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AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Hentgen Wins 18th for Blue Jays

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From Associated Press

Pat Hentgen has exceeded virtually everyone’s expectations in 1993, especially his own.

Hentgen pitched the surging Toronto Blue Jays to their sixth consecutive victory, giving up two hits in eight innings Friday night during a 4-2 decision over the Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis.

Toronto leads the American League East by three games over the New York Yankees, who defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-4. The Baltimore Orioles, who lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-0, fell four games back.

Hentgen (18-8) is second in the league in victories to Jack McDowell, who has won 21. Hentgen gave up one run, struck out five and walked three. He has won four of his last five starts.

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“When I came out of spring training this year, I was just trying to make the club,” Hentgen said. “I told my dad I wanted to be .500 and be the team’s fifth starter.”

Hentgen also established a franchise record for road victories in a season with 11. He climbed to 11-2 away from the SkyDome and passed Toronto’s previous 10-game road winners Dave Stieb (1989) and Jack Morris (1992).

“What can you say? He pitched a great game,” teammate Joe Carter said. “Pat has pitched really well on the road and has kept us in the race. He’s beaten the Red Sox twice on the road, both times beating (Roger) Clemens.”

Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said Hentgen showed flashes of excellence in 1992.

“Last year he was 5-2 and had a high ERA, but I don’t know if people realized the job he did in relief,” Gaston said. “He kept us in a lot of games. I knew he had the arm to do what he’s doing.”

Duane Ward pitched the ninth inning and recorded his 41st save. He gave up Kent Hrbek’s 21st home run.

New York 5, Boston 4--Danny Tartabull tied the score with a run-scoring groundout in the seventh, and Wade Boggs drove in the go-ahead run with another groundout in the eighth at New York.

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Mike Stanley led off the eighth with a double down the left-field line. Mike Gallego sacrificed pinch-runner Andy Stankiewicz to third and Scott Taylor relieved John Dopson (7-11), who lost his sixth consecutive decision.

Pinch-hitter Jim Leyritz was intentionally walked and Boggs, eight for 29 against his former teammates, grounded to shortstop, barely beating second baseman Scott Fletcher’s relay throw to avoid a double play.

Paul Gibson (2-0), who gained his first Yankee victory on Tuesday, gave up one hit in two scoreless innings and Lee Smith pitched the ninth for his second save with the Yankees.

Milwaukee 2, Baltimore 0--Cal Eldred pitched a three-hitter for his second major league shutout at Milwaukee.

Eldred (16-14) outpitched Ben McDonald (12-12), who also gave up only three hits.

Eldred walked two and struck out five in his seventh complete game. McDonald, who had a three-game winning streak ended, walked four and struck out four in his sixth complete game and third in his last four starts.

Chicago 8, Oakland 0--Wilson Alvarez pitched eight scoreless innings at Oakland as the White Sox increased their AL West lead to 4 1/2 games.

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Ozzie Guillen drove in three runs. George Bell’s solo homer in the eighth started a five-run inning.

Alvarez (13-8) gave up three hits, struck out six and walked three.

Cleveland 3, Detroit 1--Jason Grimsley won as a starter for the first time in more than two years at Detroit.

Grimsley (2-4) lowered his earned-run average from 8.10 to 6.75, giving up one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Kansas City 6, Seattle 3-- George Brett drove in three runs at Seattle, two with a double during a four-run first inning.

Gary Gaetti had a sacrifice fly and Hubie Brooks added an RBI single for the Royals.

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