American League Roundup : McGwire Gets a Homer as A’s Win

Mark McGwire was excited when he got his first major league hit in New York the other day. Monday night, he had another first.

McGwire hit his first home run in the majors, a shot over the 440-foot sign in center field at Detroit, as the Oakland A’s scored an 8-4 victory over the Tigers.

“It was a great thrill to get the first hit,” said McGwire, an All-American from USC. “It’s great to get the first everything out of the way.

“When I saw Chet Lemon chasing it, I thought he might catch it. I was still running hard when it went over the fence. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure it will.”

Jose Rijo (6-9), pitching for the first time in 10 days because of a rainout, threw a five-hitter. He walked three and struck out two.

Donnie Hill broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run single in the fourth before McGwire and Mickey Tettleton homered.

Detroit starter Walt Terrell (11-10), who pitched 8 innings of no-hit ball in his last outing, lasted only 4 innings against the A’s, giving up seven runs on eight hits.

Texas 4, Boston 2--Gino Petralli tied the score with a two-run pinch-hit homer off Roger Clemens in the eighth inning, and Ruben Sierra won the game with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth as the Rangers beat the Red Sox at Arlington, Tex.

The victory kept the Rangers three games behind the Angels in the West, while the Red Sox maintained a six-game lead in the East over the New York Yankees, who lost to the Angels.

Clemens, bidding to become the major leagues’ first 20-game winner, carried a two-hit, 2-0 lead into the eighth inning. He had retired 14 batters in a row when Sierra beat out an infield hit with one out. Petralli hit Clemens’ first pitch just inside the right-field foul pole for his second home run of the season.

Calvin Schiraldi (1-1) walked Larry Parrish with two out in the ninth before Sierra hit his eighth homer.

The victory went to Dale Mohorcic (2-1) for two shutout innings in relief of Bobby Witt, who allowed a run-scoring double by Rich Gedman and a run-scoring single by Bill Buckner in the fourth.

Kansas City 2, Chicago 0--Scott Bankhead and Bud Black shut out the White Sox on eight hits, and Frank White hit a two-run homer with two out in the eighth to win for the Royals at Chicago.