American League Roundup : Blue Jays Beat Yankees for 7th Win in Row, 7-2

Jesse Barfield homered and drove in three runs, and George Bell hit two doubles Tuesday night as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees, 7-2, at New York for their seventh straight victory.

The Yankees lost not only the game but also Manager Lou Piniella and coach Mike Ferraro, both of whom were ejected.

The Blue Jays, who routed New York, 11-0, Monday night and took over the American League East lead from the Yankees, pounced on Ron Guidry, making his first major league start of the season.

“A lot of teams try to pitch lefties against us,” Barfield said.

But Barfield, batting .348 against left-handers, and Bell, hitting .408 against them, teamed to chase Guidry after four innings. Guidry gave up four runs on six hits.

“I’ve seen Ron pitch better,” Barfield said. “I don’t think he’s quite ready yet.”

Guidry agreed.

“I was surprised I got this start because I haven’t pitched enough to get in,” said Guidry, who had worked 7 innings in five relief outings. “There’s going to be a struggle with me for a while.”

John Cerutti (3-2) shut out New York on three hits for 5 innings. The Yankees, leading the majors in scoring but playing without injured Don Mattingly and Rickey Henderson, had been shut out for 18 innings on seven singles until Ron Kittle and Henry Cotto hit consecutive home runs in the seventh against Mark Eichhorn.

The frustration took its toll on the Yankees and their 29,765 fans. Several fights broke out in the stands and debris was thrown on the field.

Piniella was ejected for the second time this season after Barfield was called safe at second base on a steal attempt. Piniella rushed onto the field and protested the call nose to nose with second base umpire Rick Reed before being tossed.

Ferraro, a former manager with Cleveland and Kansas City, took over for Piniella but lasted only one inning. Ferraro came onto the field in the sixth after Yankee pitcher Cecilio Guante questioned plate umpire Rich Garcia’s call on a pitch, and Ferraro wound up being ejected by Garcia.

New York coach Jeff Torborg, also a former Cleveland manager, ran the Yankees the rest of the game.

Oakland 8, Chicago 3--The A’s Curt Young pitched a no-hitter through 7 innings before allowing a two-run homer by Ken Williams and finished with a one-hitter at Oakland.

Williams, who was in an 0-for-16 slump, homered to left field on a 2-and-2 pitch with the ball staying fair by a few feet.

Young (8-3) pitched a one-hitter against Kansas City in the final game of last season, going 6 innings before losing his bid. Against the Royals, the left-hander gave up only an infield single and allowed no other base runners.

Detroit 8, Milwaukee 5--Jack Morris won his seventh straight game, and Bill Madlock had four hits and drove in two runs as the Tigers downed the Brewers at Detroit.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Tigers, who have won 18 of their last 24 games.

Morris (8-2) allowed five runs and eight hits in 8 innings, striking out six and walking one. Mark Thurmond retired the final two batters.

Loser Ted Higuera (5-6), who has lost six of his last seven, gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings. Higuera struck out seven and walked two.

Madlock is 12 for 23 with five RBIs since joining the Tigers last week.

Boston 2, Baltimore 1--Ellis Burks hit a tiebreaking, two-out single in the eighth inning to give the Red Sox the win at Baltimore.

It was the Orioles sixth consecutive loss and the 10th in their last 11 games.

Bruce Hurst (7-4) allowed six hits, including Cal Ripken’s 15th homer in the first inning, en route to his major league-leading eighth complete game. He struck out six and walked three.

Ken Dixon (3-6) allowed the tying run in the seventh and winning run in the eighth after Dave Schmidt had shut out the Red Sox over six innings while making a rare start.

Minnesota 5, Kansas City 3--Joe Niekro allowed two runs in 6 innings in his first start since being acquired from the New York Yankees, helping the Twins win their fourth straight.

Tim Laudner, catching Minnesota’s first knuckleball pitcher in its 26-year history, hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who moved within .001 of the first-place Royals in the American League West with the win at Minneapolis.

Niekro (4-4) allowed nine hits, struck out six and walked three for his first victory over the Royals since April 26, 1971. Keith Atherton earned the save.

Texas 3, Seattle 0--Jose Guzman combined with two relievers on a five-hitter to help the Rangers snap a three-game losing streak with the win at Seattle.

Guzman (4-5) worked the first five innings before departing because of lower back stiffness. He allowed two hits and struck out four while walking none.

Texas scored all its runs on solo homers by Pete O’Brien, Ruben Sierra and Steve Buechele.

Mike Morgan (5-7) took the loss.