American League Roundup : Ex-Angels Team Up as Tigers Beat Yankees to Close In on Series Sweep

The Detroit Tigers have the New York Yankees’ number this season.

That number may be five, as in five straight, after Frank Tanana (10-4) allowed 5 hits in 8 innings Tuesday night as the Tigers beat the Yankees, 6-1, for their fifth straight victory over New York.

That number may be three, as in three games, the Tigers’ lead over the Yankees in the American League East.

It must gall Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, who pays big salaries to the likes of Don Mattingly, Jack Clark and Dave Winfield, that marginal players are beating his team.

A veteran utility player, Luis Salazar, has been instrumental in two of the five victories, the first three of which came at Detroit last week.

Tuesday night at New York, it was light-hitting Gary Pettis and well-traveled Pat Sheridan who led the assault on Rick Rhoden (3-6) and Dave Righetti.

Pettis, batting only .215 going into this series, went 2 for 3, stole a base and scored 3 runs. Sheridan had a triple and a single and drove in four runs.

Pettis, like Tanana, a former Angel, went 3 for 3 Monday night, and scored 4 runs. Pettis, an outstanding center fielder, has raised his average to .231.

In the two games, Pettis has outscored the Yankees, 7-4, and has as many hits as Mattingly, Clark and Winfield combined.

A message on the blackboard in the Yankee clubhouse reads: “We’ve got a better club than Detroit. We’ll prove it over a 162-game schedule.”

The Tigers say the Yankees talk about having the better team, but don’t show it on the field.

“We’re just a quiet bunch,” Tanana said. “We don’t make too many headlines. I’m not sure how we keep beating them except that I know good pitching has a way of handling good hitting.

“It’s been that way since the beginning of the sport, and it will be forevermore.”

The Tigers delivered in 4 of 7 chances with runners in scoring position. The Yankees were 0 for 8.

“This is a good ballclub, but we’re struggling now,” Yankee Manager Lou Piniella said. “You can see the frustration in some of the players’ faces. This is a game of relaxation. Some people are trying too hard.”

Once again the Yankees were without their catalyst, Rickey Henderson, who has a strained hamstring.

Boston 6, Cleveland 1--Most of his career, Wes Gardner has been an unsung workhorse in the bullpen. But with Jeff Sellers hurt, the Red Sox desperately needed a starter for this game at Boston.

Gardner, making his 99th appearance and only his second start, set out to throw as hard and as long as he could. In seven innings he gave up just three hits, including Cory Snyder’s 17th home run.

Gardner’s performance and five unearned runs in the second inning enabled the Red Sox to get their fourth straight victory and eighth in the last 10 games.

Boston’s Mike Greenwell had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.

Chicago 4, Kansas City 3--When the fans at Kansas City stood up and cheered with two outs in the ninth, it wasn’t because the White Sox were winning the game. It was because rain had finally arrived in the drought-stricken Midwest.

Before rain cooled things off, the White Sox had the hot bats in 100-degree weather. Dan Pasqua hit two home runs and Greg Walker hit another to power the White Sox.

“On a hot night in summer, the ball really carries,” said Royal Manager John Wathan. Kansas City has allowed 13 home runs in the last five games.

Although the downpour didn’t stop the game, it was the first measurable rain in Kansas City since May 27.

Milwaukee 4, Oakland 1--Don August threw a four-hitter and Rob Deer broke a scoreless tie with two outs in the seventh at Oakland when he hit a two-run home run.

August (4-2) had a two-hit shutout until the eighth when consecutive doubles by Luis Polonia and Dave Henderson accounted for the A’s run.

Robin Yount hit a two-run triple in the eighth to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead.

Baltimore 7, Toronto 0--Fred Lynn and Eddie Murray hit home runs, and Jay Tibbs and Mark Thurmond combined on a seven-hit shutout at Baltimore.

Lynn also had a two-run double.

Texas 6, Seattle 0--Jose Guzman pitched a four-hitter at Seattle for his first career shutout as the Rangers ended a three-game losing streak.

It was the 80th start for Guzman (7-6). Larry Parrish and Steve Buechele each hit home runs to lead the attack.