American League Roundup : Fisk Homers Again as the White Sox Win, 8-3

A year ago, it appeared the fine career of catcher Carlton Fisk was about to end. Then 36, Fisk was batting only .193 and had hit just five home runs.

Although he rallied somewhat to hit 21 home runs and bat .231, it appeared the career that began in Boston in 1971 was all but over.

Instead of being near the end, Fisk is an early season surprise and has embarked on a new career as a power hitter.

Fisk and Tim Hulett hammered sixth-inning home runs Friday night at Chicago to lead the White Sox to an 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. It was Fisk’s fourth home run in the last three games, not coincidentally, all of them won by the Sox.

With 12 home runs, a .282 average, and 32 runs batted in, Fisk qualifies as a strong candidate for comeback honors. All last season Fisk drove in only 43 runs.

“If you only knew how hard Carlton worked over the winter,” White Sox Manager Tony LaRussa said, “you would understand why he has come back the way he has. Hard work pays off 99% of the time and Fisk is proof of that.”

Before Fisk started his home-run binge, the White Sox had lost seven in a row. But he hammered two Wednesday night in an 8-5 win over Toronto. Thursday night, he hit one onto the left-field roof at Comiskey Park to help Tom Seaver win his 293rd. It was the sixth time this season Fisk came through with the game-winning hit.

Except for one slump in the middle of May, Fisk has been the White Sox’s most consistent hitter.

“I’ve felt good up there all season,” Fisk said. “I worked hard all winter because I wanted to prove I still had some good baseball left. I think I’ve proved it.”

George Brett continued his hot hitting for the Royals. Brett, who has driven in 17 runs in the last 11 games, had two doubles.

New York 8, Seattle 3--Ed Whitson will not be mistaken for the Bargain of the Year. The right-hander the Yankees signed as a free agent for something like $1 million per year, flopped again in this one at New York.

In his 10th start for the Yankees, Whitson failed to do the job again. Although he again avoided defeat, Whitson (1-5) gave up seven hits and three runs in four innings to keep his ERA at 6.00.

The Yankees battled back from a 3-0 deficit, though, to keep their record perfect at home against the West (12-0). Don Baylor, Dave Winfield and Andre Robertson each homered for the Yankees. Robertson has hit home runs in both games since coming off the disabled list.

Toronto 7, Cleveland 2--Damaso Garcia and Rance Mulliniks each drove in two runs at Toronto to lead the Blue Jays to their ninth win in the last 10 games.

Doyle Alexander (6-2) worked 5 innings before Jim Acker came in to retire 11 consecutive batters to earn his seventh save.

Milwaukee 6, Minnesota 4--Cecil Cooper hit a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning at Minneapolis and the Brewers handed the skidding Twins their ninth consecutive defeat.

Rollie Fingers retired the last four batters in relief of Ted Higuera (3-3) and picked up his eighth save.

Texas 3, Boston 1--The Rangers have the worst record in the West, but they would be out of sight without chances to play the Red Sox.

In this game at Boston, the Rangers beat the Red Sox for the fifth time in the last nine days. The Rangers are 12-29 against the rest of the league.

Left-hander Mike Mason (4-4) beat the Red Sox for the second time in less than a week. He gave up five hits in 7 innings before Dave Stewart came to the rescue and picked up his third save.

Buddy Bell hit a home run leading off the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.

Baltimore 9, Oakland 2--Eddie Murray doubled in runs to trigger three-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings at Baltimore to lead the Orioles to an easy victory.