American League Roundup : Henderson Has Big Game, but White Sox Win

Rickey Henderson finally had his first big game as a New York Yankee Saturday at Chicago only to have the White Sox spoil it by putting together five consecutive singles in the 11th for a 5-4 victory.

Henderson, obtained from Oakland for a flock of young talent, missed the first 10 games because of an ankle injury and was only 2 for 18 in his first four games.

The fleet center fielder was the Yankee offense Saturday. His speed accounted for the first run and twice he appeared to have set the Yankees up for the victory.

He hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and, behind ace reliever, Dave Righetti, the Yankees carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth. Righetti couldn’t hold it as Scott Fletcher singled in one run and Harold Baines doubled just inside third to knock in another and tie it. In the 11th, Henderson walked with the bases full to give the Yankees the lead again.

The first five White Sox batters hit singles in the bottom of the inning. After Fletcher hit his fourth single of the game, Baines singled to load the bases. Then Tom Paciorek singled in the tying run, and Carlton Fisk blooped the game-winning hit over a drawn-in infield.

The biggest play of the game, though, may have been a defensive play by the White Sox in the third inning. The Yankees, leading 1-0, had runners on first and third with one out. Dave Winfield hit a shot through pitcher Tim Lollar’s legs and over second. Second baseman Julio Cruz made a diving stop and, while lying on his stomach made a glove-hand flip to shortstop Ozzie Guillen. The rookie grabbed the ball barehanded while making the force, threw quickly to first and Winfield was doubled to end a promising rally.

“I don’t know how many of these I can take,” Manager Tony LaRussa said after the White Sox rallied to win for the second game in a row. “We don’t give up. As long as we stay hungry, we’ll be all right.”

Kansas City 5, Boston 4--The Royals pulled out the win at Boston when Jim Sundberg opened the ninth with a single, reached third on Bill Buckner’s error and scored on Willie Wilson’s infield hit.

Kansas City relief ace Dan Quisenberry, who made an error to allow the Red Sox to tie the game in the eighth, showed his courage in the ninth. Dwight Evans hit a wicked smash that bounced off Quisenberry’s knee for a hit to open the inning. After an examination by the Red Sox doctor and a little jogging around, Quisenberry resumed pitching.

He got Jim Rice to ground into a double play and struck out Mike Easler.

Quisenberry, with his underhanded method of pitching, has a rubber arm and never seems to get tired, but he’s getting a day off. “He’s sure to be sore and stiff tomorrow, so I’ll give him a day off,” Manager Dick Howser said. “He is an amazing man. He’s the best and has been the most consistent coming out of the pen in the last four years. He showed me something else today.”

Minnesota 8, Oakland 6--Mickey Hatcher, 3 for 21 going into this game at Minneapolis, went 5 for 5, drove in two runs and scored another as the streaking Twins won their seventh in a row.

Against loser Don Sutton (2-2), Hatcher hit three singles and a double--all on the first pitch. He also singled his last time up to help Frank Viola improve his record to 3-2.

Detroit 3, Milwaukee 2--Alex Sanchez, obtained from San Francisco early this month in a deal of minor league players, hit a triple and home run and drove in all the Tiger runs in this game at Milwaukee.

Sanchez, brought up from the minors early last week when Dave Bergman went on the disabled list, helped Dan Petry become a four-game winner. Petry gave up six hits and struck out five. Willie Hernandez came in to get the last two outs and earn his fourth save.

Cleveland 10, Baltimore 4--Scott McGregor held the Indians to one hit through seven innings at Baltimore, but he collapsed in the eighth and so did the Orioles’ bullpen.

The Indians chased McGregor and assaulted Don Aase and Tippy Martinez, scoring eight runs and sending 13 batters to the plate.

McGregor, who gave up an unearned run in the first inning, gave up a walk and back-to-back doubles by Butch Benton and Tony Bernazard. Later in the inning, Benton and Bernazard also had singles.

Don Schultze gave up five hits and three runs in seven innings to get the victory.