American League Roundup : Sax Steps to Head of Yankees’ Class as Brewers Fail, 4-3

Steve Sax isn’t merely on the dean’s list after almost half a season with the New York Yankees. He’s on George’s list.

Sax, awarded the previously unattained grade of A+ before the game by owner George Steinbrenner, increased his average to .331 with three hits Friday night, including a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning that gave the Yankees a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in New York.

“I’m just going to keep on doing my best for him,” Sax said after hearing of the owner’s praise. “One of the reasons I came here was the way they treated my wife during the negotiations.”

Sax, who had spent his entire career with the Dodgers before coming to New York as a free agent, has 31 multihit games, including 10 when he got three or more.

Sax broke a 3-3 tie when he doubled in Wayne Tolleson in the eighth.

Oakland 5, Cleveland 0--Bob Welch, recently off the disabled list, struggled through five scoreless innings, and Dave Henderson ended a slump with three hits and an RBI as the Athletics beat the Indians at Cleveland.

Welch (9-4), who suffered a groin injury June 12, was in constant trouble, giving up seven hits and four walks. The Indians left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and ninth innings and stranded 13 runners, 10 in scoring position.

Gene Nelson pitched three hitless innings in relief of Welch but needed last-out help from Rick Honeycutt after the Indians loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Honeycutt retired Pete O’Brien on a fly ball for his ninth save.

Kansas City 6, Chicago 3-- Former Angel Bob Boone got his 800th career RBI, and Danny Tartabull homered in his return from the disabled list to help the Royals beat the White Sox at Chicago.

Charlie Leibrandt (5-8) won for only the second time in his last six starts, giving up eight hits and three runs in seven innings, including a leadoff homer to Eddie Williams in the seventh. Jeff Montgomery pitched the last two innings for his second save.

Boone, 41, signed as a free agent last Nov. 30, has 344 American League RBIs.

Boston 3, Toronto 1--Dwight Evans doubled home the tie-breaking run with two out in the eighth inning, and Mike Boddicker yielded five hits in eight innings of the Red Sox’s victory over the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Mike Greenwell started the game-wining rally against Toronto reliever David Wells (2-3) with a two-out single. Greenwell was apparently picked off first base when Wells threw behind him as he broke for second. However, first baseman Fred McGriff couldn’t get the ball out of his glove and then threw late to second.

Greenwell, who was credited with a stolen base, scored on Evans’ double.

Seattle 4, Texas 3--Bill Swift, who had an 8.34 earned-run average in his last five starts, outdueled Nolan Ryan, and the Mariners beat the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

Swift (4-2) took a three-hit shutout into the seventh before yielding a leadoff single to Rick Leach and a triple to Pete Incaviglia. Mike Jackson relieved and retired two batters before Cecil Espy singled Incaviglia home.

Ryan (9-4), who had won his previous four decisions, gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out eight, increasing his major leagues-leading total to 136.

Detroit 16, Baltimore 5--The Orioles collapsed for the second straight game as the Tigers won at Baltimore.

The Orioles have given up 27 runs and 37 hits in their last two games.

The Tigers got a pair of home runs from Mike Heath and Chet Lemon’s three-run shot in the sixth erased a 5-3 Orioles’ lead.

Heath finished with four hits, four runs and three RBI, and Lemon drove in a career-high five runs. Reliever Mike Schwabe (2-3) went 6 1/3 innings for the victory.