AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Lofton Is Grand as Indian Streak Hits Five

This time, Kenny Lofton made sure.

After having an inside-the-park home run taken away last week because of an official scorer’s decision, Lofton hit his first home run of the year Tuesday night--a grand slam--as the Indians beat the Chicago White Sox, 8-2, at Cleveland.

It was the first bases-loaded homer of Lofton’s career, and his first home run since last Aug. 23.

Against Milwaukee last Wednesday, Lofton circled the bases on a hit into the gap, but it was later ruled a triple and an error.

Tuesday’s homer sailed over the fence in right.

“Can’t take that back,” Lofton said.

The victory was the Indians’ fifth in a row, matching their longest winning streak of the season and continuing their recent domination of the best teams in the American League West. They swept a three-game weekend series from second-place Kansas City and have won two in a row from first-place Chicago.

“Everything is starting to get contagious now,” Lofton said. “I think once one guy does something good, everybody gets pumped up.”

New York 4, Detroit 3--Wade Boggs led off the 10th inning with his first home run of the season at Detroit to deal the Tigers their eighth consecutive loss.

Boggs hit a 1-0 pitch from Tom Bolton (1-3) into the third deck in right field. His first homer since last Aug. 4--and first for the Yankees--made a winner of rookie Bobby Munoz (2-0).

Munoz pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings. He struck out Travis Fryman with the bases loaded to end the seventh after the Tigers had tied it on a bases-loaded walk by Steve Howe.

The victory moved the Yankees past Detroit into second place in the American League East.

New York remained three games behind Toronto, while Detroit fell four back.

Minnesota 7, Seattle 5--Kirby Puckett hit a two-out single to drive in the go-ahead run as the Twins rallied from a four-run deficit at Minneapolis.

Minnesota trailed, 5-1, in the sixth inning before hitting seven singles against three pitchers. Derek Lee singled home a run against Tim Leary, and Pat Meares’ two-run single against Bob Ayrault (0-1) closed the Twins within a run. Chip Hale, who had three of the Twins’ 15 hits, hit a game-tying single and Puckett singled against Jeff Nelson for a 6-5 lead.

Mike Trombley (4-3) gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Rick Aguilera, Minnesota’s fourth pitcher, got three outs for his 22nd save. Omar Vizquel led off the inning with a single, ending Aguilera’s streak of 27 consecutive batters retired over his previous nine appearances.

Toronto 2, Baltimore 1--John Olerud and Tony Fernandez hit run-scoring singles in the ninth inning to key the Blue Jays’ rally at Toronto.

Toronto has won 12 of its last 14, while Baltimore has lost three in a row after winning 19 of 22.

Ben McDonald took a two-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but was replaced after Roberto Alomar led off with a single and Paul Molitor walked.

Olerud greeted Brad Pennington with a tying single to right field and Fernandez followed with another single to right.

Olerud went one for three, lowering his batting average one point to .405.

The rally made a winner out of Pat Hentgen (11-2), who is 7-0 in his last nine starts.

Milwaukee 7, Boston 6--Second baseman Scott Fletcher’s error set up a run in the ninth inning at Boston as the Brewers ended the Red Sox’s seven-game winning streak.

The Brewers scored four unearned runs. Milwaukee had lost three in a row.

Bill Spiers started the ninth by reaching on Fletcher’s error. He moved up on Robin Yount’s sacrifice bunt and took third on Greg Vaughn’s infield single.

Kevin Reimer then grounded to Fletcher for a force at second, but shortstop John Valentin’s relay for a double play was late.

Texas 4, Kansas City 3--Rookie Dan Peltier, replacing injured Jose Canseco on the Texas roster, singled home the tie-breaking run in the eighth inning to help the Rangers rally at Arlington, Tex.

Royal starter Kevin Appier had his scoreless streak ended at 21 innings when Texas scored four times in the eighth.

Doug Strange led off with a single, pinch-hitter Geno Petralli walked and David Hulse chased Appier with a run-scoring single with one out. Reliever Bill Sampen (2-1) walked Julio Franco, then Rafael Palmeiro tied the score with a two-run single.

After Billy Brewer intentionally walked Juan Gonzalez to load the bases, Peltier blooped a run-scoring single to short center field. Peltier was called up from the minors when Canseco was placed on the disabled list because of an elbow injury.