American League Roundup : Yankees Don’t Need Break After Beating Tigers

The New York Yankees may not want to see the All-Star break. After struggling for half a season, they seem finally ready to make a run at the Baltimore Orioles.

Until recently, the Yankees have had mostly rough times. There have been numerous roster changes, slumps by stars such as Don Mattingly and pitching problems.

Almost the only constant has been Steve Sax. The former Dodger, who signed with the Yankees as a free agent, has been a steady, sometimes outstanding, performer. He has done his part to keep the Yankees afloat.

Sax celebrated his selection to the American League All-Star team by hitting a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning Thursday in New York to give the Yankees a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

It was the third victory in a row for the Yankees and put them over .500 for the first time in nearly two months.

With the Orioles losing at Toronto, the New York cut Baltimore’s lead in the East to 5 1/2 games.

The woeful Tigers, who have lost four in a row, had taken their third lead of the game in the top of the inning when Lou Whitaker hit his 18th home run. But Jesse Barfield homered off Mike Henneman (5-2), an All-Star selection, to tie it again.

Mike Pagliarulo hit a bloop double to keep the rally going. A sacrifice and two intentional walks brought up Sax, a .319 hitter. Sax delivered a line drive to left field, and it was all over.

“This was one of the biggest games of the year,” Sax said. “There was something different about it. It was kind of out there for either team to grab.

“We are showing signs of being ready to make a move. While I’m honored to be selected for Tuesday’s game, it isn’t coming at a good time for us. We finally have some momentum.”

Sax, who had four hits in Wednesday’s win over the Tigers, is 14 for 28 against Detroit this season.

It was the seventh straight loss for the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

Manager Sparky Anderson, seemingly accepting the fact that this season isn’t going to get better for his cellar club, tried to be philosophical.

“When you’re losing,” he said, “things go against you and things pile up.”

Toronto 4, Baltimore 1--Fred McGriff, somewhat miffed that he wasn’t chosen for the All-Star game, took it out on the Orioles at Toronto.

McGriff hit a three-run home run, his 20th homer, off Jeff Ballard in the third inning to end the Orioles’ three-game winning streak and give Todd Stottlemyre his first victory.

Stottlemyre, who has lost four games, gave up four hits and struck out five in six innings.

Reliever Duane Ward got the last nine outs for the Blue Jays, six on strikeouts.

Oakland 3, Kansas City 1--Mike Moore, chosen for the All-Star Game for the first time, showed the Royals why he deserved the honor in the game at Oakland.

The big right-hander struck out 12 and gave up only four hits in seven innings to improve his record to 11-5. The Royals, who battered Oakland pitching for 22 runs in the previous two games, did not get a hit until two were out in the fifth.

Moore struck out Bo Jackson with two out in the sixth and fanned Bill Buckner in a similar situation in the seventh.

Mark McGwire drove in two runs for the Athletics and has 55 for the season.

Todd Burns pitched the last two innings and didn’t give up a hit. However, a walk to Jackson in the eighth led to the Royals’ only run. Burns earned his sixth save.

Boston 5, Milwaukee 4--Mike Boddicker retired the first 15 Brewers at Boston, then couldn’t get out of the sixth inning.

Glenn Braggs opened the sixth with a hit to end the string, and Boddicker (6-7) had to be bailed out by Wes Gardner after giving up two runs with just one out.

Wade Boggs went three for three for the Red Sox. He is six for eight in the last two games and has raised his average to .330.

“I’ll take the win,” Boddicker said. “I wasn’t even thinking no-hitter. I’m going to give up hits. There’s not much chance I’ll throw a no-hitter.”

Seattle 7, Minnesota 5--After going 0 for 33 in games when they trailed after seven innings, the Mariners pulled one out at Seattle.

Darnell Coles hit a two-run single off Jeff Reardon in the eighth inning, and Seattle overcame a 5-4 deficit.

Mike Jackson won it in relief and Mike Schooler earned his 20th save in 23 opportunities.

Kent Hrbek hit a three-run homer for the Twins.