AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Harper’s Hit Carries Twins Over A’s, 6-5

Until recently, one of the best kept secrets in baseball, was Brian Harper, the one-time San Pedro High star.

Once a jack-of-all-trades, Harper has settled in as the No. 1 catcher of the Minnesota Twins and has become one of the best hitters in the American League.

Harper, after extending his hitting streak to 19 games with a first-inning single, singled in a run in the 10th inning at Minneapolis Sunday to give the Twins a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The hit, which came with the bases loaded and scored Al Newman, who led off the inning with a double, wasn’t just an ordinary single. The ball hit near the top of the center-field fence.

The A’s Rickey Henderson’s 20th home run tied the game in the ninth. In the first inning, Jose Canseco, who sprained his right shoulder Saturday night and could only be used as a designated hitter, hit his 32nd homer.

The Twins won three of four from the Athletics to slow their drive to another Western Division title. Harper’s game-winning hit gave him a .400 average for the series (six for 15). He scored four runs and drove in four.

Drafted by the Angels, Harper was only 19 when he made a couple of appearances for them in 1979.

A catcher in high school, baseball people didn’t think he could make the majors in that position. Over the next ten years, he was tried as a pitcher, first baseman, third baseman and outfielder. He had brief shots with Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Detroit and Oakland.

In 1988, the Twins signed him for their triple-A club at Portland. When he was hitting .353 and had 13 home runs in 170 at-bats, they brought him up.

Last season the Twins tried him at first, third and the outfield in addition to behind the plate. When he batted .325 in 385 at-bats they decided they could find a place for him.

“I’m just happy to get a chance to play every day,” said Harper, who will be 31 in October.

Canseco’s 32nd homer tied Cecil Fielder of Detroit for the major league lead.

Earlier in the day, the Athletics optioned Canseco’s brother, Ozzie, to Huntsville of the Southern League. Ozzie Canseco, who struck out out in 10 of his 19 at-bats, was hitting only .105.

Boston 13, Detroit 3--The Red Sox set a league record with 12 doubles at Detroit. Wade Boggs had three and drove in four runs.

The major league record of 13 was set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931.

The Red Sox, fighting a deep slump, are just one game out of first in the East.

Milwaukee 9, Chicago 8--After a 40-minute rain delay at Chicago, the Brewers scored three times in the 11th, two of the runs scoring on a single by Greg Brock.

The White Sox battled back with Steve Lyons and Scott Fletcher driving in runs. But with one out and the potential tying run on first, the seventh Brewer pitcher, Tom Edens, got Sammy Sosa on strikes and Ozzie Guillen on a grounder.

New York 8-4, Cleveland 5-3--In the Yankees doubleheader sweep at Cleveland, Roberto Kelly had two home runs, drove in five runs and scored three. Cleveland is seven games out of first.

In the first game, Tim Leary won for the second time in three starts after losing eight consecutive decisions. Leary (5-13) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Toronto 10, Texas 8--Fred McGriff and Manny Lee each drove in three runs at Toronto, enabling the Blue Jays to remain in first place in the East.

Toronto, which has won three of its last four, trailed 7-5 in the fourth inning but took the lead with four runs. McGriff tied the score with a two-run single and Palmeiro misplayed Pat Borders’ grounder as George Bell scored for an 8-7 lead.

John Candelaria pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up a run, but earned his first save since being acquired from the Twins.

Baltimore 4, Kansas City 1--John Mitchell held George Brett hitless and gave up just four hits in 7 1/3 innings at Kansas City . Gregg Olson pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save.