American League Roundup : Red Sox Score Sweep, Trail by Only 1 1/2 Games

The Morgan Miracle continues.

With rookie Jody Reed getting seven hits and scoring five runs, the Red Sox swept a doubleheader from the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-4 and 5-4, Friday night at Boston.

It gave them a 15-1 record under new Manager Joe Morgan and 18 wins in a row at Fenway Park.

When Morgan was hired as interim manager after John McNamara was dismissed, the Red Sox were fourth in the American League East, 9 games out of first place.

But under the miracle worker, they have soared within a half-game of second place and trail the front-running Detroit Tigers by only 1 1/2 games.

Morgan leaned back in the chair in his office after the sweep and said: “Ain’t this easy, gentlemen?

“I’ll take them while they come. I was going to rest Jody in the second game, but I didn’t see how I could after he got four hits in the opener.”

Reed moved to second base for the second game after playing shortstop in the opener and went 3 for 5. He raised his average from .297 to .325.

In the first game, Reed opened with a single and scored on Mike Greenwell’s 17th home run to get Bruce Hurst off to a fast start. Hurst (11-4) won for the eighth time in nine decisions at home. He needed relief help in the seventh.

Bob Stanley, who saved the nightcap, pitched two scoreless innings, and Lee Smith earned his 17th save.

Paul Molitor hit Mike Smithson’s first pitch in the second game for a home run to trigger a three-run first for the Brewers. But that’s not enough to beat the Red Sox these days.

With the score tied, 4-4, in the eighth, a throwing error by third baseman Molitor on an infield hit by Reed, set up the winning run. Todd Benzinger, who hit a two-run homer in the third inning, singled home the winning run.

Detroit 3-1, Texas 2-2--Manager Bobby Valentine does not believe in putting the potential winning run on base, and it may have cost his Rangers a sweep of the doubleheader at Detroit.

In the opener, with one out in the ninth and the Rangers leading, 2-1, Valentine elected to pitch to dangerous Alan Trammell with Tom Brookens on second base.

Trammell hit his 11th home run to win the game for Frank Tanana (12-6) and spoil a fine performance by Paul Kilgus. The Ranger pitcher had a three-hitter going but left in the ninth when leadoff batter Brookens beat out a bunt. Craig McMurtry was the loser.

Tanana allowed eight hits in pitching his first complete game since the pennant-clincher last season. He ended a three-game losing streak, although he has allowed only 4 runs in 22 innings.

The Rangers pulled out the nightcap in the ninth inning when Cecil Espy slid hard into second base to break up a double play and allow Ruben Sierra to score the winning run.

Bobby Witt (3-6) pitched his fourth straight complete game since coming back from the minors. He gave up just four hits, losing his shutout when he balked in a run in the fourth.

The Rangers scored in the fifth on singles by Steve Buechle, Oddibe McDowell and Scott Fletcher. The hit was McDowell’s first in his last 47 at-bats.

Toronto 7, New York 1--The Yankees, who slipped into first place in the East on their recent homestand, are having their problems on the road.

Fred McGriff drove in three runs with a fly and his 23rd home run, and Jeff Musselman won his third straight since coming back from a shoulder injury. It was the Blue Jays’ second win in a row over the Yankees at Toronto.

Rickey Henderson walked to open the game. It was the 11th consecutive game he had led off by getting on base. Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield hit consecutive singles to load the bases with none out.

Jack Clark hit into a double play as the run scored. But thereafter, the Yankees couldn’t mount a rally.

Cleveland 7, Minnesota 0--Greg Swindell pitched a five-hitter at Cleveland, and two-run home runs by Ron Kittle and Joe Carter made his task easier.

On May 30, Swindell was 10-1. He then proceeded to lose his next eight decisions. Now, he has pitched two strong games in a row and has a 12-9 record.

“At least, they’ve stopped asking me if I’m hurt,” Swindell said. “I wasn’t hurt, I just wasn’t throwing quality pitches.”

He gave up two singles and a walk with one out in the first, then retired the next 19 hitters.

Kansas City 6, Baltimore 2--George Brett hit a two-run home run, and Bo Jackson hit a three-run smash at Baltimore to power the Royals to victory.

Brett got his 17th in a three-run first inning that enabled Bret Saberhagen (11-10) to end a four-game losing streak.

Jackson was in an 0-for-14 slump when he came up with two on and one out in the fourth and connected for his 14th home run.

Seattle 5, Oakland 3--Steve Balboni hit a three-run home run with two out in the bottom of the 10th off bullpen ace Dennis Eckersley at Seattle to prevent the Athletics from increasing their lead in the West.

In the top of the 10th, Ron Hassey singled home the tie-breaking run, and Eckersley came in, seeking his 31st save. Harold Reynolds singled, and two outs later, Alvin Davis also singled. On an 0-1 pitch, Balboni hit his 13th home run.

One of the Oakland runs came on Jose Canseco’s major leagues-leading 27th home run. It was off Mark Langston, the major leagues’ leader in giving up home runs. It was the 25th he has surrendered this season.