AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Stewart Works Extra to Increase A’s Lead

Many people have marveled at the way the Chicago White Sox have stayed in the race with the World Series champion Oakland Athletics.

Actually, the White Sox have not produced as much of a threat as the Angels did a year ago. At this point in 1989, the Angels were in first place in the American League West, 1 1/2 games ahead.

After 105 games this season, the Athletics have pulled four games ahead of the White Sox.

It took a strong performance by Dave Stewart to beat the Seattle Mariners Wednesday at Oakland. Locked in a duel with Erik Hanson, Stewart (14-8) had to go 11 innings to win it, 1-0.

Hansen held the Athletics to one hit in nine innings and left after 10 with 11 strikeouts. The A’s got three singles off reliever Mike Schooler with one out in the 11th to win it. Pinch-hitter Doug Jennings singled home Lance Blankenship from second with the winning run.

Stewart, on his way to his fourth consecutive 20-victory season, gave up five hits for his second strong performance in a row.

It was Stewart’s third shutout and he is 2-1 in games in which he has pitched more than nine innings.

Boston 9, Chicago 5--Wade Boggs had his second three-hit game in a row at Boston and Tom Bolton improved his record to 5-1 with a solid eight innings.

Tom Brunansky had a home run and drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who handed the White Sox their fourth defeat in a row.

Boggs is 11 for 19 in the past four games and is doing his part to keep the Red Sox in a tie for first in the East.

Toronto 7, Baltimore 4--Kelly Gruber broke a seventh-inning tie with a two-run double and Dave Stieb maintained his perfect record on the road.

Stieb (14-3) survived a four-run first inning in which he walked three to improve to 7-0 away from home.

The Blue Jays remained tied for first with the Red Sox, but the Orioles dropped five games behind.

Texas 8, Milwaukee 2--The Brewers would just as soon face some younger pitchers--guys 40 and over are simply too tough.

After Nolan Ryan, 43, beat them Tuesday night, it was Charlie Hough’s turn at Milwaukee. Hough (8-7), a mere 40, gave up four hits in eight innings to gain an easy victory.

Dave Parker, who had one of the six hits off Ryan, was hitless against Hough.

“I’d rather face Ryan,” Parker said. “At least you have some idea of what his ball is going to do. Even Charlie doesn’t know what the hell the knuckler is going to do.”

Cleveland 4, Kansas City 1--Rookie Alex Cole set an Indian record when he stole five bases at Cleveland.

Cole, a center fielder acquired from the Padres’ system, singled twice, walked and was hit by a pitch. He stole second and third after the walk in the first and second the other three times he reached base.

Kansas City starter Mark Davis (1-7) gave up four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings, his longest outing in more than three years.

Detroit 15, New York 4--The Yankees had won four in a row and George Steinbrenner, soon to be out as owner, sent word through Manager Stump Merrill that he was proud of them.

The Tigers hit three home runs and made it easy for Jack Morris (9-13), who gave up seven hits in seven innings. Andy Hawkins (2-9) didn’t make it through the third inning at New York.