AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rangers Extend Streak to 13 Games

Bobby Valentine is beginning to believe in magic.

After his Texas Rangers blew a 4-1 lead Sunday night at Seattle, they stormed back to win, 6-4, and stretch their winning streak to 13 games.

Gary Pettis, a lifetime .239 hitter, made the key hit for the second game in a row.

And, when your team scores at least five runs in 13 consecutive games and averages eight, that’s a bit magical.

Then, too, what about Brian Downing, believed by the Angels to be over the hill, going on a home run binge?

Isn’t it also magic when you win 13 in a row with your best pitcher, Nolan Ryan, on the disabled list?

Pettis, who hit a two-run single in the 11th inning Saturday night, singled in the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning Sunday.

Downing, who homered in the third inning for his third home run in two games, singled in the extra run.

“I don’t know if this is magic, but you start believing in it a bit more,” Valentine said after his team fashioned the longest winning streak in the majors since Oakland won 14 in 1988.

All the news is good for Texas, unbeaten since May 11. Ryan will be ready to pitch Wednesday night.

Although he gave up four runs, Bobby Witt (3-3) lasted six innings to get the victory.

He gave up a two-run double to Ken Griffey Sr. in the fifth inning and a home run to Pete O’Brien in the sixth to blow the 4-1 lead.

Ken Griffey Jr., who injured himself crashing into the wall in center Saturday night, was sore and did not start. He did appear as a pinch-hitter and struck out.

“I have seen a lot of hot teams that good pitching could stop,” Mariner Manager Jim Lefebvre said. “There’s nothing stopping that team right now.”

Oakland 6, Chicago 2--Dave Stewart came back after 18 days on the disabled list to pitch brilliantly at Oakland.

Stewart, out with a rib injury, walked the first batter and was behind, 1-0, after nine pitches. Thereafter, he was in charge. He pitched eight innings, giving up seven hits and improving his record to 3-2.

Dave Henderson hit his major league-leading 12th home run in the eighth inning and Terry Steinbach drove in two runs with a double.

“It was a no-lose situation,” Stewart said. “Nobody expected me to be sharp anyway.”

Detroit 9, Boston 4--Cecil Fielder, Rob Deer and Lou Whitaker each hit home runs in a five-run first inning that enabled the Tigers to win for the third time in four games against the leader of the East.

The Tigers, in hot, humid weather, hit nine home runs in the series. Deer homered in three consecutive games.

“I love this humidity,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said. “If you are a power hitter there is no better place to spend the summer than Tiger Stadium.”

Kansas City 5, Minnesota 1--Early in the season Bret Saberhagen’s curveball wasn’t curving.

It is now.

Saberhagen (5-3) pitched an eight-hitter and Brian McRae homered and singled twice to help Saberhagen win handily.

“Earlier, the curve wasn’t effective, so I shied away from it,” Saberhagen said. “Now I’m throwing it again.”

New York 2, Baltimore 1--The Yankees quietly made a defensive switch at Baltimore. Steve Sax, who hated the move to third base, returned to his natural post, second base.

Talented rookie Pat Kelly moved over to third base. Kelly not only took easily to his new position, he doubled home the tie-breaking run in the 11th inning and the Yankees won their third in a row.

Sax, who had trouble making the throw from second to first at one time with the Dodgers, found it difficult making the throw from third.

Milwaukee 7, Cleveland 6--Greg Vaughn homered to lead off the 10th inning at Milwaukee to give the Brewers, who blew an early five-run lead, the victory.

Albert Belle hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning as the Indians rallied to go in front in the eighth, 6-5.

But Robin Yount homered in the ninth to send it into extra innings.