AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Welch, Athletics Stop Red Sox Again, 10-0

If this was a preview of the American League Championship Series, it doesn’t figure to be much of a contest.

The Oakland Athletics completed a three-game sweep Wednesday night at Boston with another overwhelming combination of hitting and pitching.

While Jose Canseco rested a sore knee, Mark McGwire hit a two-run homer and a two-run double in a 10-0 romp for Bob Welch, who became the major leagues’ first 23-game winner.

Welch (23-5) gave up five hits in eight innings and the A’s pounded 15 hits, two of them by Canseco’s replacement, Doug Jennings, one of which was a home run.

The A’s outscored the leaders of the East, 25-7, in the three games.

The loss cut the Red Sox lead over Toronto to 5 1/2 games, but that wasn’t all the bad news for Boston.

The Red Sox’s pennant hopes may be in deep trouble. Roger Clemens, after losing Tuesday night’s game, reported a sore shoulder. He is due to undergo further tests today. It seems certain he will miss at least one start.

“Right now all I know is that his shoulder is very sore,” Red Sox team physician Dr. Arthur Pappas, an orthopedic specialist, told a news conference. “It will probably be Friday before I’ll have much information.

“There is pain and swelling in the front part of the shoulder. The problem in July was in the back part of the shoulder. This is entirely different. Roger was too sensitive today and I felt it was more important that he rest today.”

Clearly, the Athletics felt the need to give the Red Sox the message they are expecting to repeat as pennant winners and World Series champions.

They had not been playing particularly well when they arrived in Boston, having won six of 11. They were breaking in two new players, center fielder Willie McGee and designated hitter Harold Baines.

They were trying to adjust to the loss of two key players, center fielder Dave Henderson and shortstop Walt Weiss, both injured. Furthermore, Canseco, bothered with an assortment of injuries, is in a lengthy slump.

But, from the time they scored five runs in the first inning of Monday night’s opener, they let the baseball world know they are ready for the stretch drive and the playoffs.

McGwire, who singled home two runs to start the opening rally Monday, has hovered around .220 all season. In the series he was five for 11, scored four runs and drove in seven.

Although the slugging first baseman from USC is batting only .228, he has scored 71 runs, hit 34 home runs and driven in 94 runs.

“I think the Red Sox got a message by being swept,” said outfielder Rickey Henderson, who triggered several rallies during the series.

Despite the sweep, the Athletics didn’t gain any ground. They remained 6 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox, who swept Kansas City.

“We’re not in the postseason yet,” Manager Tony La Russa of the A’s said. “We’ve been on the other side of a sweep here, so we’re not too cocky.”

Chicago 3, Kansas City 0--Maybe the White Sox aren’t good enough to overtake the Athletics, but they do have the second-best record in the league.

Greg Hibbard (12-8) pitched a four-hitter at Chicago for his first shutout and the White Sox improved their record to 79-56.

Mel Stottlemyre Jr., making his first major league start, matched Hibbard for seven innings, giving up only a single by Dan Pasqua in the second inning.

But Steve Farr (10-6) took over in the eighth and loaded the bases on walks. Robin Ventura singled home two runs, breaking the scoreless tie.

Toronto 7, Detroit 3--After two defeats at Detroit, the Blue Jays finally found their home run punch and avoided a sweep.

Rance Mulliniks and Fred McGriff hit home runs to offset the 44th home run by Tiger slugger Cecil Fielder. Fielder leads the majors in home runs and runs batted in with 114. Earlier in the game he hit a drive that was caught at the fence in right.

David Wells (10-4) lasted seven innings to get his third win over the Tigers this season.

The Blue Jays have not played with much enthusiasm since being shut out three games in a row last month by Boston. When they learn that Clemens may be out for a while, it may renew their spirit.

Milwaukee 7, Minnesota 4--Going into the bottom of the eighth at Milwaukee, it appeared the Twins were going to make it a four-game sweep over the Brewers.

But the Brewers erupted for five runs in that inning, capped by Paul Molitor’s three-run home run.

Molitor’s home run was his 11th of the season.

Texas 3, Cleveland 2--Pinch-hitter Jack Daugherty singled home the tying run and pinch-hitter Kevin Reimer doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning at Arlington, Tex.

It was the ninth loss in the last 10 games for the Indians, who took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth on Sandy Alomar’s two-run double with two out.

But Doug Jones, with a chance to get his 35th save, blew the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Seattle 9, Baltimore 5--Harold Reynolds hit his first career grand slam to break a ninth-inning tie at Baltimore to hand the Orioles their sixth defeat in a row.

Seattle had 17 hits, at least one in every inning, winning for the fifth time in six games and moving to within a win of .500.