Quiet Strawberry Makes Noise At Bat

American League

For the time being, Darryl Strawberry wants to let his bat do the talking. In his first two games with the New York Yankees, his bat has been productive if not loud.

Strawberry went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and scored his first run for the Yankees as New York beat the Detroit Tigers 7-1 Saturday night.

Randy Velarde added a pair of run-scoring singles, Wade Boggs had three hits and Sterling Hitchcock won in his first start since July 24 for the Yankees, who remained 4-1/2 games behind first-place Boston in the A.L. East. Strawberry is 4 for 9 (.444) in two games since the Yankees called him up Friday from Columbus.

As was the case after his Yankee debut Friday, he wasn’t talking to reporters after the game.

“I just want to play,” Strawberry said. “I just want to go out and play baseball.”

Strawberry was interviewed on The Baseball Network telecast before the game but gave the silent treatment afterward.

“That’s my choice,” he said. “It has nothing to do with you. I’m just not talking right now.”

New York won its third straight and its 14th in 17 games. Detroit, meanwhile, fell a season-worst 10 games below .500 and 11-1/2 games behind Boston with its third straight loss and 18th in 22 starts since the All-Star break.

Orioles 6, Brewers 5

Baltimore

Jeff Huson’s bases-loaded single capped a three-run rally that gave Baltimore a win. The O’s entered the ninth trailing 5-3 and facing closer Mike Fetters (0-1), who hadn’t blown a save since July 22, 1994.

Angels 5, Rangers 3

Anaheim, Calif.

Mark Langston pitched six strongs innings to win his eight straight decision as California beat Texas. Langston (11-1) remained undefeated in 12 starts.

Red Sox 9, Blue Jays 3

Toronto

Mo Vaughn homered, doubled and drove in four runs in the first three innings as Boston scored five times in the first and cruised to an easy win.

Vaughn had an RBI double in the first, hit his 29th homer, tying him with Frank Thomas for the major-league lead, in the second and hit a two-run double in the third.

Jose Canseco also had three hits in the first three innings and drove in a pair of runs.

Indians 11, White Sox 7

Cleveland

Albert Belle hit two of Cleveland’s season-high six home runs as the Indians collected 21 hits and beat Chicago. Belle and Eddie Murray hit consecutive home runs off Alex Fernandez in the first inning, and Belle helped add the finishing touches with his fourth hit of the game and 24th home run of the season off Kirk McCaskill in the eighth.

Twins 13, Royals 8

Minneapolis

Mike Trombley won for the first time in a month and Kirby Puckett continued his hot hitting with a home run and a double in Minnesota’s win.

Matt Merullo had the first grand slam of his major-league career and Pedro Munoz also homered for Minnesota, which snapped a three-game losing skid and scored its most runs this year.

Clearing the bases

Cal Ripken played in his 2,100th consecutive game, leaving him just 31 short of breaking Lou Gehrig’s record. He received a standing ovation at Camden Yards in the middle of the fifth, when the game became official… . The eight home runs by Chicago and Cleveland were the most ever in a single game at Jacobs Field… . Kansas City has won 8 of the last 11 games against the Twins dating back to last season.

The retirement of John Kruk gives White Sox the chance to execute the master plan of switching Frank Thomas, a defensive liability, from first base to designated hitter. If rookie Chris Snopek can handle third base, Robin Ventura would move to first… . Saturday night’s crowd of 42,296 pushed California attendance over the million mark; the Angels have averaged 22,261 for 46 home dates, the club’s lowest since 21,671 in 1978.