American League Roundup : Dave Stieb Wins for Sixth Straight Time as Blue Jays’ Surge Continues

While the pressure of the pennant race in the American League East is causing all sorts of problems for the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays are enjoying the challenge.

Dave Stieb is doing his part to make it more enjoyable. A year ago, when the Blue Jays failed to repeat in the East, Stieb had shoulder and elbow injuries and a 3-10 record at this stage of the season.

But the hard-throwing right-hander pitched a strong seven innings Wednesday night at Boston as the Blue Jays trounced the Red Sox, 10-4, to maintain their 1 1/2-game lead.

Stieb (12-5) has won six in a row to lead the Blue Jays’ surge to the top of the division.

Another contributor has been Jesse Barfield. Barfield, who led the majors with 40 home runs last season, hit a three-run homer, giving him 25 home runs this season. After a slow start, Barfield is hitting with authority.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Rance Mulliniks after he drove in two runs in a four-run first inning that got Stieb off to a fast start. “There’s nothing like winning. The whole goal is to play on a championship team. You can make all the goals you want, but there’s nothing like winning.”

It has become fun, too, for Stieb.

“I feel like I’m in top form again,” he said after striking out eight batters. “My confidence is at its highest ever. I’ve never won this many games in a row. I feel just great.

“I couldn’t do anything to help last season, so this is like having a new lease on life.

“Of course, any time you get a four-run lead at the start, it’s bound to give you even more confidence.”

The victory gave the Blue Jays the season series, 7-6. The only other time the Blue Jays won the season series from the Red Sox was in 1984.

Kansas City 2, New York 1--The Yankee woes continue. They finally get a well-pitched game at Kansas City and they can’t score.

Rick Rhoden held the Royals to a run and 10 hits with two out in the eighth inning, but served up a home run ball to Steve Balboni that gave the Royals a sweep of the three-game series and dropped the Yankees 2 1/2 games behind Toronto.

Charlie Leibrandt (12-9) lowered his league-leading earned-run average to 2.61, despite giving up eight hits and walking three.

A sacrifice bunt set up the Yankees’ only run in the fifth, and it came home on Roberto Kelly’s sacrifice fly. The game ended when Juan Bonilla was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on Kelly’s double off the wall in left-center.

Texas 12, Milwaukee 3--Just about the only Brewer to give Texas rookie Paul Kilgus (2-4) any trouble at Milwaukee was Paul Molitor.

Molitor had three hits, including a double, to extend his hitting streak to 27 games. The good news for Molitor, who is 48 for 112 in his streak, is that if he gets a hit tonight at Baltimore, he will be halfway to Joe DiMaggio’s amazing record of 56 in a row.

Kilgus, backed by a three-run home run by Pete Incaviglia and three hits by Darrell Porter, shut the Brewers out until the seventh when he faltered.

“I think he (Molitor) hit every pitch I can throw,” Kilgus said. “He’s one of the best hitters in the league. I just tip my hat to him.”

Detroit 8, Chicago 7--In a wild game at Chicago, the Tigers overcame a five-run deficit to go in front, fell behind again and finally won on a run-scoring single by Matt Nokes in the ninth.

The Tiger catcher was getting a rare day off until his team fell behind and they needed his bat.

Hits by Tom Brookens and Pat Sheridan and a strikeout preceded Nokes’ single off reliever Bobby Thigpen.

The Tigers had 16 hits, 3 of them by Bill Madlock.

The Tigers made a move for the stretch drive by acquiring veteran right-hander Doyle Alexander, 36, from Atlanta for minor league pitcher John Smoltz. Alexander was 5-10 with an ERA of 4.13.

Seattle 4, Oakland 3--Can it be that the pressure of trying to break the record for home runs by a rookie is beginning to get to Mark McGwire.

“No interviews today, please,” the 23-year-old slugger said after going 0 for 3 in this game at Seattle. “I just don’t want to talk now.”

Less than 24 hours earlier, McGwire had tied the major league record when he hit his 38th home run.

With the Athletics behind, 4-3, McGwire hit into a double play in the seventh. Mark Langston (13-9) struck McGwire out with two on in the sixth.

Mickey Brantley and Ken Phelps homered for the Mariners, who trail Oakland by only one game. Brantley’s was inside the park.

Cleveland 8, Baltimore 6--Cory Snyder and Joe Carter each hit two home runs at Baltimore to rally the Indians.

A three-run home run by Eddie Murray and a two-run clout by Cal Ripken Jr., who had been in a 6-for-50 slump, gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

But the Indians charged back with both Snyder and Carter getting their second homers.