American League Roundup : Sax Foils Red Sox Strategy as Yankees Prevail in 11th

The Yankees’ Deion Sanders still can’t figure out why Boston chose to walk him intentionally to get to Steve Sax, but he’s pleased that the Red Sox did.

Batting .154 since being recalled from double-A eight days ago, Sanders was walked by reliever Bob Stanley, allowing .307-hitting Steve Sax to bat instead.

With two out in the bottom of the 11th inning Thursday night, Sax grounded a run-scoring single past diving shortstop Jody Reed, giving the Yankees an 8-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox in New York.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Sanders said. “Walk me to get to a .300 hitter? I wouldn’t have done it. But I’m glad they did.”

Sax, who went 3 for 6, said: “I didn’t immediately give it much thought, but then it hit me--How could they walk a guy with so little experience to get to me. It kind of psyched me up.”

Jesse Barfield, Mike Pagliarulo and Mel Hall each hit a solo homer for New York. Dwight Evans hit his ninth and Wade Boggs his second for Boston.

Texas 11, Chicago 7--Nolan Ryan gave up four home runs in a game for the first time in his career, yet still pitched the Rangers past the White Sox at Arlington, Tex.

Ryan allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked one. He set a club record by retiring 26 consecutive batters over two games. Ivan Calderon’s homer in the second inning broke Ryan’s string.

Ruben Sierra supported Ryan with four hits, including two home runs and five runs batted in.

Chicago got two home runs from Harold Baines and another from Ron Kittle.

Milwaukee 6, Baltimore 2--Glenn Braggs had three hits, and six Brewers drove in runs at Baltimore en route to victory over the first-place Orioles.

The Brewers rallied from a 2-1 deficit with runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings before Braggs drove home Jim Gantner with a single in the seventh. Rob Deer added a run-scoring single to give Milwaukee a four-run cushion.