Major League Roundup : Randolph Delivers Key Blow as Yankees Defeat Orioles, 5-4

Willie Randolph was wearing a Joe Louis “Brown Bomber” T-shirt under his uniform when he delivered the knockout punch in the New York Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

“We gave ‘em the 1-2,” Randolph said, after driving in the Yankees’ second run of the eighth inning as New York rallied.

Joe Cowley (6-3) struck out eight and walked three before Brian Fisher pitched the ninth for his third save. Dennis Martinez (5-5) pitched seven-plus innings and took the loss.

“Randolph’s been winging the ball good, but with not much to show for it,” said Yankee Manager Billy Martin, whose club has beaten the Orioles in four straight games. “He’s a good contact man, and that’s what you want in that situation.”

Dave Winfield opened the eighth with a single and went to third on Ron Hassey’s double, knocking out Martinez. Omar Moreno pinch-ran for Hassey, and Don Baylor greeted reliever Don Aase with a sacrifice fly to score Winfield and tie the score, 4-4. Randolph followed with a single to center for the game-winner.

Boston 9, Detroit 2--Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd, Boston’s 145-pound right-hander, was weary but proud after struggling most of the way in pitching the Red Sox to a victory over the Tigers at Boston.

“Right now, man, I’m in pain, but it’s a tired type thing; I worked hard for that game,” Boyd said.

After losing, 9-3, at Detroit last Wednesday night, Boyd was determined to mix up his pitches better. “I didn’t try to be too fine tonight,” he said. “You can’t let those guys sit on one pitch. They couldn’t sit on my screwball or fastball. I had those guys going.

“However, I kinda felt I was pushing myself because I really wanted to beat those guys. I wouldn’t tell the manager I was tired. I just reached back and got a little more.”

Boyd (9-5) allowed only six hits, including Alan Trammell’s two-out homer off the left-field foul pole in the ninth. But he walked eight and needed 148 pitches for his 10th complete game, best in the league.

Jim Rice had three hits, including an RBI triple and his 13th homer, scored three runs and drove in two for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox had lost five of theirprevious six games.

Chicago 7, Oakland 1--The White Sox snapped a four-game losing streak as Harold Baines drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly and a homer and Dan Spillner pitched 5 innings of scoreless relief to lead the White Sox to a victory over the A’s at Oakland.

Spillner (2-1) came on in the first inning when starter Britt Burns was forced to leave after just 11 pitches because of a stiff neck. Spillner gave up a run-scoring single to Dusty Baker but allowed only two other hits before he was replaced by Gene Nelson in the seventh.

The White Sox took advantage of the wildness of starter Tim Birtsas (4-2) to score two runs in the first inning. Scott Fletcher opened the inning with a line single that bounced off Birtsas’ leg, and Tim Hulett drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a passed ball by Mike Heath, and Baines delivered a sacrifice fly. One out later, Carlton Fisk walked and Tom Paciorek singled to left to bring home Hulett and give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Kansas City 12, Minnesota 6--The Royals tied a club record with five home runs--Hal McRae had two and Lonnie Smith, Jim Sundberg and Darryl Motley each had one--in a victory over the Twins at Minnesota.

Mark Gubicza (5-4) pitched five innings and allowed four runs but still earned his fourth consecutive victory with relief help from Joe Beckwith and Dan Quisenberry. Loser Pete Filson (3-5) lasted only two innings under the bombardment.

McRae and Smith hit two-run homers in the first inning to give the Royals a 4-0 lead. Willie Wilson, who is 13 for 21 against the Twins this season, led off with a single and Smith, batting just .193, followed with his first American League homer. With two out, Frank White walked and McRae homered just inside the left-field foul pole.

McRae added his second homer of the game and fourth of the season in the Royals’ five-run seventh that broke the game open. After George Brett and Motley walked, McRae hit a 398-foot blast to right-center. Steve Balboni walked and Sundberg hit his seventh home run of the season for an 11-5 lead. Both homers were hit off Len Whitehouse.

The Royals tied their home run record in the eighth when Motley hit his seventh homer of the season.

Kent Hrbek homered in the ninth for Minnesota.

Seattle 2, Texas 0--Frank Wills and Ed Nunez combined on a five-hitter to lead the Mariners to their fourth straight victory, a 2-0 triumph over the Rangers at Seattle.

Wills (3-1) allowed 4 hits, walked 6 and struck out 4 in seven innings. Nunez held the Rangers scoreless over the final two innings to earn his eighth save.