Saberhagen and Red Sox Keep On Rolling

It was like watching the Bret Saberhagen of old, and the Boston Red Sox of . . . when?

They’ve won six in a row and 13 of 14. With a 16-6 record, they’re off to their best start in 52 years.

With another strong game from Saberhagen in his remarkable comeback, the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 3-2, on Saturday at Cleveland. They go for a sweep of the defending American League champions today.

While the faithful in Beantown are no doubt waiting for a meltdown, the Red Sox keep rolling.

“The only thing that keeps me going is getting back to the postseason,” said Saberhagen (4-0), who went six innings and lowered his earned-run average to 1.97. “I want to win another championship. I think we have the makeup on this ballclub to do it.

“I think people have been overlooking us as a ballclub. Things might begin to change, if they haven’t already.”

Reggie Jefferson and Scott Hatteberg hit solo homers to support Saberhagen, who has won all four of his starts after three years of arm troubles.

Saberhagen, who already has two AL Cy Young Awards and a comeback player-of-the-year plaque, gave up one run and three hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Chicago 8, Toronto 1--Robin Ventura drove in four runs with three-run homer and an RBI single, and the White Sox beat the Blue Jays at Chicago.

Charlie O’Brien added a three-run double, and Scott Eyre (1-2) won for the first time in five starts, giving up one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three.

New York 5 , Detroit 4--Chad Curtis singled home the go-ahead run after Darryl Strawberry’s eighth-inning steal, and the Yankees rallied to beat the Tigers at New York.

Mariano Rivera got his first save with a perfect ninth as the Yankees won their fifth in a row. On Friday night, Rivera made his first appearance since injuring his right groin on April 5.

David Wells (3-1) gave up all four runs--three earned--and five hits in eight innings, sending Detroit to its 10th consecutive road loss. He struck out four and walked two.

Minnesota 8, Seattle 2--Ron Coomer’s first career grand slam capped a six-run ninth inning against the Mariner bullpen at Seattle.

Otis Nixon and pinch-hitter Alex Ochoa hit RBI singles in the ninth off Mike Timlin (1-2) before the Twins loaded the bases for Coomer, who connected off Heathcliff Slocumb for his first homer.

Coomer became only the 10th player to homer into the left-field upper deck at the Kingdome.

Seattle’s bullpen has been responsible for the Mariners being outscored, 21-6, in the ninth inning.

Texas 11, Kansas City 8--Juan Gonzalez went three for four and drove in five runs as the Rangers defeated the Royals at Kansas City.

Gonzalez, who had two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly, has 29 RBIs this month. He broke his club record of 25 for April set in 1996. He has 304 RBIs in 288 games since the start of the ’96 season.

Tom Goodwin went three for five with three runs scored for the Rangers.

Dean Palmer hit a two-run homer, his eighth, for the Royals. Palmer is tied with Bo Jackson (1989) for the club homer record in April and his 23 RBIs eclipsed the team mark of 21 shared by Bob Hamelin and Al Cowens.

Bobby Witt (3-0) gave up seven runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his fifth save.