AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mattingly Makes a Difference

It would seem that if the New York Yankees are going to climb out of the cellar in the American League East, they need Don Mattingly to return to form.

Mattingly, until he started having back problems three years ago, was generally regarded as one of the major leagues’ top players.

There are signs that he is regaining his swing.

Friday night, Mattingly hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to bring the Yankees from behind. Then Kevin Maas hit the next pitch for another home run.

A return to their old power game was enough to beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-3. The Athletics had beaten the Yankees 16 times in a row.

The speed of Rickey Henderson had given the A’s a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh. Bob Welch, who gave up 11 runs in 4 2/3 innings in his previous start, did better in this outing, except for wildness.

Welch left with one out in the seventh after giving up his sixth walk. Left-hander Joe Klink retired Steve Sax, the right-handed hitter, but the left-handers, Mattingly and Maas, did him in.

Mattingly hit a hard drive down the line and Maas hit a high drive into right-center. Mattingly also drove in the first Yankee run with a bloop single to left. Usually a slow starter, Mattingly has raised his average to .265 and has nine runs batted in.

His big contribution came a week after he groused that neither he nor Yankee management was doing enough to improve their last-place standing.

“I was especially excited about doing it against Oakland after what happened last season,” Mattingly said. “I’ve been disappointed with the way I’ve played and the way we’ve played. If I don’t do damage I’m not much help.”

Chicago 5, Toronto 3--Roberto Alomar kept wiping out the White Sox one-run leads with home runs at Toronto. But the Blue Jays couldn’t get even after Sammy Sosa hit a two-run home run in the top of the 12th.

Alomar hit his first home run in the ninth with two out to send the game into extra innings.

Then, after the White Sox went ahead, 3-2, in the 11th on a run-scoring single by Scott Fletcher, Alomar hit a one-out home run.

But, in the 12th, Carlton Fisk opened with his fourth single and Sosa hit his fifth home run, a drive to deep left.

Scott Radinsky (2-1), who gave up Alomar’s last home run, earned the victory.

Boston 5, Texas 3--Jody Reed and Mike Greenwell had clutch hits at Boston and Matt Young pitched six strong innings as the Red Sox continued their hot pace.

The Red Sox have won three in a row, six of the last seven and nine of 11. They stretched their lead in the East to 1 1/2 games.

Young (2-1) gave up two runs and eight hits and struck out eight.

Reed drove in two runs with a single in the fourth to put the Red Sox in front. Greenwell singled with the bases loaded in the eighth and Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth for his ninth save.

Kansas City 2, Milwaukee 1--Bret Saberhagen pitched a seven-hitter at Milwaukee for his 100th victory. It was the fifth loss in a row for the Brewers.

Saberhagen (3-3) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

The Brewers’ Chris Bosio hurt his back trying to field a bunt in the fourth. The Brewers have four pitchers on the disabled list.

Saberhagen is 64-25 in odd years and 36-48 in even years. He was 5-9 last season.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 2--Mike Pagliarulo had three hits and drove in two runs at Minneapolis and the Twins ended the Tigers’ four-game winning streak.

It was the second victory in a row for Mark Guthrie.

Pagliarulo is seven for 14 in his last five games and has raised his average from .179 to .243.

Seattle 3, Baltimore 1--The Mariners won their sixth in a row in this game at Seattle, but they also lost a pitcher.

Scott Bankhead’s pitching shoulder tightened up and he left in the third inning.