Baseball Roundup : Bell Sets Toronto RBI Record, Slams A’s, 9-4

George Bell hit a grand slam in the fifth inning Thursday night at Toronto for his 39th home run of the season and drove in five runs to set a club record for runs batted in, leading the Blue Jays to a 9-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Bell’s total of 109 RBIs surpassed by one the record he shared with Jesse Barfield last season. The Dominican slugger has reached base safely in 29 straight games.

The Blue Jays, who rallied from a 4-0 deficit, moved into a virtual tie for first place in the American League East with the idle Detroit Tigers. The A’s fell one game off the pace in the AL West.

Jimmy Key (15-6) worked six innings en route to registering his sixth consecutive victory and reaching a personal-high victory total. After spotting Oakland four runs on two hits before recording an out in the first inning, Key retired the next 18 batters.

Trailing, 4-1, Toronto rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the fifth on Bell’s fifth career grand slam and second of the season.

The Blue Jays stretched their margin to 6-4 in the sixth when Fred McGriff hit his 18th home run to match Barfield’s Toronto rookie home run record.

Ernie Whitt and Barfield hit RBI singles for the Blue Jays in the seventh.

Milwaukee 4, Cleveland 3--Mike Felder hit a two-run triple and scored on a suicide squeeze in the fourth inning at Milwaukee to help the Brewers beat the Indians. It completed the Brewers’ three-game sweep of the Indians.

Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor, who had his 39-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday night, went 2 for 4 to raise his average to .367.

Trailing, 2-0, Milwaukee scored four runs in the fourth to grab the lead.

Kansas City 3, Texas 2--George Brett hit a home run with two out in the 10th inning to give Kansas City the win at home over the Texas Rangers.

Brett hit his 17th home run of the season into the left-field seats. The shot came on a 2-and-1 pitch from loser Dale Mohorcic (6-4), who earlier in the day was reactivated from the disabled list.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Atlanta 5-(6), Chicago 2-(8)--The Cubs either beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-6, to split a doubleheader or have an 8-6 lead in the eighth inning of the second game in Chicago, depending on future decisions.

The second game of the double-header was suspended because of darkness with the Cubs leading, 8-6, with one out in the top of the eighth. It is up to the Braves to decide whether they want to call it a Cub victory or return to Chicago on an off-day to take their last few at-bats.

The teams have no more games scheduled this season but can finish the contest on either of the two dates both clubs have open, Sept. 3 or Sept. 10. If the teams do not resume the contest, it will be called an official game according to baseball rules.

The Cubs scored all their runs in the nightcap on home runs. Leon Durham hit two two-run homers, Jerry Mumphrey a two-run homer and Keith Moreland and Andre Dawson solo homers.

Atlanta won the first game on Dale Murphy’s 35th home run and a six-hit pitching performance by Zane Smith.

After giving up three hits and two runs, one unearned, in the first inning, Smith held the Cubs to one hit the rest of the way. He struck out three and walked one.

Murphy’s home run, in the seventh, put him two shy of his career high of 37.

Montreal 3, San Diego 0--Bryn Smith pitched five scoreless innings and became only the second Montreal starter to win this month as the Expos defeated the Padres at San Diego.

Smith (8-6) earned his first victory since July 29. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked none. The only other Montreal starter to win this month was Dennis Martinez, who beat New York Aug. 10.