American League Roundup : Ripken’s Five Hits Power Orioles

Until just recently, the Baltimore Orioles were staying in the race in the tough American League East without much help from their celebrated one-two punch of Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray.

All of a sudden, Ripken has started to hit, and it’s likely Murray will soon be doing his share.

Ripken had five hits Sunday at Minneapolis and drove in four runs to lead the Orioles to a 10-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins that solidified his team’s hold on first place.

Although he failed to hit a home run for the first time in four games, Ripken had two doubles and three singles to give him 12 hits in 19 at-bats in his last four games. Ripken, who broke the club record for consecutive games played Saturday with 464, hit three home runs and drove in 10 runs in the spurt that lifted his average to .337, almost a 100-point jump in a week.

His hitting and a two-run home run by Jim Dwyer enabled Mike Boddicker to improve his record to 4-1, without pitching an impressive game. Boddicker gave up 10 hits and five runs before Don Aase took over with one out in the eighth.

“When you’re swinging the bat well, you like to go to the park and you like to get into the batter’s box,” said Ripken, who opened the season 4 for 24. “I just happen to be swinging the bat well.”

The other half, Murray, isn’t. He was 0 for 5 and dropped below .240. He started the season well, but after missing five games because of the death of his sister in Los Angeles, has not found the groove again. You can bet he will.

Detroit 4, Chicago 3--Darrell Evans has been in such a terrible slump this season that the Tigers have been platooning him. It doesn’t mean he’s forgotten how to hit, though.

When he came up against Rich Dotson in the sixth inning at Detroit with one on, two-out and the White Sox leading, 3-2, he was batting only .185. But Evans belted a pitch into the upper deck in right to give the Tigers the victory.

“In that situation, I just didn’t want to get behind in the count,” Evans said. “He (Dotson) didn’t either. So, when he got behind, 1-0, I figured on a fastball and I hit a fastball a long way.”

Willie Hernandez pitched two perfect innings for his fifth save.

Seattle 4, Toronto 1--Mark Langston, struggling along without a fastball early in the season, regained it just in time to cut down his nemesis, Toronto.

Langston (4-2) struck out seven, gave up five hits and pitched his first complete game in this contest at Seattle. Last season, as a rookie, Langston was 17-10. He was 0-3 against Toronto with a 10.43 earned-run average.

“I wanted to go nine, especially after the way I pitched against them last year,” Langston said. “After the first inning my arm just kept getting stronger.”

Oakland 6, Boston 3--In a battle of home runs, Jim Rice hit two and so did Carney Lansford at Oakland. Lansford hit one of his with a man on and Dave Kingman also hit one with a man on, while Chris Codiroli (3-1) made sure nobody was on when Rice hit his.

Oakland has hit 32 home runs this season, but Oakland pitchers have given up 39.

The Athletics hit all three home runs off Bruce Hurst, who went into the game 6-0 lifetime against Oakland.

New York 6, Kansas City 2--Rickey Henderson and Don Mattingly each hit home runs that traveled 400 feet, and the Royals’ losing streak at Yankee Stadium reached nine.

“I don’t know about hexes, but we don’t seem to be able to score runs here,” said George Brett, who hit a ninth-inning home run Aug. 18, 1983, to give the Royals their last win in New York. We play good baseball but we don’t hit and we don’t score.”

Ancient Phil Niekro improved his record to 4-2, despite giving up six walks in 7 innings. Dave Righetti retired the last five batters, two on strikes, to get his seventh save.

Texas 7, Cleveland 2--Shortstop Julio Franco, who led the league last season with 36 errors, booted a ground ball in the second inning at Cleveland to help the Rangers get two unearned runs and a jump on the Indians.

“I don’t think my fielding’s bad,” said the Cleveland shortstop, whose eighth error in 24 games helped the Rangers snap a three-game losing streak. “I think the field’s in lousy condition, no matter what anybody says. It just isn’t prepared very well.”

Charlie Hough (2-1) pitched five innings for the victory. Burt Hooton pitched one inning and Greg Harris got the last nine outs for his first save. Don Slaught hit his second homer for the Rangers.