American League Roundup : Fisk Gets 2,000th Hit as White Sox Win Again

Getting his 2,000th career hit didn’t mean that much to Carlton Fisk. Getting in position to get it did, though.

Fisk singled in the first inning for hit No. 2,000 and added a double in the sixth inning and a run-scoring single in the seventh Monday night at Chicago to lead the White Sox past the New York Yankees, 7-3.

“It wasn’t the one hit,” Fisk said. “It was the culmination of 17 years of hard work.”

Fisk was pleased he reached the plateau in a positive manner as the White Sox, last in the West, extended their winning streak to five games, their longest since April, 1988.

“It really means something when you’re winning,” Fisk said. “In the first half, we didn’t do a lot of things well at the right time.”

Fisk became the 173rd player and the 12th active player to reach 2,000. His single was his 1,878th as a catcher, the most ever. Ted Simmons is second with 1,772.

Detroit 2, Oakland 1--Chet Lemon singled in the winning run in the ninth inning, and Paul Gibson and Mike Henneman combined on a four-hitter at Detroit as the Tigers prevented the Athletics from moving into first place in the West.

Lou Whitaker led off the ninth with a single off loser Gene Nelson (2-4), who had relieved Curt Young to start the seventh. After Rick Honeycutt replaced Nelson, Alan Trammell sacrificed and Tracy Jones was intentionally walked. Lemon then lined a single to right and Whitaker scored, beating Jose Canseco’s throw.

Henneman (6-2) held the Athletics hitless over the final two innings after Gibson, pitching on three days’ rest, gave up four hits over the first seven innings. Detroit has two consecutive victories after losing 10 in a row.

The Athletics are 54-39 and have a .581 winning percentage. The Angels, who lost a doubleheader at Toronto, are 53-38 with a .582 percentage.

Minnesota 5, Cleveland 2--Kent Hrbek’s three-run homer capped a four-run rally in the eighth inning to give the Twins the victory at Minneapolis.

Doug Jones (3-4) came out of the bullpen to start the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead. With one out, Al Newman, Randy Bush and Kirby Puckett singled to tie the score. Hrbek then hit the first pitch for his 11th homer of the season.

Jones entered the game with a streak of 18 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in his last 12 appearances.

Juan Berenguer (6-3) gave up only two hits in five innings to earn the victory in relief of rookie Mike Dyer, who was making his third major league start.

Indian starter Tom Candiotti, who came off the 15-day disabled list before the game, retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced in six innings of work.

Kansas City 3, Milwaukee 2--Rookie relief ace Tom Gordon won his seventh consecutive decision and matched his season high with 10 strikeouts at Kansas City as the Royals handed the Brewers their fifth consecutive loss.

Gordon (11-2) gave up six hits and walked none in eight-plus innings as he made his first start since last Sept. 27 after being called up from triple-A Omaha. He faltered in the ninth, hitting a batter and giving up three hits, including a two-run single by Robin Yount.

Jeff Montgomery entered the game with runners on first and second and none out. He struck out Rob Deer and got Greg Brock and Terry Francona to ground out.

Baltimore 8, Seattle 4--Pete Harnisch struggled and needed relief help, but he finally won his first major league game as the East-leading Orioles won their fourth in a row at Baltimore.

Harnisch (1-2) gave up eight hits, walked six and struck out only one in 8 1/3 innings. It was his seventh big league appearance and his sixth start. He did not retire the side in order in the first seven innings. Mark Williamson finished up after the Mariners scored twice in the ninth.

Texas 12, Boston 6--Pete Incaviglia drove in a career-high five runs, including a first-inning grand slam for his third homer in two games to lead the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

With two out and none on in the first, Rafael Palmeiro singled, Ruben Sierra doubled and Wes Gardner walked Julio Franco intentionally. Incaviglia hit the first pitch for his ninth homer and third career grand slam. It was the first grand slam for Texas this season and Incaviglia’s first hit in 12 career at-bats against Gardner.

Cecilio Guante (5-4) pitched four innings of one-hit relief. Gardner (2-5) gave up seven hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.