A’s Win on Canseco’s 15th Homer

Jose Canseco hit the first regular-season grand slam of his career, a drive onto the roof of a restaurant beyond the center-field fence, as the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday.

The sixth-inning blast was the 15th homer of the year for Canseco, whose only other major league grand slam came against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the 1988 World Series.

Canseco, who belted a three-run shot against Toronto on Monday, broke a 1-1 tie with his first-pitch grand slam off Frank Wills (3-2). He also drove in Oakland’s first run with a fourth-inning single.

The Athletics loaded the bases on walks to Walt Weiss and Rickey Henderson and Carney Lansford’s infield single down the third-base line before Canseco’s second home run in two games.

The Blue Jays made it 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth on solo homers by Manny Lee, Junior Felix and Kelly Gruber, his second of the game and 12th of the season.

Lee hit his third homer of the year over the fence in left-center and Felix chased starter Curt Young (2-1) with his seventh homer of the year, also to left. Gruber hit the first pitch from reliever Gene Nelson into the left-field seats.

Dennis Eckersley, Oakland’s fourth pitcher, got the last three outs for his 11th save.

Toronto starter Jimmy Key didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings but aggravated an injured right hamstring covering first base on Mike Gallego’s groundout in the third. Key left the game after Henderson walked to lead off the fourth and Lansford singled.

Wills relieved and allowed Canseco’s RBI single but left fielder George Bell threw out Lansford at third. After Mark McGwire struck out, Canseco was caught stealing to end the inning.

Gruber evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth with his first homer and the Blue Jays’ first hit off Young.