American League Roundup : Canseco Hits 14th; A’s Boost Lead to 10 Games

“Oakland, Oakland, Oakland,” third baseman Gary Gaetti of the world champion Minnesota Twins was saying before Friday night’s series opener against the first-place Athletics in the Metrodome.

“It’s all we’ve been reading and hearing about, and they deserve it, the way they’ve been playing. But we’re finally playing some good ball, too.”

True, the Twins had won 10 of 11, but they couldn’t slow down the Athletics’ express. Dave Parker and Dave Henderson had two-run doubles, and Jose Canseco hit a home run estimated at 456 feet, leading the Athletics to an 8-5 victory.

Canseco, the major league leader with 14 homers, stood and watched as his shot disappear into the left-field stands. It was the Athletics’ eighth victory in their last nine games and their first win since 1986 in the Metrodome, where they lost all seven last season. Better yet, it gave them a 10-game lead over the Twins in the American League West.

Oakland’s Dave Stewart (9-3) snapped his three-game losing streak in beating the Twins for only the second time in his career. He survived Greg Gagne’s second-inning grand slam that gave the Twins a 4-0 lead and went eight innings, allowing six hits.

New York 4, Baltimore 0--Yankee Manager Billy Martin figured this was a good time to serve his three-game suspension for kicking and throwing dirt on umpire Dale Scott.

With Claudell Washington driving home three runs and Tommy John scattering six hits over 7 innings, the Yankees didn’t need much managing from interim manager Mike Ferraro at Baltimore.

At the age of 45, John shows no sign of slowing down, although his pitches may be.

“He never seems to change,” Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken said. “I just can’t come up with any reason, any answers for his success over the years.”

The victory enabled the Yankees to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland.

Rickey Henderson stole three bases, giving him 39 for the season and setting up New York’s first two runs.

Cleveland 6, Detroit 3--Joe Carter became the first player in Indian history to hit 100 home runs and steal 100 bases, leading the victory at Detroit.

Carter’s two-out homer started a four-run first inning that chased Walt Terrell, and he doubled and scored one of two second-inning runs. The Indians ended Terrell’s 11-game winning streak at Tiger Stadium, where he hadn’t lost since May 11, 1987.

Cleveland’s Julio Franco singled on the game’s first pitch, extending his hitting streak to 21 games, longest in the major leagues this season.

Toronto 6, Boston 3--Fred McGriff had three hits, scored three runs and drove in one, while Kelly Gruber added a pair of RBI doubles at Boston as the Blue Jays extended their winning streak to four games.

Rookie Todd Stottlemyre (2-7) worked five innings of three-hit, shutout relief after starter John Cerutti was forced from the game in the third inning when hit on the right leg by a line drive. Cerutti was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which showed no fracture.

Kansas City 3, Seattle 1--Bret Saberhagen pitched a six-hitter and Kurt Stillwell homered to lead the Royals.

The Royals won at home for the fourth straight time after losing 12 of 14 in Royals Stadium.

Texas 9, Chicago 3--Rookie pitcher Ray Hayward broke out of a 1-10 slump and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, and Ruben Sierra hit a three-run double to lead the rout at Chicago.

The game featured 16 walks, 11 in the first three innings. White Sox starter Dave LaPoint fell to 4-5 as Chicago lost for the 14th time in its last 17 games.