American League Roundup : Morgan and Red Sox Win Streak Ends at Texas

Joe Morgan is no longer a perfect manager.

Ruben Sierra hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning Tuesday night at Arlington, Tex., to give the Rangers a 9-8 victory and end the Boston Red Sox’s winning streak at 12 games.

Since Morgan replaced John McNamara during the All-Star break, the Red Sox had been unbeatable. It is being referred to as “Morgan’s Miracle.”

When they finally lost, it was kicking and screaming and battling.

They spotted the Rangers and their ace, Jose Guzman a 6-2 lead in four innings, then battled back. They had three doubles and home runs by Mike Greenwell, Todd Benzinger and Jim Rice.

In a game that featured 11 extra-base hits, the Red Sox went ahead, 8-7, with three runs in the seventh. Rice, suspended after getting in a shoving match with Morgan last week, put the Red Sox in front with a two-run home run, his fifth homer this season.

But Tom Bolton (1-2) blew the lead when he served up the home run to Sierra after Scott Fletcher singled.

“It was a hell of a game,” Morgan told the Associated Press. “It was bad (the streak ended), but we battled back all night.

“You could tell from the chatter in the dugout, everybody thought we would come back. Then Jim hit his home run and we were golden for a while.”

At game time, the temperature was 105. Monday night under similar conditions, Roger Clemens pitched a 2-0 victory to give the Red Sox their 12th in a row.

“Last night it was great pitching. Tonight it was great hitting,” Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine said. “It was like two rattlesnakes out there. Chop off their heads and they’re still battling. We just didn’t want them to continue the streak at our expense.”

New York 3, Milwaukee 2--The Yankees are leading the East, but they don’t seem to be an especially happy group. There is grumbling about the way Manager Lou Piniella is experimenting this late in the season.

On Sunday, Piniella had first baseman Don Mattingly in left, designated hitter Jack Clark at first and left fielder Rickey Henderson in center. They won and moved into a tie for first.

In this game at New York, Clark played left and Henderson center as the Yankees won again. It was the first time Clark played left field since Sept. 4, 1976.

Clark was the chief complainer when Piniella started shifting players around. He looked shaky on the one fly he caught.

Henderson triggered a two-run first by walking, stealing second and third and scoring on a sacrifice fly. It was the eighth consecutive game in which he reached base in the first inning.

Rick Rhoden (6-6) was the winner, and Dave Righetti got the last five outs and earned his 14th save.

Detroit 2, Kansas City 1--The Tigers were on the verge of losing again when Chet Lemon hit a home run in the ninth inning at Detroit. It was their first home run in nine games.

Lou Whitaker doubled home the winning run in the 10th to end the three-game losing streak and keep the Tigers within a half-game of the Yankees.

It had been more than 16 years since the Tigers last went eight consecutive games without a home run.

Although he pitched four-hit ball and struck out 10 in 9 innings, Jack Morris didn’t get the victory. Mike Henneman pitched a hitless 10th to improve his record to 5-2.

Minnesota 6, Toronto 3--Kirby Puckett had four hits for the second game in a row at Minnesota to help the Twins overcome a 3-0 deficit.

Puckett leads the major leagues with 146 hits and raised his average to .365.

His double in the seventh set up the winning run which scored on Kent Hrbek’s sacrifice fly.

Cleveland 7, Baltimore 3--Julio Franco extended his hitting streak to 21 games for the second time this season, and Doug Jones set a club record with his 24th save.

Franco doubled in the first inning. He also had a 21-game streak from May 11 to June 3.

Jones got the last four outs at Cleveland to save it for John Farrell (11-6).

Chicago 1, Seattle 0--Relief pitcher Mike Jackson walked Ozzie Guillen with two out and the bases loaded in the 11th inning at Chicago to end a pitching duel.

A walk, a single by Harold Baines, a sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases. One out later, Guillen walked on a 3-and-1 count to end it.