AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Winfield Slams Mariners in Ninth

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Dave Winfield as a free agent hoping the 40-year-old outfielder could provide some power to their lineup.

Thursday night at Seattle, Winfield demonstrated that he still has plenty left by hitting a grand slam against Mike Schooler with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Blue Jays an 8-7 victory.

Winfield’s 10th career grand slam gave the Blue Jays their fifth consecutive victory.

“It was timely,” said Winfield, who has six home runs. “You go up there thinking about hitting a grand slam a lot but rarely does it happen. This was a tremendous victory.”

Trailing 7-3 after eight innings, the Blue Jays scored five runs in the ninth against Calvin Jones and Schooler (0-2). Jones struck out Candy Maldonado to open the ninth, but Greg Myers doubled, and Manuel Lee drove in Myers with a single.

After Jones walked Devon White, the Mariners brought in Schooler, who got Roberto Alomar to fly out. But Schooler walked Joe Carter to load the bases and set the stage for Winfield.

“Dave is such a good example on this club,” Blue Jay Manager Cito Gaston said. “He’s such a positive person. He just keeps these guys going.”

Pat Hentgen (3-0) pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of Jack Morris for the victory. Tom Henke pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Ken Griffey Jr. ended a 1-for-23 slump with two home runs. Kevin Mitchell also homered for Seattle.

Chicago 7, Boston 6--The White Sox issued 15 walks, but overcame a 6-0 deficit for the victory at Chicago.

Joey Cora, who was batting .083, drove in the deciding run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth after Red Sox starter Matt Young squandered a 6-0 lead.

Oakland 6, Detroit 2--Bob Welch (1-1) pitched seven shutout innings and Rickey Henderson and Mark McGwire hit home runs for the Athletics at Oakland.

McGwire leads the majors with 14 home runs. Dennis Eckersley earned his 11th save.

Baltimore 5, Minnesota 4--Joe Orsulak scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Rick Aguilera (0-3), completing a four-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted the Orioles at Baltimore.

Kansas City 6, Milwaukee 4--Kevin McReynolds and Bob Melvin each drove drove in two runs at Kansas City and the Royals won for the fourth time in five games.

Cleveland 8, Texas 7--Rookie Kenny Lofton hit a three-run homer in the fifth and the Indians handed the Rangers their fifth consecutive home loss.