Saberhagen’s Fast Start No Surprise to Him

It may be premature to give Bret Saberhagen the comeback player of the year award, but the 34-year-old is certainly an early favorite.

Saberhagen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who missed the entire 1996 season because of a shoulder surgery, pitched six shutout innings on Sunday to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians, 2-0, at Boston.

“I feel a lot better than last year or the year before,” Saberhagen said. “It was nice to go out there and not only get the win, but for the team to win. I haven’t surprised myself, but I think I’ve surprised a lot of other people.”

Saberhagen (3-0) pitched only six games last year, struggling to a 0-1 record and a 6.58 earned-run average.

On Sunday, he struck out four and walked one, helping Boston improve to 8-1 at Fenway Park. He has won three consecutive decisions for the first time since June 18-28, 1995.

According to Bob Saberhagen, Brett’s father, the pitcher has a clause in his contract that will pay him an extra $500,000 if he wins comeback player of the year.

Toronto 5, Chicago 4--Alex Gonzalez hit a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning as the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox at Toronto.

Mike Stanley and Ed Sprague hit back-to-back homers in the fourth as the Blue Jays extended their season-high winning streak to three.

Craig Grebeck led off Toronto’s 12th with a double off Carlos Castillo (0-1), and one out later, moved to third on Shannon Stewart’s fly to deep right. Gonzalez followed with a clean hit to center.

The three-game sweep was the Blue Jays’ first over the White Sox since May 29-31, 1992.

Albert Belle homered for the White Sox, who have lost six of eight.

Seattle 7, Minnesota 4--Russ Davis’ second homer of the game, a three-run shot in the seventh inning at Minneapolis, sent the Mariners to their fifth consecutive victory.

The Mariners finished a 10-game trip 5-5 after dropping the first five games when their bullpen blew late-inning leads.

Mike Timlin pitched three perfect innings for his first save and the Mariners’ fourth save in five games after not getting one in the season’s first 13 games.

Alex Rodriguez went three for five with two doubles, a triple and two runs scored as Seattle swept a four-game series from Minnesota for the first time.

Javier Valentin drove in two runs for Minnesota, which has lost four in a row.

Detroit 2, New York 1--Damion Easley’s sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning at Detroit and Brian Moehler gave up three hits in eight innings as the Tigers snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Detroit’s win also ended the Yankees’ eight-game winning streak and was the Tigers’ first at home against the Yankees in 13 games.

Tony Clark hit his first home run since Sept. 14 in the seventh inning off Hideki Irabu, who was struck in the side by a line drive in the sixth.

Moehler (1-2) struck out seven and walked one. Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his second save.

Irabu was having his second start of the season before exiting after Clark’s leadoff homer in the seventh. The right-hander gave up three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.

Kansas City 7, Oakland 3--Rookie Larry Sutton had four hits and Dean Palmer went three for four with two RBIs at Oakland.

The A’s are 4-12, their worst start after 16 games since moving to Oakland in 1968.

Pat Rapp (1-1) survived nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings for the victory, and was helped by the Royals turning a season-high four double plays.

“These are teams that we should match well against,” Oakland Manager Art Howe said. “They’re not the Yankees or the Red Sox. They just outplayed us.”