AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Maldonado’s Homer Takes Center Stage

Candy Maldonado knew he hit the ball hard, he just didn’t realize how hard.

Maldonado hit one of the longest home runs in the history of the new Yankee Stadium and also snapped a seventh-inning tie with a double as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the stumbling New York Yankees, 2-1, Tuesday night.

“I saw Roberto Kelly taking off and then I wasn’t sure,” Maldonado said. “It’s a long way in this park.”

Kelly never had a chance. All he could do was look up and see the ball hit off Tim Leary (4-5) go until it was long gone.

Maldonado became only the fifth player to hit a home run into the center-field bleachers since Yankee Stadium reopened in 1976. Others to do it are Reggie Jackson (twice), Ken Singleton, Mike Greenwell and Jay Buhner.

“It was a nice feeling when I heard some of the other names to do it,” Maldonado said. “I saw where it landed when I got to second base.”

Juan Guzman (7-1) didn’t have his good stuff, but gave up only one run and four hits in seven innings. Duane Ward pitched one inning and Tom Henke finished for his 12th save as Toronto moved back into first place in the AL East ahead of Baltimore.

“I had to work very hard,” Guzman said. “I didn’t have my good slider or fastball.”

The Blue Jays snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh when John Olerud walked with two outs and scored on Maldonado’s double down the left-field line. Mel Hall had trouble picking the ball up, allowing the slow-footed Olerud to make it home.

Oakland 6, Milwaukee 1--Kevin Campbell gave up one hit in six innings in his first major league start as the Athletics won at Milwaukee.

Campbell, getting his first start after 20 major league relief appearances, gave up a two-out double to Darryl Hamilton in the second. The next two batters walked, but Campbell got Jim Gantner on a fly ball to end the threat.

Hamilton reached on an error in the fourth, and Paul Molitor walked in the sixth. But the Brewers did not manage another hit off Campbell (2-0), who got the start because Bob Welch is on the disabled list.

Campbell’s longest previous outing in the majors was four innings. Despite giving up only one hit, he was replaced by Rick Honeycutt to start the seventh.

Oakland had 15 hits, getting nine off Ron Robinson (0-2).

Boston 4, Baltimore 1--Jeff Reardon finally got a chance to close out a victory, and he made the most of it, moving within a save of Rollie Fingers’ major league record of 341. Reardon, making only his second appearance in 12 days, shook off a bit of rustiness before putting the finishing touches on a strong performance by starter John Dopson as the Red Sox won at Baltimore.

Reardon, 36, came on in the ninth inning to get his 13th save this season and the 340th of his career. After surrendering singles to Randy Milligan and Joe Orsulak, Reardon struck out Chris Hoiles and Leo Gomez before getting pinch-hitter Chito Martinez on a groundout.

“I got into a little trouble early, but I got out of it,” Reardon said. “I had thrown only one inning this month, so it was kind of hard to throw strikes at first. But I turned it up and got those key strikeouts.”

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 2--Kent Hrbek hit his 250th home run and Bill Krueger remained unbeaten as the Twins won at Kansas City and snapped the Royals’ six-game winning streak.

Hrbek became the 13th active major leaguer with 250 homers. His home run, a two-run shot in the ninth, was his seventh of the season and third in as many games.

Krueger (6-0) gave up four hits in eight innings, striking out two and walking three. The left-hander started the season 5-0, but had one victory and five no-decisions in his six starts in May.

Seattle 2, Texas 1--Dave Fleming won his ninth consecutive decision, and Tino Martinez had a two-run double as the Mariners broke a four-game losing streak with a victory at Arlington, Tex.

Fleming (9-1) gave up seven hits in seven innings. He has the longest current winning streak in the majors.

Cleveland 6, Detroit 1--Glenallen Hill had two homers and pitcher Denis Boucher had his best major league performance, giving up three hits in eight shutout innings, and the Indians won at Detroit.

Boucher (2-1) walked four and struck out four. Detroit’s Frank Tanana (4-5) gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings on seven hits--including three homers--in losing to Cleveland for the first time since 1987.