Baseball Roundup : Red Sox Fall but Move One Step Closer to Clinching AL East Title

None of the Eastern Division teams are playing as if they want to face the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series.

Although the Boston Red Sox have nearly collapsed, they are in a good position to back into the division title.

Jimmy Key limited the Red Sox to 2 hits Wednesday night at Boston, and the Toronto Blue Jays continued their mastery of the Red Sox, 1-0. An eighth-inning throwing error by catcher Rich Gedman set up the only run.

The Blue Jays finished 7-0 at Fenway Park and 11-2 this season against the Red Sox.

Key (12-5) gave up a single to Marty Barrett in the first inning and another to Larry Parrish in the eighth to beat Bruce Hurst (18-6). It was only the second loss in 15 decisions at home for Hurst. He was 7-0 in his last 8 starts.

Despite the loss, Boston’s magic number fell to 2 against New York (and Milwaukee) because the Yankees lost to the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox’s magic number against Detroit, which lost to Cleveland, is down to 1.

The Red Sox could lose their 4 remaining games and still win the division. The Brewers, who moved into second place by beating the Angels, are only 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox but must finish the season with 3 games at Oakland.

The Yankees and the Tigers, who play 3 games at Detroit this weekend, could eliminate each other. The Yankees also have a game at Baltimore tonight, and if they are still in contention after Sunday, will play a makeup game at home against Texas Monday.

Hurst pitched his usual strong game at Boston. But in the eighth inning, he walked center fielder Rob Ducey, the No. 9 batter. With one out, Ducey stole second and advanced to third when Gedman’s throw went into center field. Kelly Gruber’s fly to center scored Ducey.

Baltimore 2, New York 0--A rookie pitching just his third major league game dealt another blow to the Yankees’ pennant hopes.

Rob Milacki gave up only 3 hits, struck out 10 at Baltimore, pitched his first complete game and left the Yankees in a position where they need to win all the rest to win the division.

Four times the Yankees had a runner reach second but each time Milacki shut the door. In the sixth and eighth, Rickey Henderson got there on stolen bases.

The only run Milacki needed scored in the second inning while Craig Worthington was hitting into a double play.

Rick Schu, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, singled in the other run in the fourth, chasing Lee Guetterman (1-2).

“We knew we had to win, even after we knew Boston lost,” said Don Mattingly, who had one of the hits for the Yankees. “It didn’t change anything. I don’t think we were pressing any more after we heard Boston lost. We were pushing to win all night.”

Yankee Manager Lou Piniella praised Milacki.

“What can I say?” Piniella said. “The story of tonight was Baltimore’s pitcher pitched an outstanding ballgame. You just have to give the young man credit.”

Milacki has given up just 2 earned runs in 25 innings.

“I was just trying to do my job,” Milacki said.

Cleveland 4, Detroit 2--The Tigers, on the verge of saying, “Wait till next year,” may not soon forget how they blew a chance to win in 1988.

Greg Swindell (18-14) held them to 5 hits and an unearned run in 8 innings and the Indians broke it open with three in the bottom of the eighth at Cleveland. The best the Tigers can do is tie for the title.

“We had a chance to win the East and pretty well gave it away,” said Walt Terrell (7-16), the losing pitcher. “The last couple of days (both losses) really killed us.”

Oakland 5, Minnesota 2--At Minnesota, Todd Burns pitched a 6-hitter through 7 innings, and Dennis Eckersley pitched a scoreless ninth for his 45th save to end the Twins’ 5-game winning streak.

The Athletics improved their record, best in the majors, to 101-57.

St. Louis 2, Pittsburgh 1--Joe Magrane pitched an 8-hitter at Pittsburgh to improve his record to 5-9 and take over the National League’s earned-run average lead with 2.14. Either David Cone of the Mets or John Tudor of the Dodgers could beat out the young left-hander by pitching a shutout Friday night.

Pedro Guerrero hit his ninth homer for the Cardinals, who are 14-2 in games in which Guerrero has driven in a run.

Philadelphia 9, New York 3--It was supposed to be just a tuneup for the NL championship series against the Dodgers, but Met pitcher Dwight Gooden wasn’t in tune at Philadelphia.

The Phillies hammered him like a batting practice pitcher, getting 7 runs and 10 hits in 5 innings.

Darryl Strawberry hit his 37th homer for the Mets.

Atlanta 4, Houston 3--Pinch-hitter Andres Thomas singled home Dion James from second with one out in the 17th inning at Atlanta to break up the marathon.

Atlanta tied the score in the sixth when Ozzie Virgil singled in a run. The pitchers then took charge for the next 10 innings.

Chicago 3, Montreal 1--Greg Maddux had a 15-3 record going into the All-Star break. He pitched a 7-hitter at Montreal for only his 18th victory.