AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Borders Gives Blue Jays, Wells 5th Victory in Row

Toronto Manager Cito Gaston, desperate for a fifth starting pitcher early in the 1990 season, decided to give left-hander David Wells a try.

Wells, from Torrance, had spent most of four seasons as an undistinguished member of the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

As a starter, Wells has blossomed.

Wells, who was 11-6 last season, has overcome a slow start to do even better this year.

With the help of Pat Borders’ three-run double in the seventh inning Friday night at Toronto, Wells beat the Texas Rangers, 6-2, for his fifth consecutive victory. The Blue Jays also have won five in a row and lead the American League East by 7 1/2 games.

Wells (10-4) gave up five hits in seven innings, and Duane Ward pitched two scoreless innings for his fifth save.

After opening the season 1-3, Wells has lost once in 14 starts since May 27.

“It really didn’t take me long to adjust to being a starter,” Wells, 28, said. “At first, I thought about just giving them five or six innings. But now, with a stronger arm, my goal is to go all the way.

“With the bullpen we have, though, if I give them a solid seven innings, we will usually win.

“We are coordinating our pitching better this season. Last year, when the starters were going good, the bullpen was off. Then, the relievers were sharp and the starters were bad. Everything is working right this season.”

The second loss in a row to the sizzling Blue Jays dropped the Rangers two games behind Minnesota in the tight race in the West.

Jose Guzman, who is making a comeback after being out since 1988 because of shoulder problems, was leading Wells, 2-1, after six innings.

But, when Guzman gave up hits to Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to open the seventh, Guzman (4-4) was replaced by Kenny Rogers. John Olerud sacrificed and Pat Tabler was given an intentional walk to fill the bases.

Rich Gossage replaced Rogers and walked Kelly Gruber to force in the tying run. Then Borders lined the ball over left fielder Juan Gonzalez’s head to clear the bases.

Borders, who alternates as the Toronto catcher with Greg Myers, doesn’t usually play against right-handers. But Myers has a bruised foot.

“Greg should be back in tomorrow,” Borders said. “But as long as I get my chance, I’m going to make the best of it.”

Minnesota 5, Boston 4--Roger Clemens turned in another less than brilliant effort at Minneapolis and the Red Sox lost their third in a row.

Clemens, who fell to 11-6 after opening the season 6-0, gave up a two-run home run in the first inning to Kent Hrbek.

The Red Sox, with Tony Pena and Luis Rivera hitting back-to-back home runs, scored four times in the fifth inning to take the lead.

It was a 4-4 game into the seventh inning when Chuck Knoblauch doubled and was sacrificed to third. Hrbek was intentionally walked, but Chili Davis foiled the strategy. He ended an 0-for-12 drought with a hard single out of Clemens’ reach to drive in the winning run.

Davis, the Twins’ leader in RBIs (54) and home runs (19) has only three hits in his last 30 at-bats.

Clemens left after Davis hit. He threw 125 pitches and had six strikeouts.

“I felt strong and thought I was making good pitches,” he said.

Detroit 6, Kansas City 3--Cecil Fielder hit two towering home runs at Detroit to take over the major league lead with 23.

He also helped the Tigers move to within half a game of second place in the East.

The two home runs helped, but it was Fielder’s grounder in the seventh that was booted by shortstop David Howard that won the game. The score was tied at the time and two runs scored on the error.

Chicago 8, Milwaukee 6--Scott Fletcher’s two-run double in the ninth inning climaxed a comeback at Milwaukee.

The Brewers built an early 5-0 lead but sloppy defensive play led to seven unearned runs, including three in the ninth.

Seattle 7, Cleveland 0--Pat O’Brien hit a two-run home run and a run-scoring double at Seattle and the Mariners handed the Indians their second consecutive shutout.

Randy Johnson and three relievers combined on a six-hitter. It was the 13th time the Indians have been shut out and was the Indians’ 13th road loss in a row.

Baltimore 6, Oakland 3--Cal Ripken and Chris Hoiles went three for three with a doubles and home runs, and Ben McDonald pitched a strong game to lead the Orioles at Oakland.

Hoiles hit a solo homer to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning off reliever Curt Young (2-2), who came on when Bob Welch was ejected following a call in the fourth on which the Orioles scored two runs.

Ripken’s two-run homer, his 19th, off reliever Todd Burns in the seventh, capped the Baltimore scoring.