American League Roundup : Yankees Miffed About Metrodome

New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and Manager Billy Martin blasted the Metrodome, the home park of the Minnesota Twins, and the Yankees played Wednesday night’s game under protest, contending conditions at the park are “not up to major league standards.”

In particular, the Yankees were upset with lighting problems and the bouncy artificial turf.

After Gary Gaetti hit a grand slam and Kent Hrbek a two-run smash to lead the Twins to an 8-6 victory, the Yankees could add home runs to the list of Metrodome problems.

After Tuesday night’s game in which Yankee players lost a couple of fly balls that were hit high over the second base area, Martin was livid.

“This park should be banned out of baseball,” Martin said. “If you lose here, or win, you’re doing it on a Little League field. A major leaguer can look like a Little Leaguer chasing a fly ball here.

“They have a new millionaire owner, why doesn’t he spend a little money and paint the ceiling.”

Steinbrenner issued a statement before Wednesday’s game, backing his manager and saying the game was being protested.

“If I wanted my players to be Ping Pong players I would send them to China to play the Chinese National Team,” he said. “I’m getting tired of situations which allow outcomes of games to be decided by anything other than the abilities of the players.”

Although the Yankees had fielding problems Tuesday night, this game was decided on Gaetti’s slam in the first inning and Hrbek’s two-run home run and two booming doubles.

It was the 13th win in 15 games for the Twins, who started the spurt after a nine-game losing streak. Mike Smithson (4-2) was the winner, but needed help when Ken Griffey hit a two-run homer in the ninth.

Steinbrenner and Martin picked up an ally on the Twins. Outfielder Mickey Hatcher told Martin he was glad the Yankees filed a protest.

“When a ball enters a certain shadowy portion of the ceiling, it’s murder,” Hatcher said. “If you don’t keep your eye on it, you’re dead. And, sometimes, you’re dead even if you do keep your eye on it.”

The All-Star game is scheduled for the Metrodome July 16.

“The All-Star game is going to make a joke out of this park,” Martin said. “The whole country is going to see this. I hope the commissioner sees this. Maybe he’ll take the park away.”

Another Twin, Roy Smalley, admitted that the Twins have an advantage over the opposition. “The visitors tend to panic because the ball goes up and disappears,” Smalley said. “You see a fly ball, then lose it and you start going crazy trying to find it.”

However, there were four teams who played 13 games against the Twins before the Yankees, and none of them filed a protest.

Detroit 4, Texas 1--The Tigers are beginning to play long ball and beginning to resemble the team that was the best in baseball last season.

In this game at Arlington, Tex., Alex Sanchez, a utility outfielder used as the designated hitter, smashed two home runs and Lance Parrish hit another to help Dan Petry improve his record to 5-2. It was the fourth win in a row for the Tigers.

After Sanchez, brought up from Nashville April 22, hit his first home run in the third inning, Mike Mason hit the next batter, Barbaro Garbey in the back.

Both benches emptied and there was a big gathering at the mound after Garbey rushed out and tackled Mason. No punches were thrown and only Garbey was ejected.

Petry, seeking his second shutout, lost it in the ninth and Willie Hernandez had to get Wayne Tolleson on a grounder to end the game and give the bullpen ace his sixth save.

Chicago 4, Cleveland 0--Ron Kittle and Jerry Hairston hit home runs in the second inning at Cleveland and Britt Burns and three relievers combined on a three-hitter.

Burns improved his record to 4-2. He gave up the three hits and had to leave after five innings when his back stiffened.

Gene Nelson pitched three perfect innings, then Juan Agosto took over and retired two batters in the ninth. Bob James was brought in to get the final out.

Burns equaled his victory total of last season when he was 4-12 and his back caused a problem most of the year.

“It’s bothered me off and on forever. The cold (50 degrees) was responsible tonight,” he said.

Kansas City 9, Baltimore 8--Lynn Jones, hitless in 21 at-bats, hit a three-run double in the second inning at Kansas City and had two other hits to help build a 9-4 lead that the Royals almost blew.

The Orioles scored four times off star reliever Dan Quisenberry in the ninth and had the tying run on second when pinch-hitter Wayne Gross popped out to end the game.

Danny Jackson carried a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning which he began by striking out Eddie Murray. But 20 of Jackson’s next 23 pitches were balls. After he walked five batters in a row, Mike LaCoss came in and walked another to force in the third run and give the Orioles six walks in a row.

Oakland 6, Toronto 4--Carney Lansford had three hits, including a double, at Toronto and Dusty Baker, Mike Davis and Donnie Hill each homered.

The A’s hammered Doyle Alexander for 11 hits in seven innings to hand him his first defeat.