American League Roundup : Hot August Too Much for Red Sox

August has not been a happy month so far for the Boston Red Sox. And another August, pitcher Don, kept it that way Thursday.

The Milwaukee Brewers’ rookie right-hander pitched a six-hitter for his first major league shutout in a 4-0 victory at Milwaukee, dealing the Red Sox their seventh loss in nine games.

“The win was the main thing. I was putting zeroes up and I finally started to say to myself, ‘There’s a chance to get one.’ So I started to go for it and I got it,” August said.

August (7-5) struck out four and walked one for his fifth complete game since being called up June 2.

The Brewers were led by Rob Deer and Joey Meyer with solo home runs in the fourth inning.

Boston, which has won 22 straight games at home, returns to Fenway Park tonight against first-place Detroit.

Toronto 6, New York 5--Jesse Barfield stole second base and dashed home on catcher Don Slaught’s throwing error with two outs in the 11th inning to lead the Blue Jays to victory, completing a three-game sweep of the Yankees.

Barfield singled with one out off Dave Righetti (3-3). One out later, with Nelson Liriano batting, Barfield was safe at second base when Slaught’s bouncing throw hit him in the leg. The ball caromed into shallow left field, and Barfield kept running, beating Rickey Henderson’s throw home with a hook slide.

Duane Ward (8-1) got the victory, Toronto’s fourth straight. The Yankees, temporarily rescued by Don Mattingly’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth, have lost seven of nine games.

Ernie Whitt hit two solo homers for the Blue Jays, and Rance Mulliniks homered and doubled. Whitt has five multiple-homer games in his career, two against the Yankees.

Henderson had four stolen bases to tie a Yankee club record.

Texas 5, Cleveland 4--Four Cleveland errors, including a bases-loaded, three-run throwing miscue by reliever Doug Jones, allowed the Rangers to rally for four ninth-inning runs and defeat the Indians at Cleveland.

Jones (1-3) had not lost in 20 appearances and had converted his last 21 save opportunities. He had relieved John Farrell, who allowed just one run on two hits in seven innings. The Indians have lost five straight games and 11 of 12.

Mitch Williams (2-4) pitched two innings for the victory, with Dale Mohorcic getting the last out for his fifth save.

Chicago 4, Seattle 3--Harold Baines delivered a three-run double, and Dave Gallagher broke a tie with an eighth-inning, run-scoring single to lead the White Sox past the Mariners at Seattle.

Kelly Paris opened the Chicago eighth with a single off reliever Mike Jackson (6-4) and took second on a passed ball by Bill McGuire. With two out, Gallagher singled home Paris. Jerry Reuss (8-7), scattered seven hits and allowed three runs in seven innings. Bobby Thigpen pitched two innings for his 25th save.

Kansas City 6, Baltimore 5--Kevin Seitzer hit a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning to lead the Royals to victory over Baltimore at Kansas City and a 12-game season sweep of the Orioles.

With one out in the 12th, Bill Pecota singled and Kurt Stillwell sent him to third with another single. Seitzer then hit a fly ball to left, scoring Pecota with the winning run.

Jeff Montgomery (5-2) worked one inning as the Royals scored their fifth straight victory.