AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Top Orioles on Jackson’s Big Day

Reggie Jackson deserved at least some of the credit for the New York Yankees’ 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Saturday at New York.

A crowd of 52,598 showed up at Yankee Stadium to see the club retire Jackson’s No. 44 in a pregame ceremony.

Then the Yankees went out and sent the Orioles to their fifth consecutive loss.

Winning at home for the 10th time in 13 games, the Yankees remained in a first-place tie with Toronto in the American League East. The Orioles dropped 3 1/2 games behind the leaders.

Said Yankee Don Mattingly of the atmosphere Saturday: “You like the feeling of today. A packed house, a big game, Reggie Jackson’s day.”

With the game tied, 2-2, the Yankees scored two runs in the sixth off reliever Mark Williamson (6-3). Spike Owen doubled with two out and scored the go-ahead run on Pat Kelly’s single. Kelly moved to second on a wild pitch and came home when Mike Gallego followed with a single to right.

Baltimore had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth on Mike Devereaux’s two-run homer, his 11th, off rookie starter Domingo Jean.

Jean, who gave up two runs and four hits in five innings, arrived at Yankee Stadium only 45 minutes before the game because of traffic problems on the George Washington Bridge.

He got out of his cab on the New York side of the bridge and jogged part of the way to the Stadium, about two miles away. He was assisted by a nearby homeowner, who helped drive the pitcher as close to the stadium as possible.

Chicago 4, Kansas City 1--Alex Fernandez pitched two-hit ball for 8 2/3 innings and Robin Ventura homered for the White Sox at Chicago.

Fernandez (14-6) gave up a single to Brian McRae in the first inning and a home run to Brent Mayne in the second, then retired 22 consecutive batters before walking McRae with two out in the ninth.

David Cone (8-11) lost despite pitching his fourth complete game.

Cleveland 8, Texas 5--Julian Tavarez pitched 5 2/3 innings for his first major-league victory as the Indians won their fourth consecutive game at Cleveland.

Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar homered to back Tavarez, a 20-year-old right-hander. He allowed three runs and seven hits.

Detroit 5, Milwaukee 1--Travis Fryman and Kirk Gibson each hit two-run singles in support of Mike Moore (9-6) to lead the Tigers at Milwaukee.

Moore held the Brewers scoreless until Darryl Hamilton led off the eighth inning with his seventh home run.

The Brewers’ Teddy Higuera, pitching in the majors for the first time in more than two years, gave up one run in two innings. Higuera (0-1), who has battled rotator cuff problems, was on a 45-pitch limit.

He allowed three hits, including Cecil Fielder’s RBI single, walked two and struck out two.

Minnesota 5-6, Oakland 1-2--Shane Mack homered and drove in four runs, powering the Twins past the Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader at Oakland.

Mack hit a three-run homer, his ninth, off Kelly Downs (3-7) for a 4-2 lead in the fifth. He delivered his third hit of the game, an RBI double, in the seventh.

The Twins won the opener in 12 innings, with Willie Banks striking out 13 A’s in eight innings.

The game was tied, 1-1, when Kent Hrbek opened the 12th with a single off Rick Honeycutt (0-3). Edwin Nunez relieved and gave up singles to Dave Winfield and Brian Harper, loading the bases. Mike Pagliarulo’s sacrifice fly put Minnesota ahead, and Jeff Reboulet hit a three-run double later in the inning.

Toronto 5, Red Sox 2--Pat Hentgen allowed three hits over seven innings and the Blue Jays scored in five of the first six innings at Boston.

Devon White and Joe Carter homered for the Blue Jays.

Boston fell two games behind Toronto and New York in the East.