AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Higuera Extends Brewers’ Shutout Streak

It probably seems as if Robin Yount has been with the Milwaukee Brewers forever. Actually, this is his 17th season.

The 34-year-old center fielder has only one more goal as a major leaguer. He wants to play in another World Series.

If the Brewers can continue their excellent pitching, Yount may get his wish.

Teddy Higuera pitched the Brewers’ club-record third consecutive shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox Saturday at Milwaukee.

Higuera gave up only four hits and one walk while striking out eight as he extended the scoreless streak by Brewer pitchers to 29 innings.

Tom Filer and two relievers held the Red Sox to four hits Friday night and Chris Bosio became the first American Leaguer to pitch a complete game this season when he beat the Texas Rangers, 11-0, with a four-hitter Thursday night. Tony Fossas and Dan Plesac blanked the Rangers the last two innings Wednesday.

The shutout was the Brewers’ fourth in their last five games. Higuera started the 18-0 victory over Boston last Monday. He is 2-0 and has given up only six hits in 15 1/3 scoreless innings.

Yount, last year’s Most Valuable Player, played in the 1982 World Series and batted .414, but the Brewers lost to the Cardinals in seven games.

“The way our pitching is going, maybe this is the year for us to go back, “ he said. “Teddy, when he’s healthy, is just a great pitcher. We will be something if he can avoid injury.”

Toronto 5, Kansas City 1--With the bullpen he has behind him, Dave Stieb probably never worries when he is removed from a game.

The veteran right-hander improved his record to 3-0 with help from relievers Duane Ward and Tom Henke, as well as the hitting of Junior Felix.

Ward, who has pitched well in all three of Stieb’s wins, was perfect for three innings after taking over with two on and none out and the Blue Jays leading, 3-1, in the sixth inning at Toronto. Henke pitched the ninth. Felix had three hits, drove in three runs and scored another.

“I’d say of my three starts, this was by no means the best,” said Stieb, who gave up six hits in five innings. “But with our bullpen, you don’t mind giving up the ball.”

The Blue Jays have won five of their last six and lead the East.

Cleveland 8, Chicago 4--The fans at Cleveland Municipal Stadium were already cheering and chanting his name before Sandy Alomar Jr. hit his first American League home run to help the Indians win.

After the White Sox scored four runs off Tom Candiotti in the first inning, the rookie catcher tried to win the game by himself.

He hit a three-run double and a two-run homer, as the Indians came from behind to win. Alomar, 22, acquired from San Diego in the Joe Carter trade, is 10 for 29 and has seven RBIs.

Oakland 7, Seattle 6--After being held to one hit by Brian Holman Friday night, the Athletics had only one hit through five innings against Randy Johnson.

After spotting the Mariners a 6-1 lead, they rallied to win at Oakland. They scored twice in the ninth inning with Rickey Henderson singling in the tying run. In the 11th, Henderson doubled with two outs and scored on Carney Lansford’s single.

Detroit 3, Baltimore 2--Gary Ward hit a two-run single in the eighth inning at Baltimore and the Tigers not only ended their scoreless string at 18 innings, they won the game.

Alan Trammell’s run-scoring double ended the drought, and with runners on second and third, Lou Whitaker was walked intentionally before Ward singled.

Dan Petry, in his first start for the Tigers since Sept. 30, 1987, lasted into the sixth and didn’t figure in the decision.

Texas 9, New York 6--The Yankees have started hitting home runs, but they continue to lose.

They hit their first three homers Friday night and hit four more at Arlington, Tex., as they lost their fourth in a row. Dave Winfield hit two and rookie Mike Blowers hit the other two.

Ranger third baseman Steve Buechele sustained a broken right wrist when hit by an Eric Plunk pitch in the seventh inning. Buechele, who had homered earlier in the game, will be out indefinitely, the Rangers said.