AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Henderson Gets Mark, but Blue Jays Get Victory

Oakland’s Rickey Henderson broke Ty Cobb’s 62-year-old American League stolen base record at home Tuesday night, but the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics, 2-1, to gain their fifth consecutive victory.

Toronto’s David Wells (2-0), making his third career start, yielded two hits in six shutout innings and matched his career high with six strikeouts. Duane Ward relieved in the seventh and gave up Oakland’s run in the ninth inning when Henderson tripled and scored on Carney Lansford’s single.

Henderson’s record-setting 893rd steal came in the sixth inning. After doubling with two out, Henderson stole third base on a 2-0 pitch to Lansford. Catcher Greg Myers juggled the pitch and did not make a throw.

“I got a double and thought it was a good situation to steal in since they had been throwing Carney (Lansford, the next batter) a lot of breaking balls,” Henderson said.

Henderson broke the record in less than 11 seasons. Cobb established the mark of 892 in 24 seasons from 1905-1928. Only Lou Brock with 938 and Billy Hamilton, who had 937 playing before the turn of the century, have more career steals than Henderson.

“As far as Lou Brock--it’s hard to project (when I can break the record),” Henderson said. “But if we keep playing the way we are, then it’s possible by the end of July.”

After diving in safely, Henderson pulled up the third-base bag and held it up triumphantly as he was given a standing ovation. He blew a kiss to his mother, who was sitting by the A’s dugout.

“I gave the first one (the base when he tied the record at 892) to my mother,” Henderson said. “This one I think I’ll give to Tom Trebelhorn (the current Milwaukee Brewers manager who coached Henderson in the minors). He helped me out a lot when I was first starting out. He deserves it.”

Chicago 5, New York 4--Lance McCullers’ wild pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning allowed Lance Johnson to score from third base, giving the streaking White Sox their fourth consecutive victory.

It also made them 17-6 in Chicago, the best home record in the major leagues.

Ozzie Guillen drew a walk from Jeff Robinson (1-2) with one out in the ninth inning. Lee Guetterman relieved and Johnson forced Guillen at second. Pinch-hitter Ivan Calderon singled Johnson to third. McCullers relieved and Calderon stole second. Carlton Fisk was intentionally walked to load the bases before McCullers threw a wild pitch.

Boston 2, Texas 1--The Rangers suffered a club-record ninth consecutive home loss as Roger Clemens scattered seven hits in eight innings and Carlos Quintana doubled home the winning run with two out in the eighth.

Dwight Evans opened the inning with a single off Charlie Hough (5-3). Tony Pena, who homered in the fourth for Boston’s first run, forced Evans and Ellis Burks flied out before Quintana doubled off the top of the wall in left-center.

Kansas City 5, Detroit 3--Jim Eisenreich singled home the go-ahead run as the Royals rallied for four runs in the eighth inning. It gave Kansas City its fourth consecutive victory, its longest winning streak of the season.

The Tigers have lost nine in a row at Royals Stadium.

Baltimore 5, Minnesota 1--Randy Milligan reached base for the 10th consecutive time with the first of his two home runs--his first two-homer game in the majors--and also had a run-scoring double as the Orioles ended Minnesota’s five-game winning streak at Bloomington, Minn.

Milwaukee 5, Seattle 3--The Brewers broke a six-game losing streak when pinch-hitter Darryl Hamilton and Charlie O’Brien hit run-scoring singles in the ninth inning at Seattle. Milwaukee had dropped eight in a row on the road.