American League Roundup : Yankees Beat A’s, 5-1, for Ninth Victory in Row

It’s too late for the New York Yankees to make a move in the American League East, but look at the fun they’re having.

And their improved play has assured Manager Bucky Dent’s return as manager next spring.

Friday night, they extended their winning streak to nine games and prevented Dave Stewart from becoming the first 20-game winner in the majors this season.

The Yankees jumped on Stewart (19-9) early and went on to beat the Athletics, 5-1, Friday night in Oakland.

The loss cut the Athletics’ lead in the West to 3 1/2 games over Kansas City and five over the Angels.

With both the Eastern leaders losing, the late surge has now moved the Yankees within 11 1/2 games of first place in their division. The problem is, they are running out of games, with only 19 left.

Mel Hall hit a two-run home run to lead the Yankee attack. It was Hall’s fifth home run in the last 11 games.

Dale Mohorcic worked out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the fifth inning and went on to gain the victory.

A week or so ago, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner said he probably brought up Dent before he was ready to manage in the majors. The winning streak changed his mind, and Dent is now signed through the 1990 season. With Steinbrenner, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will manage the Yankees all of that time.

Kansas City 6, Minnesota 0--George Brett has spent a considerable portion of his 16 seasons on the disabled list.

Otherwise, the Royals’ star would have already reached the magic 3,000 mark in hits. Instead, his run-scoring single in the third inning at Kansas City was only No. 2,500. It is a feat already accomplished by 64 previous major league hitters.

“I remember my first hit,” said Brett, 36. “It was May 3, 1973, against Stan Bahnsen--a single up the middle.

“I feel good physically. If I can play another three or four years and avoid injuries, I could reach 3,000.”

Mark Gubicza (15-10) did a little celebrating, too. Just before taking the mound, the talented right-hander signed a three-year contract.

Gubicza is as hot as any pitcher in the league. He gave up five hits in seven innings to win for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. In the last 36 innings, he has given up only one earned run.

Gubicza leads the majors with 244 innings and leads the league with 33 starts.

Bo Jackson hit his 31st home run, and Danny Tartabull had a home run and a double.

Texas 3, Baltimore 1--The Rangers turned on their chief tormentors with power at Arlington, Tex., and prevented the Orioles from moving closer to first place in the East.

Ruben Sierra tagged Dave Johnson for a two-run home run in the first inning, and the Rangers went on to beat the Orioles for just the second time in 10 games this season. It was Sierra’s 26th home run.

In the eighth inning, with the Rangers holding only a one-run lead, Pete Incaviglia hit his 17th homer off Ben McDonald, the No. 1 pick in the June draft.

Kevin Brown (12-9) got the victory but had to leave because of a shoulder injury with two out in the seventh inning.

In his previous four starts, Brown, a candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors, was 0-3 with an earned-run average of 10.29.

Cleveland 5, Toronto 4--It was only the second loss in 11 games for the leaders of the East, and it took a hit that seemed to have eyes to do it at Cleveland.

Pete O’Brien drove in the winning run with a single that threaded through the infield just out of the reach of first baseman Fred McGriff and second baseman Nelson Liriano.

“I prefer to think of it as a rope,” O’Brien said.

Both teams were bothered by tiny flying insects throughout the game.

“It was terrible,” Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said. “Mookie (Wilson) got one in his eyes on a flyball. But we didn’t lose because of the bugs.”

George Bell’s 17th home run, off reliever Jesse Orosco in the top of the eighth, tied it at 4-4.

Detroit 7, Chicago 5--The Tigers had not won seven in a row since 1984, but when Mike Brumley drove in two runs with a single to snap a 2-2 tie at Detroit, the Tigers were on their way.

Although Jack Morris (5-11) gave up 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings, including three home runs, he was the winner. One of the home runs was by Ozzie Guillen, who had gone 1,144 at-bats since his previous home run.

The game was delayed 43 minutes by rain in the Detroit fifth.

Milwaukee 7, Seattle 3--Paul Molitor had three doubles for the third time, and the Brewers handed the Mariners their ninth loss in a row at home. Molitor scored two runs and drove in the first Milwaukee run.

The Mariners have lost 18 of their last 22 games.

Rookie Jaime Navarro (5-7), beaten in his previous four starts, gave up 10 hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings but was the winner.