American League Roundup : A’s Score 10 in 5th, Win, 19-5

The Oakland Athletics apparently are healthy and ready to take charge of the American League West.

They all but destroyed the pitiful Yankees Tuesday night at New York. Jose Canseco hit two tape-measure home runs, the Athletics scored 10 runs in the fifth inning and routed the Yankees, 19-5. In the process, they increased their lead to three games.

It was the 11th loss for the Yankees in 13 games since Bucky Dent replaced Dallas Green as manager. There were chants of “George Must Go,” directed against Yankee owner George Steinbrenner from the crowd of 27,751.

Although he gave up three runs in the first inning, Storm Davis became the fourth Oakland pitcher to win 15 games this season. Previously, Mike Moore, Bob Welch and Dave Stewart won 15.

Canseco, who missed the first half of the season because of a broken wrist, also had two singles. He has nine home runs in 39 games this season.

It was a 3-3 game when Rickey Henderson led off the fifth inning with a single. And when it was over the A’s had tied a club record for most runs in an inning and had a 13-3 lead. Canseco capped the outburst with his second long home run. Earlier in the inning, he singled.

In the third inning, Canseco hit a drive over the second fence in left-center to tie the game. The drive in the fifth landed in the Monument Park area in center. Both were hit well over 400 feet.

“We don’t feel sorry for the Yankees,” Canseco said. “We’re in a pennant race.”

The Yankees are 58-76. They have not been 18 games below .500 this late in the season since 1925.

“You can see what Jose is capable of doing when his wrist feels good and he feels strong,” A’s Manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s had some good swings lately. I’ll tell you one thing, we are a much different team with Canseco in there. Especially when he’s healthy.”

Cleveland 3, Baltimore 1--No matter how well he pitches, Pete Harnisch has been unable to win on the road.

Harnisch held the Indians to seven hits and a run through eight innings at Cleveland.

But, when Brad Komminsk hit his fourth home run of the season with one out and one on in the ninth, Harnisch (3-8) fell to 0-10 lifetime on the road.

The Orioles, whose lead in the East was cut to a game over Toronto, were held to four hits in seven innings by Tom Candiotti, but they tied it in the eighth on Joe Orsulak’s two-out single.

Although he didn’t get a decision, Candiotti continued his superb pitching. He is 5-0 in nine starts with an ERA of 1.36 since coming off the disabled list.

Toronto 3, Chicago 2--Although Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants is getting most of the accolades for hitting home runs this year, Fred McGriff, in only his third season as the Blue Jays’ first baseman, is doing pretty well, too.

McGriff’s second home run of the game and 35th of the season, broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning at Toronto. That’s one more than he hit all last season and enabled the Blue Jays to keep the pressure on Baltimore.

In the fifth inning, George Bell extended his hitting streak to 20 games with his 15th home run and McGriff followed with his 34th to tie the game.

McGriff and Bell have led the offense and Tom Henke has provided the bullpen strength that has moved the Blue Jays to within a game of the lead.

Seattle 5, Milwaukee 3--Rookie Erik Hanson returned from the minors just in time to put an end to the Mariners’ 12-game losing streak at Milwaukee.

Hanson, sent down earlier, was recalled Saturday from Calgary of the Coast League. Hanson had a two-hit shutout until the ninth.

But an infield hit, a walk and Robin Yount’s 16th home run not only spoiled the shutout, it brought Mike Schooler in to get the final out.

Kansas City 12, Detroit 8--Kurt Stillwell drove in three runs and had three hits at Kansas City to lead the 17-hit attack against the Tigers.

It was the 10th loss in a row for Detroit and kept the Royals four games back in the West.

Texas 4, Minnesota 2--Geno Petralli’s single broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning at Minneapolis and the Rangers ended the Twins’ six-game winning streak. Jeff Russell pitched the last two innings for the Rangers to get his 30th save.