American League Roundup : Mattingly Has a Grand Night, Ties AL Record

Don Mattingly tied the American League record for home runs in consecutive games in grand style Thursday night at Arlington, Tex.

The New York Yankees’ first baseman, who hit a grand slam in the second inning off Charlie Hough and a two-run shot off Mitch Williams in the eighth, has homered in six straight games. He is the seventh Amrican League player to accomplish the feat, the most recent being Reggie Jackson, with the Baltimore Orioles, in 1976.

Mattingly’s homers helped the Yankees rout the Rangers, 12-3, and retain their two-game lead in the East.

Mattingly’s slam was his fourth of the season and he needs one more to tie the major league record for most home runs with the bases loaded in one year, held by Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs in 1955 and by Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

Two other Yankees, Lou Gehrig in 1931 and Tommy Henrich in 1948, have hit four slams in a season.

Of course, a home run tonight against the Texas Rangers would give Mattingly the American League record for home runs in consecutive games, with seven. It would also leave him only one short of the major league record of eight, set by Dale Long of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956.

Oakland 6, Boston 3--It is tough for a pitcher on the same team as slugging Mark McGwire to get his name in print, but former Dodger Dave Stewart is leading the Athletics’ drive into contention in the West.

McGwire didn’t add to his total of 33 home runs in this game at Boston, but Stewart continued his brilliant pitching, and batterymate Mickey Tettleton supported him with a home run.

Stewart gave up 5 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings to win his fifth in a row and career-high 12th of the season, while moving the Athletics within one game of first place.

Stewart, who gives credit for control of his emotions to a martial arts program, was only 7-7 a month ago but has made six consecutive impressive starts. He has won five of them and in the other gave up just 2 runs in 7 innings of a no-decision game.

“I always did have the mental approach to the game,” Stewart said, “but martial arts have been good for relaxing the mind and keeps you from getting too high or too low.

“It has also helped that I developed a pitch to go with my fastball. I throw a forkball now, and they can’t lay back and wait for the fastball. I have the equipment and the attitude.”

The three-run seventh broke a 2-2 tie and ended Roger Clemens’ four-game winning streak. A year ago, on his way to the AL Cy Young Award and MVP honors, Clemens was 14-2. He is now 8-7.

Stewart didn’t fool Wade Boggs. The Red Sox star was 2 for 3 and raised the highest average in the majors to .378.

Toronto 5, Minnesota 2--There’s nothing the Blue Jays enjoy more than playing the Twins--anywhere.

In this game at Minneapolis, Jimmy Key won his 10th, and the Blue Jays beat the Twins for the 10th time in a row. In five games this season, the Blue Jays have outscored the Twins, 41-8.

Jesse Barfield had four hits, and Fred McGriff homered as the second-place Blue Jays kept pace with the Yankees in the East.

When the Twins loaded the bases in the ninth, Tom Henke came in to strike out Randy Bush for his 18th save. Henke pitched 2 innings in Tuesday nght’s All-Star game.

Cleveland 4, Chicago 3--Cory Snyder did his part to make sure that Doc Edwards began his career as Indian manager with a victory.

Snyder hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and the Indians barely lasted. It was the 20th home run and sixth in the last eight games for Snyder.

Detroit 3, Seattle 2--Kirk Gibson broke a 2-2 tie at Detroit when he led off the seventh inning with his 14th home run.

Although he gave up nine hits, four of them doubles, Detroit’s Walt Terrell (7-8) went the distance.

Baltimore 5, Kansas City 4--Eddie Murray and Mike Young hit home runs at Kansas City to send the Royals to their seventh loss in the last eight games. Murray has seven home runs in the last nine games.

Former Dodger Tom Niedenfuer induced Danny Tartabull to ground out to end the game with two runners on for his third save.