AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Barfield, Sanderson Lead Yankees Over Red Sox

The New York Yankees are showing signs of life and are playing their best ball in two years.

Jesse Barfield hit a three-run home run Wednesday night at New York to spark the Yankees to a 7-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox for their sixth victory in the past seven games.

Scott Sanderson, giving up four hits in seven innings, improved to 6-2.

Kevin Maas and Steve Sax also homered for the Yankees, who are getting pitchers upset as the show their power.

After Sax hit his second home run of the season, relief pitcher Dennis Lamp hit Mel Hall with the next pitch, and umpire Greg Kosc ejected him. When Red Sox Manager Joe Morgan argued, he was also tossed out.

Barfield’s home run was his ninth and the third against the Red Sox.

Sanderson stretched his scoreless streak to 12 innings.

Minnesota 9, Texas 1--The Twins spoiled the return of Nolan Ryan at Arlington, Tex.

Ryan, on the disabled list 15 days because of a strained right shoulder, gave up a three-run home run to Greg Gagne in the second inning.

That was enough for Jack Morris. The former ace of the Detroit Tigers pitched a four-hitter. He has won five of his last six decisions.

Before the injury Ryan, 44, had a no-hitter and was holding hitters to a .159 batting average.

Ryan (3-4) went four innings, giving up five runs and five hits.

Toronto 8, Oakland 3--Joe Carter hit a two-run homer and Devon White hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning at Toronto.

White had three hits and drove in three runs as the Blue Jays prevented the Athletics from gaining first place.

Jimmy Key (7-2) gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

Seattle 8, Kansas City 0--Brian Holman (5-5) pitched a four-hitter at Seattle, ending the Mariners’ seven game losing streak.

The Mariners opened the season losing six, then won eight. They also followed defeats with two six-game winning streaks.

Milwaukee 6, Detroit 2--Jaime Navarro gave up six hits at Milwaukee and pitched his third consecutive strong game, improving his record to 5-2.

Navarro had a string of 16 scoreless innings when the Tigers scored twice in the eighth.

Baltimore 2, Cleveland 1--Bob Melvin bounced a single into center to drive in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning at Baltimore, and the Orioles won a series for only the second time this season.

Cal Ripken had three hits, including a home run, as the Orioles won two of three from the Indians, who have lost 16 of the last 22.