American League Roundup : Yankees Again Top Red Sox

Mike Easler hit a two-run homer and Rickey Henderson and Dan Pasqua added solo shots Sunday to power the New York Yankees to an 11-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox before 51,461 fans in New York.

The Yankees, after losing the opener of the three-game series, won the final two games to pull within nine of the division-leading Red Sox and move into a second-place tie with Toronto in the A.L. East. Toronto lost to Milwaukee, 5-0.

The Yankees and Red Sox have 19 games left and New York is at Boston starting Oct. 2 for a four-game series, which ends the season for both teams.

“We’re gonna be alive for the final four games,” said Easler, who was traded in March from the Red Sox for Don Baylor. “When I was traded . . . I looked at the schedule and said, ‘That’s where the pennant will be decided.’ I think they’re scared out of their boots.

“We’re gonna keep on coming. It’s awful hard to win without pitching, and Lou (Yankee manager Piniella) has done that. And Lou has had this team motivated. No one is thinking about second place. They’re thinking about the Red Sox.”

Easler drove in three runs to lead the Yankees’ 14-hit attack. With the Yankees trailing, 3-0, in the first on Jim Rice’s 20th home run, Easler hit an 0-2 pitch from starter Al Nipper (9-10) into the right-field seats.

Winner Ron Guidry pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, while striking out four and walking four. Dave Righetti pitched 1 innings for his 39th save. He has saved 14 of the last 15 Yankee victories.

In addition to Rice’s three-run homer, Boston also got solo shots by Bill Buckner and former UCLA performer Pat Dodson.

Milwaukee 5, Toronto 0--Cecil Cooper went 4 for 4, Dale Sveum hit a two-run homer and left-hander Teddy Higuera pitched a five-hitter as the Brewers beat the Blue Jays at Milwaukee.

Higuera (19-9) pitched his fourth shutout and 12th complete game of the season. He struck out four and walked three. In 14 home games, Higuera is 9-2 with a 1.67 ERA. Dave Stieb (5-11) suffered the loss, dropping his first game since July 19. He had won his last three decisions and had started nine games without a loss.

Cooper hit his 400th career double in the first inning and singled in each of his next three at-bats to drive in a pair of runs.

Minnesota 7, Texas 6--Kirby Puckett singled home Al Woods from second base with two out in the eighth inning as the Twins edged the Rangers at Minneapolis. The Twins beat the Rangers in three out of four games this weekend.

Minnesota is 2-1 since firing Manager Ray Miller last Friday and replacing him with interim Manager Tom Kelly.

The Twins got home runs from Randy Bush, Kent Hrbek and Greg Gagne. Hrbek’s homer was his 29th of the season, a career high.

Jeff Reed, who singled off loser Dale Mohorcic (2-3) to start the inning, went to third on a pinch double by Al Woods and scored when right fielder Pete Incaviglia misplayed the ball. Puckett then drove home Woods with what proved to be the winning run.

Kansas City 10, Seattle 3--Jorge Orta homered and drove in four runs and Bo Jackson hit his first major league home run as the Royals won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Mark Gubicza gave up six hits over six innings to improve his record to 10-6. He has won 10 of his last 12 decisions.

Mike Moore, who gave up the home run to Jackson, dropped to 10-12.

Cleveland 5, Oakland 2--Tony Bernazard drove in four runs at Cleveland as the Indians extended their winning streak over the A’s to 10 games.

Bernazard led off the first inning with his 15th homer, off loser Jose Rijo (7-11) and later added a two-run single and a sacrifice fly as the Indians improved to 9-0 against the A’s this year.

Ken Schrom (13-7) won for only the second time since July 23 as he scattered seven hits over 8 innings. The right-hander allowed just two singles over the first seven innings but was replaced in the ninth with the bases loaded by Doug Jones, who got the last two outs for his first major league save.

Detroit 7, Baltimore 0--Rookie Bruce Fields went 2 for 3 and drove in three runs at Detroit as the Tigers won their fifth straight game, which matches their longest streak of the season.

Frank Tanana (11-7) who had not won a game since Aug. 23, held the Orioles to four hits while striking out nine and walking one in seven innings. Bill Campbell pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout.