American League Roundup : A Five-Run Fifth Carries Red Sox to 7-4 Win--and Lead Is Again 4 1/2

History will not repeat itself at Fenway Park this weekend.

When the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night, it brought back memories of 1978.

That year the Yankees went into Fenway trailing by four games, swept the series and went on to win the pennant in a playoff. This time they went in trailing by 4 1/2 and, halfway through the series, they’re still 4 1/2.

The Red Sox exploded for five runs in the fifth inning Friday night and went on to a 7-4 victory and move a step closer to the title in the American League East.

Todd Benzinger two-run single capped the rally in which eight consecutive Boston batters reached base after two were out. But Marty Barrett broke the 2-2 tie when he doubled to score Wade Boggs.

What this game mainly proved is that Boston’s second-line pitching is better than the Yankees.

While Wes Gardner, a converted reliever, pitched a strong seven innings, young Al Leiter, starting for the Yankees, couldn’t make it through the second inning. And, his successor, Steve Shields, collapsed after three strong innings.

Gardner, who became a starter when Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd was injured, overcame a shaky start in which the first three batters had hits and two runs scored. After setting a personal record of eight strikeouts, hetired and had to come out in the eighth. Lee Smith wound up getting the last four outs to gain his 27th save.

The Red Sox have 15 games to play, so their magic number is 12.

The Yankees were on a high after beating Boston ace, Roger Clemens, in the opener, but now they have to face Bruce Hurst (17-5) the hot Red Sox pitcher today.

“It puts and end to that sweep talk,” Manager Joe Morgan of the Red Sox said. “But, I thought (Mike) Pagliarulo’s drive in the eighth had tied it.”

The Yankees had two on and two out and Smith had just entered the game to pitch to Pagliarulo, who homered Thursday night. He hit a drive to right that Dwight Evans flagged down.

“Someone turned the wind around,” Pagliarulo said. “I hit that better than the homer. I thought it was out, but when I looked up I saw the flag blowing in from right.”

Detroit 8, Baltimore 7--The Tigers haven’t made too many good moves, nor had much good luck lately. But acquiring Fred Lynn was a gem.

After Luis Salazar committed two errors in the top of the ninth at Detroit, there was an 18-minute rain delay. Salazar singled to open the bottom of the inning and Lynn followed with his 23rd home run.

Lynn was 3 for 5 and drove in four runs. In the two weeks he has been with the Tigers after being obtained from the Orioles, he has provided most of the Tiger offense.

“He’s done what we got him for,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said. “What’s that, five home runs since we got him? A guy gets you four or five home runs in such a short time, you gotta be happy.”

With only their fifth win in 24 games, the beleaguered Tigers remained five games behind the Red Sox in the East.

Milwaukee 5, Seattle 1--Don August, a late replacement for Teddy Higuera, pitched a five-hitter at Seattle to enable the Brewers to remain five games back in the East.

August (11-6) had to pitch out of turn when Higuera strained his left shoulder warming up before the game.

Robin Yount and Jeffrey Leonard each drove in two runs to make it easier for August.

Kansas City 3, Oakland 0--Mark Gubicza pitched a two-hitter at Oakland and Kevin Seitzer’s two-run double in the eighth broke a tie to give him his 18th win in 25 decisions.

Bob Welch (15-8) gave up just four hits, including Danny Tartabull’s 22nd homer in the ninth. Welch had a one-hitter until the eighth when Billy Buckner opened with a single.

The crowd of 33,881 made the Athletics the first Bay Area team to draw more than 2 million fans.

Minnesota 5, Chicago 4--Jim Dwyer and Gene Larkin hit consecutive home runs off former Dodger Shawn Hillegas in the sixth inning at Minneapolis and the Twins held on to give Bert Blyleven (10-15) the victory.

Dwyer, who hit a grand slam Thursday, homered to lead off the inning and tied it, 4-4. Larkin followed with his seventh homer of the season.

Kirby Puckett doubled in the first for his 1,000th career hit. The Twins’ hitting star will not complete five seasons in the majors until next May 7.

Toronto 4, Cleveland 3--Kelly Gruber doubled home the winning run with one out in the 10th inning at Toronto to keep the Blue Jays’ slim pennant hopes alive. The Blue Jays remained 7 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the East.

George Bell hit his 22nd home run in the third inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. In his late season surge, Bell has hit six home runs and driven in 21 runs in the last 20 games.