American League Roundup : A’s Make Concessionaires Happy, Win Another Marathon

Ever since Billy Martin used to make innumerable trips to the mound to talk with his pitchers, the Oakland A’s have been noted for playing long games.

The games are getting even longer this season, averaging more than three hours. As long as the A’s win, Manager Tony LaRussa isn’t really concerned.

Mike Gallego, who played a part in extending the last two games, squeezed home Mark McGwire with the bases loaded and one out in the 13th inning Saturday at Oakland to give the A’s a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

It was the second consecutive 13-inning win for the A’s over the Tigers, each game lasting 4 hours 17 minutes.

Errors by Gallego, playing shortstop in place of Alfredo Griffin, sent both games into extra innings. Griffin, who had played 358 consecutive games, returned home to the Dominican Republic Thursday after his father died. McGwire, a rookie from USC who had two hits Friday night, including a home run, singled with one out off Nate Snell. Petry came in and gave up a hit to Terry Steinbach and an infield hit to Stan Javier before Gallego bunted.

The Tigers tied the game in the eighth. Pat Sheridan was hit by a pitch, and Gallego fumbled Mike Heath’s grounder to put two on with none out. A sacrifice and singles by Alan Trammell and Larry Herndon drove in the two runs.

Kansas City 5, Cleveland 4--Bo Jackson, who earlier hit his fifth home run, walked on a 3-and-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning at Kansas City to give the Royals the victory.

Although he had his poorest outing of the season, Bret Saberhagen improved his record to 5-0.

Saberhagen gave up back-to-back home runs to Tony Bernazard and Julio Franco in the top of the eighth as the Royals fell behind, 4-3.

The Royals scored twice in the eighth. Willie Wilson opened the winning rally with an infield hit and went to third on a bloop single by Kevin Seitzer. Juan Beniquez singled home the tying run. A sacrifice, an intentional walk and a foul out brought Jackson to the plate.

With the count 3 and 2, Jackson fouled off two of Frank Wills’ pitches. After the second one, play was held up while a fan ran onto the field. Wills then threw a high outside pitch to force in the winning run.

Milwaukee 6, Seattle 4--The Brewers scored five runs in the ninth inning at Seattle to come from behind for the 12th time this season and improve to 20-3.

Rick Manning’s sacrifice fly drove in the tiebreaking run, but it was a run-scoring double by Glenn Braggs that tied the score.

Dan Plesac pitched the bottom of the ninth to earn his ninth save.

Toronto 9, Texas 8--Tony Fernandez’s hand is so sore, it hurts when he swings a bat. But it was the Rangers who suffered at Toronto.

After Pete O’Brien homered in the top of the ninth to give the Rangers an 8-7 lead, the Blue Jays rallied to win with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Fred McGriff walked and pinch-hitter Rob Ducey singled to right. Fernandez rapped a double down the right-field line to drive in two runs and give Toronto its fifth win in a row.

“My whole hand has been bothering me,” said Fernandez, who was hurt while diving for a ball at short. “But you have to play with injury.”

New York 6, Minnesota 4--Willie Randolph went 3 for 4, including a home run, and drove in three runs at Minneapolis to help Tommy John win again.

John’s scoreless string ended at 16 innings when the Twins scored in the third inning, but the left-hander who will be 44 this month, went 6 innings, giving up two runs and eight hits. Bullpen ace Dave Righetti made it interesting when he gave up a two-run home run to Kent Hrbek in the eighth.

Dave Winfield and Ron Kittle also homered for the Yankees, who are 2-5 on the trip.

Chicago 7, Baltimore 3--Gary Redus and Ivan Calderon hit home runs at Baltimore, and the White Sox handed the Orioles their 13th defeat in 17 games.

Jose DeLeon gave up five hits in 5 innings, including home runs by Larry Sheets, Eddie Murray and Rene Gonzales.