American League Roundup : Herndon’s Homer Lifts Tigers Past A’s in Pitching Duel, 3-2

Larry Herndon hit a tie-breaking homer to lead off the sixth inning, and Walt Terrell outdueled rookie Tim Birtsas as the Detroit Tigers edged the Oakland A’s, 3-2, Thursday at Detroit.

Terrell (6-1) pitched seven innings of seven-hit ball before giving way to Willie Hernandez, who pitched the last two innings and earned his 11th save.

Alfredo Griffin’s first home run this season followed a single by Donnie Hill in the Oakland fifth and tied the score, 2-2.

Detroit scored in the third when Birtsas (1-1) hit Kirk Gibson in the jaw with a pitch with the bases full. Gibson needed 17 stitches to close a split lower lip.

Rookie catcher Bob Melvin, who doubled and in the third, singled with two out in the fourth and scored on a triple by Tom Brookens to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Boston 8, Minnesota 7--Jim Rice singled home Glenn Hoffman from second base with one out in the 11th inning, and the Red Sox rallied from four runs down at Boston to hand the Twins their eighth straight loss.

The Red Sox tied the score, 7-7, on Marty Barrett’s run-scoring single in the eighth, and Bob Stanley (1-2) blanked the Twins over the last 5 innings.

Chicago 4, Kansas City 3--Carlton Fisk hit a two-run homer onto the left-field roof in the fourth inning to help Tom Seaver beat the Royals at Chicago for his 293rd career victory.

Seaver (5-3) settled down after the Royals scored twice in the first inning and scattered eight hits over 7 innings.

Baltimore 8, Seattle 2--Eddie Murray hit a two-run double as the Orioles scored six runs in the fifth inning, and Storm Davis stopped the Mariners on seven hits at Baltimore.