clarinews@clarinet.com (09/22/89)
MINNEAPOLIS (UPI) -- Mark McGwire homered and scored both runs to back the six-hit pitching of Bob Welch and two relievers Thursday night, sending the American League West-leading Oakland Athletics to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The A's, who entered the game with a 2 1-2 game lead over California, have won four straight. The Twins have dropped five straight. Welch, 17-8, allowed just one run and six hits over 7 2-3 innings. He walked one and struck out one before Rick Honeycutt got the final out in the eighth and Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his 31st save. Welch's victory made him the fourth A's starter to earn 17 or more victories. Rick Aguilera, 2-5, gave up just two runs and seven hits with five strikeouts in his second complete game. The A's jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when McGwire doubled, advanced on Tony Phillips groundout, and scored a Ricky Henderson single. McGwire's 29th homer of the year in the fifth gave the A's a 2-0 lead. Minnesota pulled within 2-1 in the seventh when Brian Harper doubled and scored on Wally Backman's single.