American League Roundup : Martin, Yankees Swept Out of Detroit but Don’t Leave Problems Behind

When Billy Martin took his New York Yankees into Detroit for a three-game series Monday, things weren’t too bad.

Despite injuries to key players, Don Mattingly and Rickey Henderson, and problems in the bullpen, the Yankees were atop the American League East.

In just three nights at Tiger Stadium, the Yankees have fallen behind the Tigers by 2 1/2 games, Martin is talking about losing his job again and the relief pitching is in chaos.

Luis Salazar drove a hit to deep left-center to bring home Tom Brookens from second base with one out in the 10th inning Wednesday night, giving the Tigers a 3-2 victory and a sweep of the series.

The Yankees lost all three games in the Tigers’ last at-bat, two of them in extra innings, and problems are mushrooming.

The major trouble is the bullpen. Dave Righetti, once the best reliever in the league, can’t find the plate. Cecilio Guante, Martin’s next choice, threw home run balls to Brookens, Monday night, and Alan Trammell (for a grand slam), Tuesday night, to lose the first two games of the series.

So, after John Candelaria went a strong seven innings in a 2-2 game, Martin chose Charles Hudson. After two scoreless innings and a 29-minute rain delay in the top of the 10th, Hudson faltered in the bottom of the extra inning.

Brookens opened with a single and was sacrificed to second. On a 2-and-2 count, Salazar lined a pitch into the gap in left-center. Brookens scored easily on what was ruled a single.

It was the fourth straight loss for the Yankees, who completed a 2-7 trip.

There were some pluses for Martin. Henderson returned after missing four games with an injury. He had two hits, including his fifth home run. And, catcher Don Slaught, who figured in Martin’s beef with new General Manager Bob Quinn, returned to action and had two hits.

Martin refused to play Slaught Monday night because of a leg injury after Quinn took Slaught off the disabled list.

“If they want to fire me that’s their prerogative,” Martin said, referring to owner George Steinbrenner and Quinn.

Oakland 6, Milwaukee 2--Dave Stewart and Mark McGwire, key figures in the fast start of the Athletics this season, enabled them to sweep the three-game series at Milwaukee.

Stewart pitched a six-hitter and McGwire emerged from a slump with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.

It was McGwire’s 13th home run, but only his second since May 17.

Cleveland 3, Boston 1--The slugging spree of the Red Sox came to an abrupt halt at Cleveland with John Farrell (8-4) and Doug Jones holding them to five hits.

In the previous three games, the Red Sox scored 39 runs on 59 hits. The Indians didn’t stop Mike Greenwell, who had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Wade Boggs, returning after missing two games because of an arm injury, singled to extend his streak to 10 games.

Julio Franco, who singled his first three times up, led off the eighth with his 11th home run to break a 1-1 tie and beat Oil Can Boyd (6-6).

Jones tied a major league record by earning his 13th consecutive save.

Toronto 4, Baltimore 2--It was a favorable wind on a rainy night for the Blue Jays at Toronto. In a game twice delayed by rain, Cecil Fielder drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a wind-blown double in the second inning.

Although he gave up Pete Stanicek’s first major-league home run on the second pitch of the game, John Cerutti went six innings to improve his record to 4-3.

Chicago 5, Kansas City 4--Pinch-hitter Mark Salas looped a single over a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth inning at Chicago to give the White Sox the victory. The White Sox blew an early 3-0 lead.

Seattle 3, Texas 2--Mickey Brantley led off the 10th inning at Arlington, Tex., with his 11th home run to end the Mariners’ nine-game losing streak.

Texas, which stranded 15 runners, had eight hits and nine walks.