American League Roundup : New Arrival Tanana Pitches Like a Tiger in Stopping Yankees

Frank Tanana, making his first start in a Detroit uniform, pitched seven shutout innings Sunday as the Tigers beat the New York Yankees, 3-1, at Detroit.

“I’ve wanted to wear this uniform ever since I was a kid,” said Tanana, whom the Tigers passed him over in favor of Tom Veryzer in the 1971 draft. “It was interesting. I was waiting to see what kind of emotional roller coaster I’d be on. I was glad to get that first pitch out of the way.”

Tanana, 31, acquired in a trade Thursday with Texas for a minor league pitcher, scattered eight hits as he improved to 3-7. His performance drew a variety of responses.

“I’d rather catch him than hit against him,” Detroit receiver Lance Parrish said after Tanana gave the Tigers their first victory from a left-handed starter since July 21, 1983.

Said Yankee Manager Billy Martin: “We swung at a lot of bad pitches. But he pitched a good game. You can’t take that away from him. He spotted his fastball well. That’s what Frank does when he’s on his game.”

Said Willie Randolph: “He’s not an excellent fastball pitcher, but he mixes up his pitches and changes speeds off what he throws . . . you’ve got to take advantage of your opportunities.

“You’ve got to knock him out when you’ve got him on the ropes. Once he gets in a groove, he can do things to you.”

“I like him,” Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson said. “He might show some of our other pitchers something, too. They’ll see what a guy can do with not a whole lot.”

Chet Lemon made Tanana’s debut successful with a two-run homer in the fifth and Willie Hernandez earned his 15th save for pitching the final two innings although he did give up a run.

Bob Shirley (2-2) shut Detroit out on two hits until Darrell Evans singled to start the fifth. Lemon followed with his third home run of the season.

Toronto 8, Boston 1--Ernie Whitt hit the first grand slam of his career and Rance Mulliniks cracked a two-run homer as the Blue Jays swept aside the Red Sox at Toronto.

The game was interrupted by a bench-clearing brawl in the fourth inning that began when George Bell charged the mound after being hit in the helmet by a pitch from Boston’s Bruce Kison. Bell kicked Kison in the groin as both teams swarmed onto the field. When order was restored nine minutes later, home plate umpire Derryl Cousins ejected Bell, while Kison remained in the game.

Winner Dave Stieb (7-5) allowed five hits over eight innings. He struck out five and walked three in dropping his league-leading ERA to 2.09. The Red Sox scored their run in the eighth on a throwing error by second baseman Manny Lee. Kison (3-2) took the loss.

Oakland 9, Cleveland 3--Mike Heath drove in two runs with three hits and Carney Lansford added three hits, including his third homer in four games, to lead the A’s over the Indians at Oakland.

Chris Codiroli (8-3) scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out four over 6 innings to gain the victory. Neal Heaton (4-8) started for Cleveland and took the loss.

Texas 2, Minnesota 1--Glen Cook, making his major league debut, pitched 6 shutout innings as the Rangers defeated the Twins at Minneapolis.

Cook, who was recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma City on Thursday after Frank Tanana was traded to Detroit, gave up five hits, walked none and struck out two. He retired 15 of 16 batters before giving up a one-out double to Mike Stenhouse in the seventh.

Greg Harris relieved Cook and pitched out of trouble in the seventh. The Twins scored in the ninth against Harris when Kent Hrbek led off with a bunt single, Tom Brunansky followed with a single and Roy Smalley hit a sacrifice fly. Stenhouse then singled, but Mickey Hatcher grounded into a game-ending double play as Harris got his sixth save.

Mike Smithson (5-7) yielded two runs in the sixth and took the loss.

Baltimore 6, Milwaukee 3--Larry Sheets’ three-run homer in the eighth inning powered the Orioles to victory over the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Jim Dwyer opened the eighth by drawing a walk from Rollie Fingers (0-3). One out later, Eddie Murray lined a double into the right-field corner, and when Ben Oglivie misplayed the ball for an error, Dwyer scored and Murray went to third.

Fred Lynn, who had homered in the seventh, was intentionally walked and Sheets followed with his ninth homer of the season.

Nate Snell (2-1) worked the final three innings and got the victory. He held the Brewers hitless while striking out two.

Seattle 8, Kansas City, 2--Spike Owen and Bob Kearney hit home runs while Mike Moore combined with Ed Vande Berg on a four-hitter to lead the Mariners past the Royals at Kansas City.

Moore (5-4) gave up three hits over 6 innings. Vande Berg retired the first seven Kansas City batters he faced before Steve Balboni hit his 13th homer with two outs in the ninth.

In addition to the two home runs, the Mariners slugged six doubles, including two by Ivan Calderon and Jim Presley. Seattle rapped a total of 12 hits and also drew eight walks.

Bud Black (5-7) took the loss.