American League Roundup : Randolph’s Hit Leads Yankees, 6-5

Willie Randolph has had to fight 11 years of programming this season to become the New York Yankees’ third-leading RBI man.

“I’m not used to being one of the big guys,” he said. “I’ve always been either a table-setter or a guy hitting behind the runner. But it seems like I’ve been getting into key situations this year, and I’ve had to make certain adjustments in my approach. You don’t stay in this game unless you’re willing to make adjustments.”

Randolph broke a 4-4 tie with his two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning Tuesday night, lifting the Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at New York. Dave Winfield had two home runs as New York handed the Orioles their 12th loss in 13 games.

With the bases loaded, Randolph singled through the right side of the infield, driving home Mike Pagliarulo and Mark Salas. He fouled off four two-strike pitches from reliever Mark Williamson (2-4) before getting his game-winning hit.

Randolph’s 42 runs batted in are eight short of his 1986 total and 19 short of his career high set in 1979.

Reliever Rich Bordi (3-0) allowed two runs in 3 innings, and Dave Righetti pitched three innings for his 14th save.

The Yankees, trailing 4-2 after Cal Ripken’s two-run single in the sixth, sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the inning.

Winfield hit a two-run home run in the fourth and a base-empty homer in the sixth to give him 15.

Ripken had three hits and, at 26, became the youngest Oriole to reach 1,000 hits. This is his sixth major league season.

Oakland 11, Kansas City 1--Mike Davis and Reggie Jackson each hit two-run home runs in the fourth inning, and Jose Canseco hit two bases-empty homers as the A’s beat the Royals at Kansas City.

It was the seventh victory in eight games for Oakland.

Steve Ontiveros (3-1) shut out the Royals on two hits for five innings and struck out a career-high six batters in only his third start in 100 major league appearances.

Gene Nelson relieved Ontiveros and gave up Kansas City’s only run when Steve Balboni’s bases-loaded grounder hit third base and bounced away from Carney Lansford.

Kansas City starter Rick Anderson (0-2) gave up four runs in 2 innings as the Royals lost their fourth in a row. Kansas City has allowed 34 runs in its last four games.

Canseco led off the third with a homer to left-center. He hit his 11th of the year with two outs in the sixth.

Davis and Jackson got their two-run homers in the fourth. Davis homered over the right-field wall, and Jackson also pulled the ball over the fence to make it 8-0. It was Davis’ 16th homer of the season. Jackson has hit seven.

Minnesota 7, Milwaukee 3--Greg Gagne had two doubles and a triple and knocked in four runs, leading the streaking Twins at Milwaukee.

The American League West leaders have won 10 of their last 11 and 16 of their last 21. At 37-27, the Twins are 10 games above .500 for the first time since July 24, 1979, when they were 53-43.

Frank Viola (6-5) won his fourth straight, allowing four hits in 6 innings while striking out six. Viola retired the first eight batters before Dale Sveum hit a two-out double in the third.

Jeff Reardon, the third Minnesota pitcher, pitched the ninth to earn his 13th save.

Toronto 10, Detroit 4--Tony Fernandez and Jesse Barfield led a 16-hit attack with four hits each as the Blue Jays routed the Tigers at Toronto.

Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell extended his hitting streak to 21 games, longest in the major leagues this season, with a third-inning double.

The Blue Jays, trailing 3-2 entering the fourth, scored six runs with two outs on six consecutive hits.

Garth Iorg started the scoring in the inning and tied the game with a single to right, driving in Willie Upshaw. Fernandez followed with an RBI double, and he came home on Lloyd Moseby’s single. After Barfield’s infield single, George Bell’s RBI single made it 6-3, and Detroit starter Jeff Robinson (4-3) left the game.

Ernie Whitt followed with a two-run single off reliever Mark Thurmond.

Gary Lavelle (1-0) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Blue Jays.

Cleveland 8, Boston 7--Brett Butler singled, doubled, tripled and scored three runs as the Indians defeated the Red Sox at Cleveland.

Mark Huismann (2-3) pitched 3 innings of two-hit relief, struck out one and walked one after replacing Ken Schrom. Mike Armstrong got the final out, retiring Jim Rice on a line out to right field, for his first save.

Al Nipper (5-6) took the loss, Boston’s fourth straight, giving up four runs in the first 2 innings.

Boston’s Wade Boggs had four singles and a walk in five plate appearances as he extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Don Baylor had two home runs for the Red Sox, the third time this season he has hit two in one game.

Seattle 8, Chicago 6--Mike Kingery’s two-run triple in the eighth inning snapped a 6-6 tie, and Mickey Brantley drove in five runs as the Mariners gave Manager Dick Williams his 1,500th career victory by winning at Seattle.

Scott Bradley opened the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner John Moses. With one out, Bob James replaced Jim Winn (2-2).

Alvin Davis was walked intentionally, and Kingery followed with his triple.

Bill Wilkinson (1-2) pitched 1 innings of scoreless relief for Seattle.