AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : With Time Short, Winfield Helps Blue Jays Win

Dave Winfield, in a career that began in 1973 with San Diego, has achieved most of his goals. The only one missing is a World Series.

At 40 and in his first season with the Toronto Blue Jays, he might finally achieve his most coveted goal.

Winfield had a key run batted in as the Blue Jays rallied in the last two innings Tuesday night at Toronto to beat the Seattle Mariners, 4-3, for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Blue Jays trailed, 3-1, in the eighth, but Winfield, batting .304, singled in a run and the Blue Jays tied it when Candy Maldonado was walked with the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the ninth Devon White hit a single to center to score pinch-runner Rob Ducey with the winning run.

The Blue Jays (51-31) have the best record in the major leagues. They have moved four games ahead of Baltimore in the East.

“Baseball is fun again after some years in which I didn’t enjoy it,” Winfield said. “I’m just trying to be myself. I’m trying to bring my skills to a very talented team, a team that’s usually close. Maybe, I can make a difference.

“We didn’t give the fans much to cheer about early. All the action was late. But whatever it takes, this team is up for it.”

Chicago 8, Baltimore 4--George Bell continued his hot hitting spell and the White Sox moved a little closer to contention in the West.

Bell had a pair of run-scoring singles and seldom-used Dan Pasqua hit a home run at Baltimore to lead the White Sox to their 13th victory in 17 games.

Pasqua, recently off the disabled list, hit a two-run home run, his first home run since April 21.

Pasqua was in the lineup because Frank Thomas, hitting .370 against the Orioles, had a head cold.

“It was big for us for me to supply some power without Thomas in the lineup,” Pasqua said.

Bell has driven in 31 runs in the last 15 games.

The White Sox stole four bases in the first three innings and they led directly to three runs.

Boston 3, Kansas City 2--After striking out three times, Tom Brunansky came through with the winning hit in the 11th inning at Boston.

Brunansky came up with the bases loaded and two out and hit a line drive over right fielder Jim Eisenreich’s head.

The Royals had only three hits when bullpen ace Jeff Reardon took over in quest of his 18th save. But George Brett hit his first pitch for his fourth home run to send the game into extra innings.

Danny Darwin (5-4) worked out of a jam with runners on first and third in the top of the 11th to get the victory.

New York 2, Minnesota 1--Matt Nokes emerged from a slump to hit a home run into the third deck in right field at New York and give the Yankees the victory.

In ending the Twins’ three-game winning streak, Nokes, batting only .199, hit his 11th home run after going four for 41.

Former Dodger Shawn Hillegas gave up four hits in six innings but didn’t win. One of the hits was a home run by Pedro Munoz.

Detroit 3, Oakland 2--Mickey Tettleton and Mark Carreon hit sixth-inning home runs at Detroit, and the Tigers beat the Athletics.

When Rickey Henderson went back on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, it left Oakland without its regular outfield.

Dave Henderson, who has batted only three times all season, and Jose Canseco are on the disabled list already. All are expected back after the All-Star game.

The A’s also lost infielder Lance Blankenship. He was hit by a fastball from Ken Ritz (2-3) in the fifth and left with a bruised hand.

The home runs handed Ron Darling (7-7) his third consecutive defeat and prevented the Athletics from moving into a tie with Minnesota for first place.

Milwaukee 4, Texas 3--Franklin Stubbs hit his eighth home run in the seventh inning at Arlington, Tex., to power the Brewers to another victory.

Stubbs, who has hit safely in nine of 10 games, hit Todd Burns’ 3-and-2 pitch over the fence after Burns retired 10 of 11 batters.

Texas stranded 12 runners.