American League Roundup : Puckett Goes 6 for 6 as Twins Defeat Brewers and Regain Lead

Kirby Puckett is doing everything he can to help the Minnesota Twins improve their dismal road record.

The center fielder had a great game for the second consecutive day Sunday as the Twins moved into sole possession of first place in the West with a 10-6 victory over the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Puckett went 4 for 5 Saturday, including two home runs, as the Twins ended a nine-game road losing streak.

He did even better Sunday. Puckett went 6 for 6, including two home runs for the second game in a row. He drove in four runs and scored four.

In the two games, he went 10 for 11, helping Minnesota to a one-game lead over the Oakland Athletics.

As if that wasn’t enough, Puckett also made a great defensive play. In the sixth inning, with the Twins leading, 5-3, the Brewers loaded the bases. Robin Yount hit a high drive to center, and Puckett leaped above the fence to rob Yount of a grand slam.

Puckett, who suddenly became a home run hitter last season with 31 after getting only 4 in more than 1,200 at-bats in his first two seasons, has 21 this season.

The 10 hits in two consecutive nine-inning games tied a major league record set by Rennie Stennett of the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of 1975.

“I don’t pay any attention to records,” Puckett said. “What I pay attention to is where we are in the standings. Right now we’re on top. We’ve got 30 games left, and I want to do what I can to keep us there.”

Even with the two straight victories, the Twins are only 26-43 on the road. However, they have fewer road games remaining that any other team in the West.

New York 4, Seattle 1--The Yankees needed a lift, and Bill Gullickson gave it to them. The right-hander, who was obtained from the Cincinnati Reds a few days ago, went into the eighth inning with a five-hitter and won in his American League debut.

Dave Righetti, who has struggled at times this season, retired the last five Mariners to earn his 25th save.

Two errors by Seattle second baseman Harold Reynolds helped the Yankees score two runs in the fourth, and that was all Gullickson needed.

“I decided to just go out after the hitters, the way I always have,” said Gullickson, who had lost five in a row before the Reds sent him to the Yankees in exchange for left-hander Dennis Rasmussen. “I don’t nibble (at the corners of the plate), I go after them.”

Toronto 13, Oakland 3--Silent George Bell is letting his bat do the talking. The Blue Jay left fielder hit two more home runs and drove in four runs at Toronto as the Blue Jays knocked the A’s out of first place in the West.

Bell hit a three-run home run, his 40th, in the seventh to spark an eight-run rally and tie the A’s Mark McGwire for the league lead, then took the lead when he hit his 41st in the eighth.

Bell also leads the league with 113 runs batted in.

The seventh-inning outburst by the Blue Jays enabled Jim Clancy, who got off to a shaky start, to improve his record to 12-10. Clancy, who pitched eight innings, gave up three runs and eight hits in the first three innings.

Rookie second baseman Nelson Liriano batted twice in the seventh inning, and in the second at-bat hit a three-run home run, his first in the major leagues.

Boston 7, Cleveland 3--Dwight Evans hit two home runs at Cleveland and set a career-high with 33 to lead the Red Sox over the Indians. Evans has 109 RBIs, also a career-high, to go with a .328 average, third-highest in the league.

But Evans said he would gladly trade his personal records for a return to the playoffs and World Series. A year ago, the Red Sox were breezing to the division championship; this year they are 15 1/2 games behind Detroit and in fifth place.

Roger Clemens (14-8) struck out 8 and gave up 10 hits in 6 innings but got the win. Clemens struck out Cory Snyder three times and now has struck him out all nine times he has faced him.

Kansas City 11, Chicago 7--Kevin Seitzer hit a grand slam, and Jamie Quirk hit a three-run home run at Chicago to lead the Royals.

It was the 13th home run for Seitzer, who also had two singles.

Seitzer said he didn’t want to disappoint a group of about 400 who came from Lincoln, Ill., his hometown, to watch him play on “Kevin Seitzer Day.”

“I was nervous,” he said. “I usually choke up in situations like that. It really felt good.”