American League Roundup : ‘Struggling’ Canseco and McGwire Give A’s Enough to Beat Red Sox

Between them, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire drove in six runs Saturday in the A’s 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Oakland.

Both said afterward, though, that they are struggling at the plate.

“I’m not really as consistent as I want to be right now,” said Canseco, whose three-run double highlighted a four-run Oakland first inning, and whose 16th home run in the fifth followed a two-run homer by McGwire, giving the A’s consecutive homers for the first time this season.

“I’m not feeling the greatest at the plate, so I’ve got to start from square one and work out my problems,” said McGwire, who leads the majors with 29 homers.

McGwire said he is still not comfortable at the plate. He struck out twice with the bases loaded Saturday after striking out with the bases loaded in his last at-bat Friday night.

“I learn from the good days and the bad days,” he said. “I was battling today trying to see the ball.”

Losing pitcher Bruce Hurst (9-6) didn’t believe them.

“Canseco hit a forkball for a double and a fastball for the homer,” he said. “McGwire hit a low curve. Those are my three pitches. It was just a nice piece of hitting.”

The victory went to Jose Rijo (1-4), who allowed 11 hits and 5 runs in 7 innings before giving way to Dennis Eckersley, who finished up to earn his fourth save.

New York 4, Texas 3--Dennis Rasmussen won his fourth straight decision, and Dave Righetti picked up his league-leading 17th save for the Yankees at New York.

The Yankees have won five of their last six games and are 28-12 at Yankee Stadium, the best home record in the majors.

A sacrifice fly by Dave Winfield and Gary Ward’s run-scoring pinch-hit single enabled the Yankees to erase a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning. They added another run in the eighth on an RBI single by Willie Randolph.

Rasmussen (7-4) went five innings for the win. Righetti, the Yankees’ fourth pitcher, earned the save despite giving up a run-scoring single to Scott Fletcher in the ninth.

Chicago 3, Cleveland 2--Jerry Hairston doubled home two runs, and Richard Dotson survived a ninth-inning rally at Cleveland as the White Sox won for the fifth time in six games and the Indians lost for the 12th time in 14.

Dotson (6-5), who struck out four and walked four, took a three-hit shutout into the ninth, but Tony Bernazard walked with one out, went to third on a single by Julio Franco and scored on a groundout.

When Pat Tabler singled, putting the tying run on base, Bryan Clark relieved Dotson and gave up a run-scoring single to pinch-hitter Carmen Castillo, with pinch-runner Junior Noboa moving to third.

Bob James then picked up his ninth save by getting Brook Jacoby to ground out to the shortstop.

Losing pitcher Scott Bailes (2-2), making his first start since May 2, struck out six and walked none while giving up only two hits through six innings.

In the seventh, Harold Baines and Ivan Calderon singled before Hairston bounced a two-run single to left just inside third base.Ken Williams singled off reliever Mark Huismann to score Hairston.

Detroit 7, Seattle 3--Darrell Evans hit a three-run home run at Seattle to help Jack Morris pick up his 12th victory.

Morris (12-3) allowed 12 hits in eight-plus innings, striking out six and walking two. After Phil Bradley opened the ninth with a triple, Willie Hernandez came on to get the last three outs.

Seattle starter Mike Campbell lost in his major league debut, giving up six runs in 2 innings.

Detroit had eight hits, but four Seattle pitchers gave up a season-high nine walks. The staff had yielded a league-low 2.7 walks a game before Saturday.

Kansas City 9, Toronto 1--Bud Black, pitching for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee June 15, won easily as George Brett drove in three runs and Juan Beniquez and Danny Tartabull drove in two each at Kansas City.

Toronto has lost seven straight games.

Black (4-2) allowed five hits in six innings for the Royals, who have won five straight. Bob Stoddard worked the last three innings for his first save.

Brett has 18 RBIs in 18 games since coming off the disabled list June 12. He was sidelined by a pulled muscle in his rib cage.

Minnesota 4, Baltimore 1--Kent Hrbek hit a two-run homer, and rookie Les Straker combined with Juan Berenguer on a five-hitter at Minneapolis, helping the Twins hand the Orioles their sixth straight loss.

The Twins won for the 12th time in their last 13 home games and are 28-13 at the Metrodome this season. Baltimore has lost 29 of its last 34 games.

Straker (4-5) scattered four hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking one. Berenguer worked two innings for his third save.

Hrbek hit his 21st homer, giving the Twins a 3-1 lead, after Kirby Puckett had singled in the third inning. Puckett had three hits.