American League Roundup : A’s Lead Shrinks as Twins Sweep Doubleheader

It seems like only yesterday that the Oakland Athletics were 10 games in front in the West, Carney Lansford was flirting with .400 and Dave Stewart was on a pace to win 30 games.

Actually, the last time the A’s led by 10 was June 5.

After the surging Minnesota Twins swept a doubleheader with 11-0 and 5-0 shutouts Sunday at Oakland to the dismay of 43,154 fans, the lead had shrunk to four games.

Lansford and last year’s rookie of the year, Mark McGwire, are slumping, and Stewart, the first pitcher in the majors to win nine games this season, can’t get batters out.

Meanwhile, the world champion Twins, after a slow start, are playing at about the same pace they did a year ago when they surprised just about everyone by winning the World Series.

They have a solid attack led by Gary Gaetti and Kirby Puckett, and their pitching staff has been surprisingly strong.

It is not surprising to have Frank Viola pitch well. If there were any doubts that he is an accomplished left-hander, they were dispelled by 1987 playoff and World Series performances.

Sunday, he became the American League’s first 12-game winner by pitching a solid 6 innings in the nightcap.

But Manager Tom Kelly has uncovered some gems. He stayed with Charlie Lea, once an outstanding pitcher for Montreal who has struggled since 1984. He also has received good pitching from Juan Berenguer and Keith Atherton.

Lea (4-2), a 15-game winner for the Expos before developing arm trouble in 1984, allowed five hits in six innings to win his third straight game in the opener. In the last three games, he has pitched 20 innings and allowed only 2 runs.

Berenguer pitched the last three innings in the opener for his first save. He has pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings. Atherton, who pitched two hitless innings to win the series opener Friday night, rescued Viola in the seventh and retired the last eight batters.

Stewart (10-6) was no match for Viola. He gave up 4 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings.

Lansford was 0 for 7 in the doubleheader and is in a 4-for-51 slump.

Boston 10, Baltimore 1--Mike Greenwell hit a two-run home run in the first inning at Boston to extend his hitting streak to 17 games and move the Red Sox within seven games of first place in the East.

Greenwell, a left fielder, has gone 16 for 32, including 6 home runs, and has driven in 20 runs in his last 7 games.

“I think my hot hitting has been contagious,” Greenwell said. “Before we’re through, we will show a lot of people it was a mistake to write us off so early.”

Greenwell was hovering around the .300 mark when he started his hitting streak June 8 at New York. It began inauspiciously. After 10 games, he had a single hit in six of them. In the last seven games, he has gone wild.

“I worked out with weights in the off season,” the 24-year-old left-handed hitter said. “I was determined to win a position and not have to think about it again. I’m sure that’s why I’ve started to hit so well.”

“I think before we’re through, we will show a lot of people that it was a mistake to write us off so early. We’ve got an opportunity to get in the middle of this race.

“Remember, we’ve had a hard time winning here at Fenway Park. In fact, we finally reached .500. When we all started hitting, though, it meant we would start winning here.”

As a rookie last season, Greenwell played 64 games in left, 28 in right, was the designated hitter for 15 games and even caught a game. He batted .328 with 19 home runs and 89 runs batted in in only 412 at-bats.

Mike Smithson (3-2) gave up a first-inning home run to Fred Lynn, then yielded only three more hits the rest of the way.

New York 4, Cleveland 3--Claudell Washington put on a show at New York to move the Yankees into position for another showdown against Detroit in the East.

It was Washington’s fourth hit of the game, an infield single with two outs in the ninth inning that scored pinch-runner Rickey Henderson from third base with the winning run.

But Washington’s offense was only part of the show as the Yankees made it three victories in four games since Lou Piniella replaced Billy Martin as manager. In the fifth inning with a runner on base, Washington leaped high above the fence in left field to rob Ron Kittle of a potential two-run home run.

“He is the player of the game,” said Piniella after the Yankees advanced within a game of first place. The Yankees and the Tigers begin a three-game series tonight at Yankee Stadium.

Three perfect innings of relief by Neil Allen took the Yankees into the ninth with a 3-1 lead. But Mel Hall hit a single, and Brook Jacoby flied out to the warning track in right. Cory Snyder hit a booming home run, his 16th, to right-center to tie the game. Dave Righetti came on to get the last two outs and his third victory without a defeat.

Toronto 4, Detroit 1--Veteran left-hander Mike Flanagan carried a six-hit shutout into the ninth inning at Toronto. With relief help from Tom Henke, he survived a Tiger rally to post his 150th victory.

The Blue Jays put an end to Jeff Robinson’s seven-game winning streak. Robinson (8-3) had not lost since April 21 and had given up only 2 runs in 33 innings. He allowed all 4 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings.

Seattle 8, Kansas City 0--The Mariners hit five home runs at Seattle, and Billy Swift (6-4) breezed to a six-hit shutout.

Rey Quinones hit two of Seattle’s home runs.

The Royals, who have lost 7 of 9, have scored only 20 runs in the 10 games Charlie Leibrandt has lost this season.

Chicago 7, Texas 5--Jeff Russell was 6-0 as a starter, but when Daryl Boston hit a 430-foot grand slam in the sixth inning at Arlington, Tex., his streak was over.

Harold Baines also hit a homer for the White Sox to help Jack McDowell (3-6) end his four-game losing streak.