American League Roundup : Mets’ Connection Again Sparks Blue Jays

Ever since the Toronto Blue Jays established their connection with the New York Mets, they have been playing pennant-winning baseball.

When Lee Mazzilli and Mookie Wilson joined the Blue Jays Aug. 2, the Blue Jays had a 52-54 record and were fourth in the American League East.

Both outfielders have helped the Blue Jays forge into the lead. Since Mazzilli was signed as a free agent and Wilson obtained in a deal for relief pitcher Jeff Musselman, the Blue Jays are 28-10.

Wilson, given a rest Sunday at Cleveland after going all the way in Saturday night’s 16-inning marathon, has hit .333 and sparked many rallies. Mazzilli, used sparingly, is a standout pinch-hitter.

Mazzilli’s pinch single through the left side of the infield in the 10th inning Sunday gave Toronto a 5-4 victory. Their second extra-inning win in less than 24 hours and their 11th win in the last 13 games enabled the Blue Jays to increase their lead to 2 1/2 games.

Mazzilli, who homered as a pinch-hitter in the 5 1/2-hour game Saturday, has three hits in five at-bats as a pinch-hitter with four runs batted in.

Jim Acker, about the only relief pitcher who didn’t see action in the marathon, struck out five Indians in three innings to snap a long losing streak.

It was a banner day for the 30-year-old relief pitcher. A 14-game losing streak that began almost two years ago finally ended.

All but one of the losses were with Atlanta.

“It’s hard for a middle reliever to win on a team that almost never wins,” Acker said.

Oakland 6, New York 2--Dave Parker hit his 20th homer and drove in two runs at Oakland to help Storm Davis win his 17th game.

It is the eighth season that Parker, a key figure in the Athletics’ bid for a second consecutive title in the West, has hit at least 20 home runs.

Davis had never won more than 16. He gave up six hits in six innings to win for the eighth time in his last nine starts. His only lapse was in the fifth inning when Jesse Barfield and Roberto Kelly hit back-to-back homers.

By that time he already had three runs and it was enough to enable the Athletics to increase their lead to 4 1/2 games over Kansas City.

Texas 8, Baltimore 1--The Orioles lost all chance in the first inning at Arlington, Tex.

Mike Stanley hit a three-run double and the Rangers scored six runs in their first at-bat to make it easy for Jamie Moyer (4-6).

Moyer gave up a home run to Phil Bradley, the second batter he faced, but was never in serious trouble after that. In just his second start after missing three months with a shoulder injury, Moyer went the distance, giving up only six hits.

The Rangers knocked out Dave Schmidt (10-13) and sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning.

The defeat dropped the Orioles 2 1/2 games behind Toronto in the East.

Minnesota 8, Kansas City 2--Bo Jackson continued his impressive hitting at Kansas City, but his teammates couldn’t solve Allan Anderson (15-10) and dropped 4 1/2 games back in the West.

Jackson had three hits in four at-bats, including a double, and scored both Royal runs. In the last four games, Jackson has seven hits in 13 at-bats, including two home runs, and has driven in six runs.

Anderson, who missed two starts because of the flu and a back problem, lasted only three innings in his previous start. But he went six innings, giving up a run on eight hits and striking out five.

Milwaukee 7, Seattle 1--Mark Knudson, given a chance to start now that Teddy Higuera is out for the season, made the most of his opportunity in Seattle against the Mariners.

Knudson (6-5) pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game to give the Brewers a sweep of the three-game series. The Mariners have lost 11 in a row at home and 20 of their last 24.

The Seattle hits were a bunt by Omar Vizquel in the third and a single by Ken Griffey Jr. in the seventh.

Detroit 6, Chicago 5--A relief pitcher got another undeserved victory in this game at Detroit.

Mike Henneman (10-4) was sent in to keep the game tied in the top of the ninth. He didn’t do it, giving up two runs.

But he became the winner when White Sox reliever Bobby Thigpen couldn’t hold the lead.