American League Roundup : Yankees Hash It Out With Owner, Then Defeat White Sox

Owner George Steinbrenner may be ready to take credit for bringing the New York Yankees out of their most recent slump.

Steinbrenner met with the three players he criticized earlier in the week, before Thursday night’s game at New York, and the Yankees went out and beat the Chicago White Sox, 7-5.

One of the three, Don Mattingly, called by Steinbrenner “the most unproductive .300 hitter in the game,” hit his seventh home run and singled home another run to spark the attack.

Steinbrenner also met with Dave Winfield and Rickey Henderson, both of whom incurred the owner’s wrath during the All-Star break. Henderson was 1 for 3 and scored a run. Winfield, the Yankees’ offensive leader most of the season, was 0 for 3.

Jack Clark had the key hit, a pop fly with the bases loaded that dropped among three White Sox in the second inning, and scored two runs to put the Yankees ahead to stay, 5-4.

John Candelaria, although giving up home runs to Gary Redus, Steve Lyons and Greg Walker, made it through five innings to improve his record to 10-5.

Cecilio Guante, who pitched the ninth after a 25-minute rain delay, earned his 10th save.

“Seeing him (Steinbrenner) face to face is better than the other way,” Mattingly said. “This way, at least, we could settle some things. The other way, the problems go on and on. I just don’t like playing games.

“I wouldn’t call it an apology. It was an attempt to clear the air. To me, the air’s been crystal clear. I understand it.”

Earlier in the day, Steinbrenner made a public apology to the players and told the New York Daily News, “I’m backing off, I’ve got to back off. So I’m off. I’m clamming up.”

Henderson, whom Steinbrenner chastised for playing in the All-Star game after missing Yankee games with a leg injury, said Steinbrenner sort of apologized.

“He said not to play in the All-Star game if you need a rest,” Henderson said. “I guess (the media) got it wrong. I tried not to get upset. I’m like a branch floating in the breeze,” he told Newsday.

With Detroit losing to the Angels, the Yankees are only two games back in the East.

Baltimore 7-2, Minnesota 1-8--Fred Lynn and Eddie Murray both hit two home runs in the first game of the doubleheader at Baltimore to extend the Orioles’ winning streak to three games.

But the Twins went on an extra-basehit barrage in the nightcap. They had a bases-loaded triple by Gene Larkin and seven doubles.

Although he has missed 16 games with an assortment of ailments, the 36-year-old Lynn has 17 homers.

Lynn, who said he wasn’t feeling well before the game, has thrived on Twins’ pitching, against which he is batting .326 with 38 home runs and 123 runs batted in. Against Bert Blyleven (7-8), he is hitting .404.

Milwaukee 6, Texas 2--The All-Star break failed to bother the Brewers. They continued their successful trip with this win at Arlington, Tex.

Robin Yount went 3 for 4 and scored twice as the Brewers improved their recent road record to 6-1.

Bill Wegman (9-6) gave up only one earned run in six innings, and the Brewers beat Charlie Hough (8-10) for the ninth time in a row.

Seattle 3, Cleveland 1--It was a meeting at Seattle of two pitchers who have been struggling lately. Mark Langston won the battle with Greg Swindell, although both pitched well.

In losing his seventh in a row, Swindell (10-8) gave up nine hits and three runs while striking out eight in eight innings.

Langston (7-8) gave up only four hits, including Julio Franco’s ninth home run, and won just his second game in his last eight starts. He struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

Toronto 7, Oakland 1--Fred McGriff hit a two-run homer in a five-run third inning at Oakland, and the Blue Jays beat the Athletics for the first time this season after eight defeats.

Mike Flanagan (9-6), who was 0-2 with a 9.90 earned-run average against the A’s this season, pitched a six-hitter. He walked two and didn’t strike out a batter.

The A’s scored on an RBI single by Mark McGwire in the first inning.

McGriff, 0 for 16 entering the game, hit his 16th homer of the season to cap the five-run outburst against Bob Welch (10-6).