AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rickey Henderson’s Homer Hands Oriole Rookie McDonald First Loss

Ben McDonald could find solace in the knowledge that it took the best team in baseball to hand him his first major league defeat.

Rickey Henderson hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to break a tie at Baltimore Saturday night and give the Oakland Athletics a 3-1 victory over the Orioles.

McDonald, the 22-year-old right-hander from Louisiana State who was the No. 1 pick in the 1989 draft, had won his first five starts for the Orioles. Included was a victory at Oakland during which he gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings.

He was doing even better Saturday, giving up only one run before Walt Weiss doubled in the seventh inning and, with one out, Henderson hit his 22nd home run, a drive over the center field wall.

Until then, McDonald had not given up a home run in 52 innings. It also marked the first time he had given up more than two earned runs in a game.

“He was a real challenge for our club,” Oakland Manager Tony La Russa said. “I don’t believe he’s going to lose many. He’s already special. He’s just going to get better and better.”

Henderson’s home run put McDonald behind for the first time in any of his six starts. He took the loss in stride.

“I just hung a breaking ball,” he said. “He could easily have popped it up or grounded out and we’d still be playing.”

The Orioles got only four hits--including Bob Melvin’s fourth home run, in the second inning--off three pitchers.

Curt Young worked 5 2/3 innings. Gene Nelson, who retired all seven batters he faced--three on strikes--was the winner. Dennis Eckersley retired the Orioles in order in the ninth for his 38th save in 39 opportunities.

Henderson stole his 50th base. It is the 10th season he has stolen that many.

Toronto 3, Minnesota 0--Last Sunday the Blue Jays were in a slump and trailed in the American League East by three games.

After getting an outstanding performance from Jimmy Key (8-6), the Blue Jays trail the Boston Red Sox by a percentage point.

Key gave up only two hits in seven innings. When he faltered and gave up two hits in the eighth, Tom Henke took over and earned his 26th save.

The Twins, last in the West, have lost four in a row and trail sixth-place Kansas City by 3 1/2 games.

Texas 8, Chicago 3--The Rangers broke out of a slump to pound rookie Alex Fernandez at Arlington, Tex., and drop the White Sox to 7 1/2 games behind Oakland in second place.

Ruben Sierra’s two-run home run capped a four-run fourth inning, and Fernandez, 21, gave up eight hits and eight runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The White Sox scored a run in each of the first two innings but blew chances to score more when catcher Geno Petralli threw out three runners trying to steal.

Then, after rookie relief pitcher John Barfield took over in the fourth inning with two on and nobody out, Chicago didn’t get another hit. Barfield worked six innings and gave up a run. New York 6, Seattle 0--Mike Witt pitched a two-hitter at New York for his second victory over the Mariners in 11 days. Until Aug. 7, he had not won for the Yankees.

“I’m sure there will be changes (with George Steinbrenner relinquishing control of the club),” said Witt, who came to the Yankees from the Angels in the Dave Winfield trade. “I’d like to stay here.”

Alvin Davis had singles in the second and seventh innings for the only hits off Witt. On April 11 Witt pitched the last two innings of a no-hitter in which Mark Langston worked the first seven.

Jesse Barfield and rookie Kevin Maas hit home runs for the Yankees. Barfield has hit six of his 17 against the Mariners.

Maas has hit 14 in 131 at--bats.

Detroit 6, Cleveland 3--Cecil Fielder, after a midseason slump, is hitting with power once again.

Fielder hit his major league-leading 39th home run and added a single at Detroit to lead the Tigers. Fielder has hit home runs in three consecutive games.

Fielder’s slugging helped Walt Terrell win his second game in a row. Terrell needed last-out help after giving up nine hits.

Fielder has nine hits in his last 11 at-bats in the last three games and has driven in six runs.

Kansas City 10, Milwaukee 1--Rookie Brian McRae had four hits at Milwaukee and Kevin Appier (9-4) won his fourth in a row for the Royals.

McRae, son of former Royals’ star Hal McRae, had three singles and a double, scored twice and drove in three runs. He increased his batting average to .351 since being called up early this month.

Appier gave up six hits in six innings and was helped by a 17-hit attack.