AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Eckersley Loses Chance at Another Save

Dennis Eckersley blew his third consecutive chance at a save, and the New York Yankees rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-3, Wednesday night at Oakland.

Eckersley, who converted 51 of 54 save opportunities last season in winning the American League’s most-valuable-player and Cy Young awards, relieved with the bases loaded, no outs and Oakland leading, 3-2.

After striking out pinch-hitter Jim Leyritz, Dion James sliced a two-run single to left field and Bernie Williams singled to score James.

Eckersley had never blown even two consecutive save attempts until this season. He was ineffective Tuesday night, giving up three runs in the ninth inning in a game Oakland eventually won, 9-7, in the 10th.

The A’s relief ace entered Wednesday’s game with a 7.94 ERA. He has converted only two of five save opportunities this season.

Rick Honeycutt (0-1) took the loss. The Yankees loaded the bases on an infield single by Danny Tartabull off starter Bobby Witt, a double by pinch-hitter Randy Velarde off Honeycutt and a walk to Mike Stanley.

Rich Monteleone (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Steve Farr, who also blew a save chance Tuesday night, pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.

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Milwaukee 10, Minnesota 8--John Jaha lined Mike Hartley’s hanging forkball into the right-center field gap for a two-run double with two out in the 10th inning, lifting the Brewers at Minneapolis.

The Brewers, beaten, 10-0, by Minnesota on Tuesday night, trailed, 7-3, in the fifth inning after Kent Hrbek’s grand slam. But Kevin Tapani and relievers Mark Guthrie and Hartley couldn’t hold the lead.

“It’s a shame. You have a grand slam and another guy gets four hits (Pedro Munoz) and you have trouble winning,” Twin Manager Tom Kelly said. “We scored enough runs to win, but we didn’t pitch well enough to get the job done. Obviously.”

Kevin Reimer singled off Hartley (0-1) with one out in the 10th. After Robin Yount popped out, pinch-runner Alex Diaz stole second. B.J. Surhoff was intentionally walked before Jaha doubled to right-center field for his second and third runs batted in of the season, making it 9-7. Jaha then scored on Joe Kmak’s double to left.

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Kansas City 6, Toronto 5--Greg Gagne streaked home from second base on Kevin McReynolds’ infield single with two out in the ninth inning and the Royals defeated the Blue Jays at Kansas City.

“I was kind of turning to see if it went through when I heard (third base coach) Steve (Boros) saying go home,” Gagne said. “I kind of hesitated coming around. I stopped to look, I heard him say go and I just kept going. When I looked behind me, I heard him say go and I was gone.”

Gagne opened the inning with a single off Mike Timlin (0-1) and stole second, and George Brett was intentionally walked with two outs.

McReynolds hit a grounder up the middle and shortstop Luis Sojo stopped the ball behind second. Sojo’s throw to first base was high and Gagne never broke stride, sliding home and scoring ahead of the throw.

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Detroit 5, Texas 4--Rob Deer homered twice and threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate in the ninth inning to preserve the victory at Detroit.

Texas trailed, 5-2, entering the ninth inning, but scored two runs off Mike Henneman on a fielder’s choice by Jose Canseco and an error by shortstop Travis Fryman.

But with one out and the bases loaded, the Tigers turned a game-ending double play.

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Seattle 5, Boston 0--Ken Griffey Jr. hit two home runs for the second time in three games, leading Randy Johnson and the Mariners past the Red Sox at Seattle.

Johnson (2-1) pitched a four-hitter for the sixth shutout of his career. He struck out eight and walked one.

Griffey, who homered twice Monday at Detroit, hit an opposite-field, two-run shot to left in the third inning. He hit a solo home run to right field in the fifth to finish Danny Darwin (0-3).

Griffey has six home runs this season. It was the seventh two-homer game of his career.