American League Roundup : Called Shot by Baylor Gives Yankees a 5-4 Win

Designated hitter Don Baylor was in the clubhouse Tuesday “stretching and swinging” for his upcoming turn at bat. He was doing some predicting, too.

“I was telling Billy Sample--I was really just popping off--that he was going to throw me a breaking ball and I’d hit it in the upper deck,” Baylor said.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Chicago reliever Dan Spillner’s first pitch was indeed a breaking ball that “stayed out over the plate,” right where Baylor wanted it.

The only thing that stopped it from reaching the upper deck was the screen attached to the left-field foul pole. Regardless, it was Baylor’s first home run of the season, and it gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the White Sox in New York’s home opener before a crowd of 53,019.

“If that pitch stays in a little, you either take it or pull it foul,” Baylor said. “I’ve hit a lot of balls down there that hooked hard left and hit the foul pole. This time, the ball stayed on a straight line. After it got out there about three-quarters of the way, I knew it was out.”

Butch Wynegar and Dave Winfield hit two-run homers for the Yankees. Harold Baines drove in two Chicago runs with a single and homer, and Greg Walker gave the White Sox gave a short-lived 4-2 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh.

Detroit 2, Milwaukee 1--Alan Trammell drove in both runs with a homer and a sacrifice fly and Walt Terrell, with help from Aurelio Lopez, won his first American League game as the Tigers beat the Brewers at Detroit to remain the only undefeated team in the major leagues.

Terrell worked the first 6 innings, scattering three hits and allowing just one unearned run. He matched his career high with seven strikeouts while walking five.

Lopez earned his second save in preserving the Tigers’ sixth victory of the season.

Ray Burris pitched a strong game for the Brewers, allowing just six hits, walking four and striking out two in 7 innings.

Cleveland 6, Baltimore 3--Vern Ruhle pitched 6 shutout innings and Julio Franco drove in three runs at Cleveland as the Indians posted their first win of the season.

Ruhle yielded just five hits while striking out seven and walking one. Tom Waddell relieved him and yielded Baltimore’s runs on a two-run eighth-inning homer by Cal Ripken and a ninth-inning leadoff shot by Larry Sheets.

Brett Butler had three hits and scored three runs for the Indians.

Texas 9, Toronto 4--Run-scoring triples by Don Slaught and Pete O’Brien highlighted a four-run fifth inning that started the Rangers on the way to their first victory of the season.

All nine Texas starters drove in a run in the game, and eight of them scored as the Rangers spoiled the Blue Jays home opener.

Kansas City 2, Boston 0--Danny Jackson pitched a three-hitter and Steve Balboni slammed a two-run homer as the Royals ended a four-game losing streak with the win at Kansas City.

Jackson held Boston hitless for 5 innings before Dwight Evans singled to center. The other Boston hits were singles by Bill Buckner in the seventh and Mike Easler in the ninth.

Jackson, who struck out two and walked four, has pitched 18 scoreless innings in two starts this season.

Oakland 9, Seattle 7--Bruce Bochte ripped two doubles and drove in three runs to lead the A’s to the victory at Oakland.

The loss was Seattle’s second straight after opening the season with six consecutive victories. Oakland, which led, 6-0, after two innings, held on to even its mark at 4-4.