American League Roundup : Stewart Is 8-0, Swindell 6-1 as A’s Make It 13 in Row

It was beginning to get scary. Without pitching really well, Oakland’s Dave Stewart was winning every start.

Now, he’s reaching top form, and the American League hitters are really in trouble.

Stewart, in his second consecutive confrontation with an unbeaten pitcher, pitched a four-hitter Sunday at Oakland to lead the Athletics to a 5-1 victory over Cleveland and Greg Swindell.

In handing Swindell his first loss after six victories, Stewart improved his record to 8-0 and extended the Athletics’ club-record winning streak to 13 games.

An error by third-string catcher Orlando Mercado allowed the Indians a run in the first inning, but the A’s jumped on Swindell for four runs in the fifth. A pop fly by Carney Lansford fell for a hit when outfielders Carmen Castillo and Joe Carter ran into each other. Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire each drove in runs in the rally.

Mercado, now on the roster because No. 1 catcher Terry Steinbach is on the disabled list, hit a home run in the sixth making amends for dropping the ball at the plate.

On Tuesday, Stewart went up against Frank Tanana of Detroit, who was 5-0. The Athletics won, 8-2, with Stewart giving up one run in six innings.

Stewart laughed at the media calling the two games “showdowns.”

“You get showdowns when you get to the playoffs and World Series,” Stewart said. “This is just another game.”

After three games this season, Stewart was 3-0, but he had an earned-run average of 4.24. He has improved steadily since, although he has given up a run in the first inning in six of his eight starts.

This game, his most impressive since opening day, is only his second complete game. He has lowered his ERA to 2.41.

The Athletics, who were missing Dave Parker and Steinbach because of injuries, are 23-7 and lead the West by eight games.

“I’ve got a good lineup out there without Parker and Steinbach,” A’s Manager Tony LaRussa said. “One of the things we did over the winter was to add depth to this team. But we didn’t expect a home run from Mercado.”

Mercado, playing to give veteran Ron Hassey a day off with the Indians throwing a left-hander, hit a Swindell pitch just inside the left-field foul pole for his first hit of the season and first major league home run since 1986.

“I don’t care who I pitch against,” said Swindell after giving up 8 hits and 5 runs, 3 of them earned in 6 innings. “I lost a little confidence when the pop fell safely, and that was the difference. Stewart was lucky, and I wasn’t.”

By losing the series, the Indians missed a chance to gain on the Yankees, who lead the East by two games and were swept in Texas.

Texas 10, New York 8--Everything was just wonderful for the Yankees when they ventured into Texas. They came out of Arlington in chaos.

It wasn’t just that their manager, Billy Martin, was assaulted in a topless joint Friday night. The pitchers were also assaulted by the Rangers’ hitters in the finale of the three-game sweep, the first ever for the Rangers over the Yankees in Texas.

Unlikely sluggers such as Curtis Wilkerson and James Steels drove in 5 runs between them and scored 3 as the Rangers wiped out deficits of 5-3 and 7-6.

Charles Hudson and Steve Shields (0-1) were the victims of the 11-hit attack.

Mike Pagliarulo hit a 2-run home run, his seventh homer of the season, in the top of the sixth to give the Yankees a 7-6 lead.

Scott Fletcher doubled home two runs in the bottom of the inning and Steels singled home two more to make it 10-7. Dale Mohorcic, who recently came off the injured list, pitched three scoreless innings to get his third save.

Milwaukee 6, Kansas City 2--While the Yankees staggered in Texas, the Brewers moved into contention in the East.

Dale Sveum singled in a run to trigger a four-run 10th-inning at Kansas City that enabled the Brewers to win their ninth in a row and climb within 1 1/2 games of the Yankees.

The Brewers were written off when they lost seven in a row after winning their first two games, but they have joined in what looms as a hot pennant race.

“Oakland’s streak has has been taking over the scene, and it’s allowed us to sneak up,” Sveum said after his hit beat Dan Quisenberry. “Last year we had the great start and faded. This year we want to be more consistent.”

It may have been a costly win. Starter Ted Higuera had to come out in the eighth inning because of back problems that have hampered him all season.

Boston 10, Minnesota 6--Dwight Evans, who has been having troubles getting started this season, broke out in this game in the Metrodome. He went 2 for 4, including a home run, and drove in four runs to spark the Red Sox.

Ellis Burks and Wade Boggs each had three hits as the Red Sox emerged from a slump with 13 hits.

Detroit 9, Seattle 3--Luis Salazar hit a three-run home run in the second inning at Seattle off rookie Mike Campbell, and Frank Tanana went on to improve his record to 6-1.

Tanana gave up 8 hits in 7 innings before Guillermo Hernandez came on to get his second save.

Alvin Davis’ sixth homer sent Tanana to the showers.

Baltimore 6, Chicago 5--Joe Orsulak singled with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 10th inning at Baltimore to give the Orioles their fourth win in 29 games.

Doug Sisk, who was pitching in the ninth when a passed ball by catcher Terry Kennedy allowed the tying run to score, went 2 innings to get the victory.