee Stadium. Even in the years when the New York Yankees weren’t winning pennants, the team was tailored for the “House That Ruth Built.”

Last year, for example, when the Yankees finished second in the East, their record at home was the best in the American League: 58-22.

But teams are anxious to visit New York. Lloyd Moseby hit two home runs and drove in four runs Saturday and Jimmy Key won his third game in a row to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-4 victory. It was a club-record ninth loss in a row at Yankee Stadium for the Yankees. This is the Yankees’ 62nd season in Yankee Stadium.

Joe Niekro, who isn’t getting much out of his knuckleball these days, failed to make it through the second inning. It was the fifth time in the last six home games that the Yankee starter failed to last through the third inning.

Moseby hit his first home run after Rance Mulliniks singled in the first inning. It was the eighth game in a row at the Stadium in which the opposition scored in its first time at bat. During the span the Yankees have given up 18 runs and 23 hits in 46 at-bats in the first inning.

While the Yankees are falling apart at home, the Blue Jays are starting to resemble the team that won the East a year ago. They trail the second-place Yankees by 2 1/2 games.

Toronto’s surge coincided with the return to form of Key. After six starts this season, the 25-year-old left-hander, who was 14-6 in 1985, was 0-3 and had an earned-run average of 13.27. The Blue Jays were 12-18. But Key has won six of his last eight decisions, including a one-hitter, to help the Blue Jays play at a 27-16 clip in the last 43 games.

The one team the Blue Jays aren’t gaining on is the Boston Red Sox, who lead them by 9 1/2 games.

The Yankees, with their two best pitchers, Ron Guidry and Niekro struggling, trail Boston by seven. Niekro, in his last three starts, has pitched 9 innings, allowing 18 runs, 16 of them earned, 18 hits and 10 walks.

Detroit 8, Milwaukee 5--Another team trying to make a move in the East is the Tigers. They are being powered by Kirk Gibson. The big slugger, just returning to form after being on the disabled list, hit his fourth home run in four games and scored three runs in this game at Detroit.

Darrell Evans hit a two-run home run and the Tigers moved over .500 for the first time in a month.

“We’ve been playing well for longer than people think,” Manager Sparky Anderson said. “If you win you don’t even have to look at the box scores. You’ve got to win 90-some games and that’s it.”

Tiger starter Randy O’Neal was literally knocked out of the game by a line drive hit by Cecil Cooper in the first inning. It hit O’Neal in the collarbone, but he was not seriously injured.

Boston 7, Baltimore 3--The Red Sox show no signs of coming back to the pack. Ed Romero drove in three runs, Dwight Evans hit a two-run home run and Oil Can Boyd improved his record to 10-5 in this game at Baltimore.

Boyd, almost unnoticed because of the fantastic start of teammate Roger Clemens, is, nevertheless having an outstanding season. He has won eight of his last 10 decisions.

Boyd had a five-hit shutout going into the eighth, but the Orioles scored three times before Bob Stanley finally put out the fire. Stanley got the last five outs, three of them on strikes, to earn his 13th save.

Chicago 4, Oakland 1--Joel Skinner doubled home two runs in the fifth inning at Oakland, and Ron Kittle singled in two more as the White Sox scored all their runs in the inning.

Except for the fifth inning, loser Curt Young (5-5) was superb, giving up only two other hits and striking out six.

Minnesota 7, Kansas City 2--Kirby Puckett had three hits, including a triple, scored two runs and drove in a run to help Bert Blyleven win at Minneapolis for the first time in nearly two months.

Blyleven (6-7) gave up six hits in six innings and struck out five.

The Twins were without Kent Hrbek, who bruised his right instep in Friday’s game.

Texas 5, Seattle 2--Tom Paciorek hit his second home run of the season and drove in two runs at Seattle to lead the Rangers.

Jose Guzman pitched a six-hitter to improve his record to 7-8. He lost his shutout in the third when Dave Valle hit his first homer. Danny Tartabull also homered for the Mariners with two out in the ninth.