AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Henderson Ignites A’s Late Rally, 12-11

Rickey Henderson hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning, then had a two-run triple and scored in the ninth Friday night, rallying the Oakland Athletics to a 12-11 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Chicago.

The A’s trailed, 10-4, in the eighth, but Henderson’s fourth homer highlighted a five-run burst.

Oakland trailed, 11-9, in the ninth when Dale Sveum drew a one-out walk from Roberto Hernandez (0-1) and Mike Bordick singled. With the runners going, Henderson tripled, tying the score. He scored on Brent Gates’ sacrifice fly.

Kelly Downs (2-2) was the winner and Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Robin Ventura homered twice and drove in four runs for the White Sox. Dave Henderson and Terry Steinbach homered for Oakland.

Boston 7, New York 2--Wade Boggs went four for four, but the Red Sox spoiled his return to Boston.

Boggs, the hitting star of the Red Sox for 11 seasons before moving to the Yankees last winter as a free agent, received a mixed reception from the fans--half gave him a standing ovation and half booed.

Boggs improved his career average at Fenway Park to .370 with a grounder past second base in the first, a liner to center in the third and bouncers up the middle in the fifth and seventh. It was the 49th four-hit game of his career. He also walked in the ninth.

John Dopson (3-2), however, limited the Yankees to one run and eight hits in seven innings.

Milwaukee 9, Baltimore 3--Kevin Reimer’s grand slam, the first of his career, highlighted the Brewers’ six-run third inning at Baltimore.

Jaime Navarro (2-3) won his second consecutive start as the Brewers ended a three-game losing streak. He gave up seven hits and struck out four while improving his career record against Baltimore to 8-1.

John Jaha added a solo homer and Bill Spiers and Greg Vaughn each drove in two runs for the Brewers.

Mike Mussina (5-2), who had won five consecutive decisions, was replaced after facing one batter in the fourth. It matched his shortest outing in 53 major league starts.

The Brewers got to Mussina early, scoring six runs against the right-hander during the third inning. With one out, Spiers singled with the bases loaded to drive in two runs. Vaughn walked to load the bases again and Reimer homered to right-center.

Jaha hit Mussina’s first pitch of the fourth inning just inside the left-field foul pole for his second homer of the season and a 7-0 lead.

Kansas City 2, Seattle 1--Phil Hiatt hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning at Kansas City, ending Randy Johnson’s scoreless streak at 20 innings.

Harvey Pulliam reached on an error by third baseman Mike Blowers to start the seventh, and Hiatt hit the next pitch for his fourth home run, his first since April 16.

Johnson (6-3) lost in his first start since missing a no-hitter in the ninth at Oakland on Sunday. He gave up six hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked one.

Chris Haney (1-0) won in his first start since being called up from triple-A Omaha this week to replace Mark Gubicza in the Royals’ rotation.

Cleveland 10, Detroit 5--Jeff Treadway had a three-run double and Albert Belle and Cecil Fielder matched impressive home runs at Cleveland.

Fielder reached the upper deck in left in the top of the fourth with his seventh home run, estimated at 430 feet, but Belle duplicated the feat in the bottom of the inning when his 14th home run landed within a few feet of Fielder’s blast. Belle equaled a career high with four of Cleveland’s 15 hits.

Toronto 11, Minnesota 2--Jack Morris, making his first start since returning from the disabled list, pitched seven strong innings, and the Blue Jays hit four home runs at Toronto.

Darnell Coles hit a three-run homer, the first by a Toronto pinch-hitter at the SkyDome, and Darrin Jackson followed with a homer, giving the Blue Jays a 6-2 lead in the sixth.

Roberto Alomar and Pat Borders also homered for Toronto.

Morris (2-4), who had been sidelined because of tendinitis in his shoulder, gave up two runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked none.