American League Roundup : Blue Jays Take Over East Perch

George Steinbrenner might find it hard to believe, but it appears that the key to success in the American League East is to change managers during the season.

The owner of the New York Yankees has switched field leaders in the middle of nearly every season, rarely with success.

But last season, the Boston Red Sox fired John McNamara, and Joe Morgan, with an excellent second half, led the Red Sox to the title in the East.

Cito Gaston appears ready to do the same for Toronto. The Blue Jays, then 12-24, fired Manager Jimy Williams. Gaston, who was the batting coach, took over as interim manager on May 15.

Lucky for the Blue Jays, they didn’t replace him. Gaston has done a fine job with a club that was torn by dissension and feeling the wrath of the fans.

Friday night, Rookie Glenallen Hill, promoted to the majors shortly before the game, hit a grand slam in the fourth inning at Toronto to lead the Blue Jays to a 7-3 victory over Minnesota.

Their fourth victory in a row left the Blue Jays alone in first place after the Baltimore Orioles had been there for 98 days.

Since Gaston took over, the Blue Jays are 61-38--a .616 pace. The Blue Jays were 20-9 in August.

George Bell’s 22-game hitting streak ended, but Hill, Kelly Gruber and Mookie Wilson took up the slack for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays are 21-9 since they obtained Wilson, who was an unhappy part-time player with the New York Mets. Wilson went three for four, scoring a run and driving in another, and Gruber hit his 15th home run of the season. Wilson is hitting .335 since joining the Blue Jays.

Todd Stottlemyre (6-5) gave up three runs and seven hits in pitching through the eighth inning for the first time this season.

Chicago 10, Baltimore 1--Daryl Boston hit a grand slam in the first inning at Chicago, and the White Sox went on to knock the Orioles out of first place. Baltimore, which had been in first place in the East for 110 of 150 days this season, had been there since May 26.

Boston is eight for 17 (.437) in his last eight games.

An error by losing pitcher Bob Milacki on Ivan Calderon’s grounder followed Lance Johnson’s single in the first. Carlton Fisk walked to fill the bases before Boston hit a 3-and-1 pitch into the upper deck in right for his fourth home run of the season.

Milwaukee 6, Oakland 5--This is the time of year when teams can stock their rosters with rookies. One the Brewers brought up,Greg Vaughn, singled in the winning run in the 10th inning at Milwaukee.

The Athletics went into the ninth with a 5-4 lead after their power hitters, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, hit home runs. Dennis Eckersley, who had been almost perfect in relief since returning in July from a shoulder injury, then retired five Brewers in a row and was one out from his 29th save.

With two out, Bill Spiers, a rookie developing into a star for the Brewers, singled and stole second. He scored the tying run when left fielder Rickey Henderson misplayed B. J. Surhoff’s drive into a double.

Kansas City 5, Texas 3--Willie Wilson ended a one-for-12 slump with a two-out, two-run double in the 12th inning at Arlington, Tex. to move the Royals within 1 1/2 games of first place in the West.

Until Wilson’s game-winner, it had been a battle of home runs. Bo Jackson’s 27th of the season with two out in the eighth tied the score.

Earlier, Kurt Stillwell (seventh) and George Brett (10th) also homered for Kansas City. For the Rangers, it was Jeff Kunkel (seventh) and Ruben Sierra (23rd). Sierra’s came with a man on base.

Detroit 2, Cleveland 1--The Tigers ended their 12-game losing streak--longest in 14 years--in the 12th inning at Detroit.

Fred Lynn walked with one out in the 12th; Mike Brumley ran for him and went to third on Mike Heath’s single. With two out, Gary Pettis singled to break it up.

The Tigers, with Frank Tanana pitching a two-hitter, held a 1-0 lead with one out in the ninth, but Joe Carter hit his 29th home run of the season to deprive Tanana of the victory.

Seattle 7, Boston 2--It has gone almost unnoticed, but Jeffrey Leonard has been a productive hitter in his first season with the Mariners.

Leonard hit his 22nd home run, the most in any season, to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning at Boston. Leonard has driven in 83 runs. His best is 87 in 1983 with San Francisco.