AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Morris Sharp in Twins’ Victory

Jack Morris kept saying his foot injury in the All-Star game was not serious, then went out and proved it.

The 36-year-old right-hander gave up only five hits in 8 1/3 innings Saturday night at Minneapolis to pitch the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the slumping Boston Red Sox.

It was Morris’ eighth victory in nine starts and it increased the Twins’ lead in the American League West to three games over the Texas Rangers. Morris, who was 2-5 in mid-May, improved his record to 12-6 and dropped the Red Sox 8 1/2 games behind Toronto in the East.

Morris showed no effects from the foot injury that caused his premature departure from the All-Star game Tuesday night. A hot smash by Bobby Bonilla hit the veteran in the foot and he left after two innings.

“With the guys behind me, I have a whole lot of confidence to challenge the hitters,” said Morris, who was 6-14 last season with the Detroit Tigers. “I’m not going to strike everybody out. Defense is a major factor that goes unnoticed.

“The foot was no factor. It quit hurting after two days.”

The only run for the Red Sox, who have lost four in a row, came in the sixth when Luis Rivera tripled and scored on Wade Boggs’ sacrifice fly.

Rick Aguilera retired the last two batters to earn his 24th save.

Toronto 3, Texas 2--Nolan Ryan pitched the Rangers into the seventh inning at Toronto and departed with a 2-1 lead.

But with two out in the eighth, Kelly Gruber hit a two-run home run off bullpen ace Jeff Russell to give the Blue Jays their sixth win in a row. Before the home run, Russell hit John Olerud with a pitch.

The Blue Jays have won 18 of their last 21 games and are making a runaway of the Eastern Division.

Ryan, who lost a bid for another no-hitter in the eighth inning of his previous start, gave up five hits and struck out seven. Ryan, who earlier added the Blue Jays to his list of no-hit victims, was given a standing ovation by the crowd of 50,270 when he departed.

“I didn’t think Ryan had his best stuff,” said Gruber, who is still bothered by a sore right hand. “But even when he’s not at his best, he’s dominant. I welcomed the pitching change.”

Tom Henke gave up two hits in the ninth, but earned his 18th save in 18 opportunities.

Detroit 8, Kansas City 6--The Tigers moved into second place in the East when they held off the Royals at Detroit.

Mickey Tettleton hit a three-run home run and Cecil Fielder doubled in two runs to run his RBI total to 70.

The Tigers spoiled Bret Saberhagen’s return from the disabled list. The Reseda right-hander, who had won five in a row, gave up six hits in four innings.

Danny Tartabull doubled in one Kansas City run and hit his 21st home run for another.

Milwaukee 8, Chicago 2--Rick Dempsey broke a tie with a three-run home run in the fifth inning at Milwaukee and Don August beat the White Sox for the fifth time in a row.

Dempsey also had an infield hit in the sixth inning when the Brewers scored four runs.

August (7-4) gave up six hits and both runs in seven innings.

Cleveland 6, Seattle 3--The Indians pushed over four runs in the ninth inning at Seattle to end their 13-game road losing streak.

It was one of the few times the Indians came through for left-hander Greg Swindell (6-7). Swindell went the distance, pitching a four-hitter.

The Indians had not scored in 27 innings when Mark Whiten singled in a run in the seventh inning.