American League Roundup : A’s Stretch Win Streak to Eight, 4-2

Ron Hassey delivered a 2-run double with two out in the 10th inning Monday night at Detroit and the Oakland Athletics increased their winning streak to 8 games--their longest in 7 years--with a 4-2 victory over the Tigers.

It is the A’s longest streak since opening the 1981 season with 11 victories. It also ended Detroit’s 4-game winning streak.

Mike Henneman (0-1) walked Jose Canseco with one out in the 10th, and Dave Parker singled. Mark McGwire struck out before Hassey, who hit a 2-run homer in the fourth, lined a 2-and-1 pitch off the top of the fence in left to score both runners.

Oakland’s Curt Young (2-0) gave up six hits in nine innings and got the victory despite allowing a game-tying homer to Tom Brookens with two out in the eighth.

Dennis Eckersley pitched the 10th to stretch his scoreless inning streak to 13 innings and earn his 10th save.

New York 6, Chicago 4--Bobby Thigpen’s wild pitch in the 12th inning allowed Rickey Henderson and Don Mattingly to score, enabling the Yankees to register their best start in 30 years with a win over the White Sox at Chicago.

The Yankees raised their record to 17-8, their best 25-game mark since 1958, when they were 20-5.

Henderson started the 12th with a walk off Thigpen (0-2). Henderson stole second, and Willie Randolph sacrificed him to third. Mattingly was walked intentionally and took second on an infield out by Jack Clark.

Thigpen threw a 2-and-2 pitch to Dave Winfield past catcher Carlton Fisk. Henderson scored, and when Fisk’s throw to the plate got past Thigpen, Mattingly scored.

Tim Stoddard (2-1) got the victory, and John Candelaria gained his first save since 1985 by getting the last out.

Milwaukee 4, Minnesota 3--Dale Sveum’s 2-out single capped a 3-run second, and Odell Jones pitched four innings of hitless relief at Milwaukee as the Brewers beat the Twins’ Bert Blyleven for the first time in three years.

The Brewers’ last victory over Blyleven (1-3) came May 22, 1985. The Twins’ right-hander beat Milwaukee seven straight times, including six in a row since coming to Minnesota in August of 1985.

Milwaukee scored three runs in the second on four hits. Greg Brock, Rob Deer and Glenn Braggs singled in succession for the first run. Jim Gantner’s fielder’s choice grounder scored the second run, and Sveum drove in the third with a 2-out single to left.

Robin Yount tripled off the top of the right-field fence in the third and scored on B.J. Surhoff’s single to give the Brewers a 4-1 lead.

Kansas City 2, Boston 0--George Brett had two doubles and a single, and the Royals beat the Red Sox at Boston behind the pitching of Floyd Bannister and three relievers.

Bannister (4-1) pitched 5 innings, allowing six hits, including three doubles. It was the second straight shutout loss for the Red Sox, who were shut out Sunday by Frank Viola of Minnesota.

Bannister was bailed out of a 6th-inning jam by Steve Farr, who ended the threat by getting rookie Brady Anderson to ground into a force play at third with the bases loaded.

Farr left in favor of Bud Black after giving up a leadoff walk in the ninth to Anderson. Black walked pinch-hitter Sam Horn, and after the runners advanced on a sacrifice, Black walked Wade Boggs intentionally to load the bases. Gene Garber came in and struck out Jim Rice and Mike Greenwell to pick up his fourth save.

Seattle 7, Toronto 5--Dave Valle’s bases-loaded triple capped a 5-run fifth inning, which helped the Mariners beat the Blue Jays at Seattle and end a 3-game losing streak.

Toronto lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Steve Trout (3-2) pitched the first five innings, and Julio Solano earned his second save.