American League Roundup : Jackson’s 7th Homer Helps Beat Yankees, 5-3

Bo Jackson is beginning to reach his potential in baseball, thus becoming a rarity--an athlete starring in two professional sports at the same time.

There was never a doubt that Jackson would be an outstanding running back in the National Football League. There were some doubts whether he could hit major league pitching.

Between strikeouts in his first couple of seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Jackson showed amazing power.

Jackson hit his seventh home in his 19th game this season to help the Royals beat the New York Yankees, 5-3, Tuesday night at Kansas City. Jackson, who has hit four home runs in the last six games, has led the Royals to four victories in a row.

Bret Saberhagen, off to a rocky start, allowed nine hits, but only two earned runs and improved his record to 2-2.

John Candelaria (2-2) retired the first 10 Royals, striking out Jackson. But, the 11th batter Candelaria faced, Kevin Seitzer, hit his first home run since last July. Jackson led off the fifth with an opposite-field home run. Two outs later, three consecutive singles put the Royals ahead to stay.

“I’m surprised that one went out,” Jackson said. “I was just reaching out to make contact and I really didn’t think it would go out.”

The Yankees built a 2-0 lead, but it should have been at least 3-0. In the fourth inning, already ahead on Don Mattingly’s run-scoring double, Ken Phelps and Mel Hall singled with one out. Don Slaught ripped a drive into the left-field corner. Phelps scored easily, but Hall pulled up lame three strides past third, fell twice trying to score and was tagged out.

Steve Sax had an inside-the-park homer for the Yankees.

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Boston 11, Chicago 0--In recent appearances against the White Sox, Roger Clemens had been nothing special. In fact, they had beaten the Red Sox fireballer five times in a row.

In this game at Boston, the White Sox saw the real Roger Clemens. Clemens gave up three singles and struck out 11.

Clemens, after a sour start, is now 3-0 and his earned-run average has dropped to 1.89.

Jim Rice, Ellis Burke and Rich Gedman hit home runs to give the right-hander all the help he needed.

“He hasn’t pitched poorly against the White Sox,” Gedman said. “We just didn’t get him runs.”

Texas 11, Cleveland 7--The Indians have been having a tough time scoring runs and when they finally score seven at Cleveland, it isn’t enough.

Steve Buechele and Pete Incaviglia sparked a 19-hit attack that overwhelmed the Indians and enabled Bobby Witt, despite a poor performance, to win his third in a row.

Buechele drove in four runs with a single, double and triple, while Incaviglia had four hits.

The Rangers broke it open in the five-run fifth. Buechele and Incaviglia each drove in two runs in the inning to give the Rangers an 11-5 lead.

Witt staggered through five innings, giving up seven hits, five walks and seven runs. Brad Arnsberg pitched four scoreless innings to save it.

Oakland 3, Toronto 1--Who needs Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire? For the time being, at least, the Athletics don’t.

Shortly after learning that Canseco may need surgery on his wrist and probably won’t play until after the All-Star Game, the A’s won their seventh in a row.

Storm Davis struck out a career-high nine and Carney Lansford drove in two runs.

Davis settled down after Lloyd Moseby opened the game with a home run. He went seven innings. Dennis Eckersley struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save.

Detroit 5, Seattle 2--At 35 and with 17 seasons in the American League, Frank Tanana was beginning to wonder if it wasn’t time to think about trying a new profession.

Going into this game at Detroit, the veteran left-hander had not won a game since last Aug. 21. He had lost seven in a row, including three this season and he had 11 consecutive winless starts.

Tanana, once a fireballer with the Angels, straightened himself out by holding the heavy-hitting young Mariners to six hits in eight innings, ending his losing streak.

Matt Nokes hit a home run into the upper deck in right after singles by Alan Trammell and Fred Lynn in the sixth to break open the game.

Milwaukee 10, Minnesota 4--The Brewers wanted to make Bryan Clutterbuck, in his first start in the majors since 1986, feel comfortable.

Glenn Braggs and Paul Molitor each hit two home runs and Clutterbuck, recovered from arm surgery, pitched a seven-hitter for his first victory.

Clutterbuck was in 20 games for the Brewers in relief, then underwent surgery. He was 9-3 at Denver last season.

The 29-year-old right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced. He gave up two runs in the ninth, but staggered to the finish.