American League Roundup : Gladden, Puckett Help Twins Breeze to Another Series Sweep of Tigers

The Minnesota Twins didn’t even have to use their ace, Frank Viola, to sweep the Detroit Tigers again.

Dan Gladden and Kirby Puckett hit home runs, highlighting a six-run second inning against Frank Tanana Wednesday night at Minneapolis, as the Twins breezed to an 8-2 victory.

The sweep of the three-game series stretched the Twins’ win streak against the leaders of the Eastern Division to 11 games. The Tigers won the opener, then lost the next 11.

Instead of sending left-hander Viola after his 20th victory, the Twins started Fred Toliver against Tanana (14-8). Toliver (5-3) lost his shutout when Matt Nokes homered in the sixth. Toliver gave up 7 hits in 7 innings.

For Puckett, it was his second four-hit game of the series and boosted his average to .355. It continued to put pressure on Wade Boggs, who is seeking his fourth consecutive batting title and is hitting .359.

In the last 11 games of their series, the Twins have outscored the Tigers, 65-18, after losing, 7-0, in their first meeting of the season.

Their record against the Tigers helped the Twins finish the season against the East with a 47-37 record.

Kent Hrbek, whose double with one out started Minnesota’s second-inning uprising, has 24 home runs this season, all against Eastern Division teams.

New York 7, Oakland 6--In a rare twist, Dennis Eckersley couldn’t save a victory for the Athletics.

Jose Canseco hit his 33rd home run, a two-run shot in the ninth, and going into the bottom of the inning in New York, the A’s had a 6-2 lead.

Eckersley, who leads the majors with 35 saves, had pitched a scoreless eighth but he didn’t retire a batter in the ninth and was the loser.

Ken Phelps hit a three-run home run to get the Yankees close, then Rickey Henderson delivered the game-winning single off third baseman Tony Phillips’ glove with two out and Greg Cadaret pitching.

It was only the second time in 42 situations that the Yankees had pulled out a victory after trailing through eight innings.

By winning the last two games, the Yankees wound up the home stand with a 4-6 record, leaving them 4 games behind Detroit in the East.

“I’ve never taken the bullpen for granted,” Oakland Manager Tony LaRussa said. “I know how lucky I’ve been all season long.”

Chicago 6, Toronto 4--White Sox Manager Jim Fregosi waited until it was almost too late to call on bullpen ace Bobby Thigpen at Toronto.

Thigpen came in after Fred McGriff’s two-run home run, his 30th home run of the season, off Barry Jones had cut the lead to two runs with none out in the ninth inning. Thigpen put the potential tying runs on base before slamming the gate.

It was the former outfielder’s 27th save for a team that has won only 55 games. It ended the White Sox’s six-game losing streak.

Cleveland 7, Milwaukee 2--Joe Carter enjoys hitting in County Stadium, and Tom Candiotti wanted to pitch so badly, he climbed out of a sick bed.

Carter went 3 for 4, including his 23rd home run, and drove in 3 runs.

Candiotti had the flu, but he lasted six innings, giving up only one earned run. Doug Jones pitched the last 2 innings, striking out 4, to get his 29th save.

Texas 7, Kansas City 4--Bobby Witt continues to be an ironman. The hard-throwing right-hander pitched a three-hitter for his ninth straight complete game in this victory over the Royals at Arlington, Tex.

Witt (6-8) tied Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry for the club record for consecutive complete games. Witt, who struck out 11, has the longest string since 1985, when Bert Blyleven went the distance in 10 straight games.

Steve Buechele was 4 for 4, driving in 2 runs and sparking the Rangers’ four-run eighth.

Baltimore 4-4, Seattle 3-3--Joe Orsulak lofted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to score Ken Gerhart with two out in the 12th inning, lifting the Orioles to their first doubleheader sweep in almost four years.

Pinch-hitter Larry Sheets delivered a two-run home run with two out in the ninth inning for the Orioles’ victory in the opener at Baltimore.

Mike Moore started the nightcap for the Mariners, striking out 13 in 9 innings.

The Orioles last swept a doubleheader on Sept. 24, 1984, against the Yankees.