AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Toronto Would Rather Skip All-Star Game

The Toronto Blue Jays have been excited about hosting the All-Star game since before their fabulous SkyDome was even built.

With the midseason classic just a night away, the Blue Jays approach it with mixed feelings.

On the one hand, they are feel honored that the team is host of its first All-Star game. But the players are not looking forward to the three-day layoff.

The Blue Jays are hot. They have the biggest lead of any division leader--at 5 1/2 games in the American League East. They don’t want to lose their momentum.

Juan Guzman held the Mariners to three hits in eight innings Sunday at Seattle and John Olerud hit another home run as the Blue Jays swept the three-game series with a 5-2 victory.

Olerud, who took over the first base job as a 21-year-old last season, has had a disappointing start in his second year. He seems to be coming around.

He hit a home run in the 10th inning Saturday night to win the game and came right back with a two-run homer in the second inning to get Toronto off in front.

The Blue Jays have won eight of nine and 15 of 18 to pull away from the Red Sox.

“We’re just playing great baseball,” Manager Cito Gaston of the Blue Jays said. “We’re getting some great pitching and we’re getting some key hits. This is no time to be taking three days off.

“But I don’t think it will really bother us. We have been playing steady baseball. A few days off shouldn’t change that.”

Olerud’s home runs were his only hits in 10 at-bats in the series.

“I haven’t hit the way I should,” he said, “but it feels good to make a contribution.

“We have many ways to beat a club. We can do it with our pitching and we can do it with our bats. We are a tough team to beat.”

Kansas City 7, Oakland 5--After hitting three home runs in defeat Saturday night, Danny Tartabull hit one in this game at Kansas City, but it came in a winning effort.

The slugging outfielder goes into his first All-Star came with a hot bat. In the last week he was nine for 27 with six home runs and 10 runs batted in.

George Brett had two hits and drove in two runs as the Royals ended their eight-game home losing streak.

Tartabull has 20 home runs. “I’m excited about the All-Star game. It’s an honor,” he said. “I just hope I can stay hot.”

At least, Tuesday night, Tony La Russa, who will manage the American League team, will have Tartabull on his side.

“It would be nice if he hit a couple for me,” La Russa said. “I didn’t enjoy the ones he hit this weekend.”

Dave Stewart, who pitched a three-hit shutout Wednesday, was pounded. He gave up three runs in the first inning. In 6 1/3 innings, he gave up seven runs and six hits.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 3--At the halfway point of the season, it is obvious the American League West is in for a terrific race.

There are five teams that figure they have an excellent chance to win it.

After an early-season slump, the White Sox have moved into a challenging position.

Dan Pasqua hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning at Chicago and the White Sox moved to within 2 1/2 games of first place.

The White Sox, who hit only 36 home runs in their first 58 games, have hit 17 in the past 22.

“We were a little disappointed in the first half,” Manager Jeff Torborg said. “But we must have done some things right.”

Detroit 7, Boston 6--Bill Gullickson won for the sixth time in his past seven starts as the Tigers took a 5-0 lead and held on at Boston.

Wade Boggs got his fourth hit and third double of the game to start the ninth inning, but John Cerutti retired the side without letting him score the tying run.

In the last three games, Boggs was nine for 12 and scored eight runs. He raised his average to .324.

Baltimore 5, New York 3--The Yankees had a chance to pull up to the .500 mark before the All-Star break with a win at New York

The Orioles’ Jeff Ballard and Mike Devereaux spoiled their plans.

Ballard (5-9) pitched a strong seven innings and Devereaux hit a two-run home run in the second inning to get Ballard in front.

Mike Flanagan pitched a scoreless eighth and Gregg Olson, although he gave up a run, picked up his 17th save in 21 chances.

Despite the victory, the Orioles are 33-47, the fifth-worst record they have ever had at the break.

Milwaukee 10, Cleveland 6--Dante Bichette drove in five runs at Cleveland on two hits he didn’t expect to get.

He blooped a two-out, two-run single in the seventh on a ball he figured would be caught by Indian second baseman Mark Lewis. It fell in and tied the game.

In the ninth, Bichette came up with two on and ricocheted a drive off the foul pole in left. He stood at the plate, thinking it would curve foul.

The Indians overcame a 4-0 deficit and were leading, 6-4, but couldn’t give Mike Hargrove his second win as manager.