American League Roundup : A’s Keep Pressure On, Defeat White Sox, 4-1

Rather than get caught looking ahead, Tony La Russa took care of the matter at hand.

La Russa brought in Dennis Eckersley to nail down the Oakland Athletics’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox Thursday knowing it means he probably won’t be able to call on his relief ace tonight.

The A’s open a three-game series against the Angels tonight in Anaheim with the American League West lead on the line.

“I just pitched him twice in less than 24 hours and he was not as sharp as I would have liked,” La Russa said. “His stats speak for themselves.

“He did a good job today without good stuff. He is the best in baseball.”

Eckersley allowed no runs and two hits in 1 2/3 innings, reducing his earned-run average to 1.07 while picking up his 23rd save in 25 opportunities.

In 33 2/3 innings this season, Eckersley has allowed only four runs--three on home runs--and 18 hits, walked two and struck out 38.

“The great thing about Tony is that he uses me perfectly,” Eckersley said. “He always knows when to bring me into a game. It’s not his intention to burn me out.

“If Tony brings me in every day, I’m not going to be able to handle it. I don’t have that kind of arm, but every other day is perfect for me.”

Eckersley got his ninth save in 10 chances after Storm Davis (12-5) pitched six shutout innings, allowing six hits, walking two and striking out one to win for the ninth time in his last 13 starts.

Gene Nelson pitched 1 1/3 innings before La Russa went to Eckersley.

“Storm has done a great job and it was not a case of him getting tired,” LaRussa said. “With my bullpen so deep, I’m not afraid to rest my starters.”

Nelson was lifted after allowing a one-out double to Carlton Fisk in the eighth. Steve Lyons singled off Eckersley, sending Fisk to third, and Carlos Martinez’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Fisk to make it 2-1.

Pinch-hitter Darryl Boston also singled before Eckersley struck out Ron Karkovice to end the inning and retired the side in order in the ninth.

Rickey Henderson gave the Athletics two more runs with a single in the ninth off Donn Pall after a two-out walk to Felix Jose and a double by Mike Gallego.

Steve Rosenberg (3-8) allowed only two hits in seven innings, but both came in the fourth, when the Athletics scored their first two runs on Tony Phillips’ sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single by Gallego.

Rosenberg was upset with himself for walking Mark McGwire to start the inning.

“It led to the two runs,” he said of the four-pitch walk, “and while I gave up only two hits, you can’t throw four straight wide ones like I did to start an inning.”

Rosenberg walked five and struck out one.

Chicago had 10 hits to five for the Athletics, but White Sox Manager Jeff Torborg was upset at his team’s failure to convert its opportunities.

“We just screwed up and it cost us,” Torborg said. “But our starting pitching has been great the last month and Rosenberg gave us seven quality innings.”

Milwaukee 10, Cleveland 3--Joey Meyer drove in five runs and Robin Yount had four hits as the Brewers trounced the Indians at Cleveland.

The defeat prevented the Indians from moving to the .500 mark and closing to within two games of Baltimore in the AL East.

Ted Higuera (8-4) won his fifth straight start, giving up two runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings before leaving because of a sore left ankle.