AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Saberhagen Blanks Indians on Three Hits, 2-0

Bret Saberhagen is involved in an odd situation.

The right-hander from Reseda seems only able to pitch well every other year. He’s partial to years ending in odd numbers.

This being 1991, the Kansas City ace is pitching according to form.

Saberhagen, 27, pitched a three-hitter for a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians Sunday at Cleveland.

In improving his record to 8-5, Saberhagen didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine. Not surprisingly, his last previous shutout was in 1989.

Gary Thurman drove in both runs and the Royals, winning for the 11th time in the last 14 games, moved above .500 again.

“This is the most I’ve dominated a game in two years,” Saberhagen said. “I had total command.”

Saberhagen, who won Cy Young honors in 1985 and 1989, has never had a winning season in a year ending in an even number in a career that began in 1984. Last season, with an elbow injury, he was 5-9.

Although tendinitis in his right shoulder cost him a month this season, it’s an odd year and it’s not at all odd that he’s winning.

With the Angels losing, Saberhagen pitched the Royals out of the cellar, where they have been all season.

Minnesota 6, Oakland 2--Scott Erickson became the majors’ first 15-game winner and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Erickson gave up five hits in 6 2/3 innings at Oakland to improve his record to 15-3 and enable the Twins to take two out of three in this important series in the West.

The Twins, who jumped on Dave Stewart (8-6) for three runs in the first inning, maintained their three-game lead over Chicago and stretched their lead over Oakland to five games.

Toronto 2, Boston 1--Tom Henke retired the Red Sox on six pitches in the ninth inning at Boston and tied a record for relief pitchers with his 23rd save in 23 opportunities. John Franco set the record in 1988 with Cincinnati.

The Blue Jays are careful in the use of their 6-5 right-hander. He almost always comes in at the start of the inning and almost never pitches more than an inning.

John Olerud gave Henke the opportunity when he doubled in the tie-breaking run in the eighth.

Hot-hitting Jack Clark hit his 19th home run in the fifth inning for the lone Red Sox run. It was his sixth home run in the last five games.

Detroit 8, New York 7--On a day in which most of the league was engaged in pitching duels, the Tigers turned to their power to wipe out a four-run deficit at Detroit.

Pinch-hitter Tony Phillips ended Steve Farr’s scoreless streak at 27 2/3 innings with a two-out home run in the ninth to tie it, and Lloyd Moseby, who had four hits, singled in the winning run in the 10th.

It was the fifth time the Tigers have hit a home run in the ninth inning to send a game into extra innings. They have won all five and are 9-1 in extra-inning games. That’s a big reason they trail Toronto by only four games.

Cecil Fielder hit a two-run homer in the seventh to get the Tigers to within a run.

Chicago 1, Baltimore 0--Charlie Hough, at 43, gave the White Sox a big lift with a five-hitter at Chicago and his first shutout in more than two years.

Frank Thomas, who has been carrying the White Sox offense lately, hit his 22nd home run with one out in the sixth for the only run of the game.

Thomas’ second home run in two days spoiled the major league debut of 22-year-old Mike Mussina. Mussina gave up four hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Hough saved his shutout with quick reaction in the eighth inning. With runners on first and second Dwight Evans hit a liner up the middle that Hough reached out and grabbed.

Milwaukee 3, Texas 2--Ranger bats, which accounted for 29 runs in the two previous games at Milwaukee, were relatively quiet. But Manager Bobby Valentine was steaming.

A brawl developed after Chris Bosio hit Kevin Reimer in the knee in the seventh inning. Everyone poured out on the field and Valentine tried to get at Bosio but was restrained. “It was a gathering,” Milwaukee Manager Tom Trebelhorn said. “It’s always good to come together for a common cause. Call it a draw.”

A two-base error by left fielder Dean Palmer set up the winning run for the Brewers in the ninth as they ended a four-game losing streak.