American League Roundup : McGwire Hits 40th Homer; A’s Win

Mark McGwire picked an auspicious time to end the longest home run hitting drought of his brief career.

The Oakland A’s rookie had gone 50 at-bats between home runs when he unloaded No. 40 in the 10th inning Saturday at Toronto to give the Athletics a 6-5 victory and keep them in front in the American League West.

After hitting so many home runs early this season, McGwire was being compared with Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. Since breaking the home record for rookies with his 39th on Aug. 14, McGwire has beenin a slump.

It got so bad, the Athletics benched him Friday night. The move paid dividends Saturday, as the A’s first baseman tripled and homered to help the Athletics to victory.

Carney Lansford hit a three-run home run, McGwire tripled home another run and Mickey Tettleton drove home McGwire as the A’s took a 5-0 first-inning lead.

But the Blue Jays battled back to tie. Tony Fernandez’s two-out, two-strike single drove in the tying run in the ninth.

McGwire hit the first pitch by Mark Eichhorn in the 10th. It gave McGwire the home run lead over George Bell of the Blue Jays.

“I don’t understand why everyone was so concerned,” McGwire said. “I don’t worry about the home runs. Winning is the only thing important.”

One pop fly in the fifth inning resulted in four injuries, but the injuries were minor.

Center fielder Lloyd Moseby and shortstop Tony Fernandez collided while chasing Dwayne Murphy’s short fly. Moseby injured a forearm and Fernandez suffered cuts. Murphy hurt his ankle, and Lansford hurt his knee. Moseby and Lansford left the game immediately, but Murphy remained in the game until the seventh inning, when he was removed for a pinch-runner.

Seattle 7-2, New York 1-4--On a day in New York in which Manager Lou Piniella and Owner George Steinbrenner buried the hatchet, the Yankees’ division title hopes dimmed a little more.

Piniella apologized to Steinbrenner for not being in his hotel room last month to answer a call from the owner, which started a battle between the two.

But Piniella had other problems Saturday. Rick Rhoden, the Yankees’ top winner with 15 victories, took himself out in the second inning of the opener of the doubleheader when his shoulder began hurting. Mark Langston, the Mariner ace, won his 15th, striking out eight and giving up just six hits in the first game. Langston, who pitched two shutout innings Thursday night before the game was called because of rain, seemed unaffected Saturday. He had a shutout until Ron Kittle homered in the seventh.

Mariner Manager Dick Williams protested in the first game when the Yankees turned on the lights with the Yankees at bat in the third inning. According to the rules, the lights can only be turned on at the start of an inning.

Tommy John and Mike Easler restored order in the second game. John gave up 8 hits in 7 innings to improve his record to 12-4. Easler hit a three-run home run in the first inning.

The Yankees fell five games behind in the East.

Detroit 4, Texas 1--There is just no place like home for Tiger pitcher Walt Terrell. Terrell (11-10) pitched a four-hitter, and Chet Lemon hit his 17th home run as the Tigers extended their lead in the East to one game over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Terrell is 10-2 in Tiger Stadium this season and 29-7 since the Tigers obtained him after the 1984 season in a trade with the New York Mets involving Howard Johnson.

The win was not without controversy.

In the fifth inning, Pete Incaviglia ended his Terrell’s no-hit bid with a single. Larry Parrish then hit a drive down the right-field line that was ruled foul, although the Rangers argued that the ball hit the foul pole. Parrish then doubled in the only Texas run.

Minnesota 12, Milwaukee 3--Kirby Puckett went 4 for 4, including two solo home runs, and the Twins ended a nine-game road losing streak.

Bert Blyleven (13-10) gave up only one earned run in eight innings to breeze to the victory.

For the third time in the four games since he hit safely in 39 consecutive games, Paul Molitor went hitless.

The victory, only their 25th in 68 road games, left the Twins one percentage point out of first place.

Cleveland 7-2, Boston 2-1--The downfall of the Indians has been their pitching. For the most part, it has been dreadful.

But in this doubleheader at Cleveland, the Red Sox, the best hitting team in the league, managed only a total of seven hits.

Tom Candiotti (7-13) pitched a five-hitter in the opener, and Rich Yett (3-5) was even better in the nightcap. He gave up an unearned run and just two bloop singles by Mike Greenwell. But Yett wasn’t a winner until Cory Snyder hit his 30th home run with one out in the ninth to break a 1-1 tie.

The Red Sox’s Dwight Evans hit his 31st home run and drove in his 105th run in the opener.

Chicago 7, Kansas City 2--Ivan Calderon hit a three-run home run, and Floyd Bannister (10-10) pitched a six-hitter at Chicago for his eighth complete game.

Bannister and Mark Gubicza were in a scoreless tie with two out in the bottom of the fifth, but Gary Redus and Jerry Hairston walked, and Calderon hit his 22nd homer.