AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mattingly, Yankees Get Back in the Swing, 8-7

The New York Yankees have been worried about Don Mattingly and his aching back. Although no one talks about it, the veteran first baseman has not regained the swing that made him one of baseball’s best hitters before injuries began taking a toll five years ago.

There was even talk a couple of weeks ago that Mattingly, 31, was thinking about retirement.

He might not have regained the home run swing he had to hit 35 home runs in 1985, but he is showing some power.

Mattingly had three doubles Sunday at New York, including one during the ninth inning that set up the winning run in an 8-7 victory over Milwaukee.

The Yankees appeared in danger of tying a major league record with their fifth consecutive extra-inning game when Mattingly opened the ninth with his second opposite-field double, a drive to left against Bruce Ruffin (1-2). A walk, an infield out and an intentional walk to Danny Tartabull loaded the bases with one out.

Matt Nokes, three for 30 with runners in scoring position, improved on that when he lined a fastball over the drawn-in infield to score Mattingly with the winning run.

The hit capped a comeback from a 7-1 deficit and put the Yankees three games out of first in the East.

Although he has hit safely in seven consecutive games and has had seven doubles among his 12 hits in his last 31 at-bats, Mattingly is reluctant to talk about his problems. He has increased his average to .250.

“I’m just happy to contribute,” he said. “I don’t really want to talk about my swing.”

Minnesota 15, Detroit 0--Shane Mack hit a grand slam to highlight a six-run fourth inning at Detroit by the Twins.

The Twins, who had 18 hits, scored five runs during the sixth to make it easy for Bill Krueger (5-0).

Seattle 5, Cleveland 4--Kevin Mitchell hit a two-out, two-run pinch single during the ninth inning at Seattle to cap a three-run rally by the Mariners.

The rally was sustained when second baseman Carlos Baerga of the Indians fumbled a potential double-play ball to load the bases with one out.

Chicago 8, Toronto 1--Tim Raines had two hits, drove in two runs and scored two at Chicago to increase his average to .271 and help knock the Blue Jays out of first place in the East. The Blue Jays have lost nine of their last 15 and trail Baltimore by half a game.

The Blue Jays’ Jack Morris (4-3) gave up eight hits and six runs in 2 2/3 innings, making it easy for Kirk McCaskill to improve to 3-4.

Oakland 4, Boston 0--With family members and friends on hand, Ron Darling was excited about his first appearance at Fenway Park since the fourth game of the 1986 World Series.

In that game he pitched seven scoreless innings for the New York Mets. He was even better in this one. Darling pitched a two-hitter for his first shutout since 1988 and gave the Athletics their fifth victory in six games.

“I only get to see these people once or twice a year so this was special,” said Darling, who went to high school in Worcester, Mass.

The Athletics gave Darling, who had not pitched a complete game in nearly two years, all the help he needed during the first inning. They scored three runs, one on a single by Terry Steinbach, two on a single by Jerry Browne.

Texas 4, Kansas City 3--The Rangers are finally learning to enjoy playing at home. Ivan Rodriguez singled during the 13th inning at Arlington, Tex., to give the Rangers their third victory in a row and seven of their last eight.

The Rangers won only five of their first 18 home games.

The Ranger bullpen finally produced. Gerald Alexander (1-0), the fifth Texas pitcher, won in his first appearance since being recalled from triple-A Oklahoma City last week. He pitched one inning. Jeff Russell pitched three innings of shutout relief and Kenny Rogers one.