American League Roundup : Henderson Continues to Torment the Orioles

Mike Boddicker says the secret of pitching to stolen base king Rickey Henderson is that “first of all, you’ve got to make him hit the ball.”

Baltimore pitchers are doing that to near perfection. In five meetings this season, including New York’s 7-4 victory over Boddicker and the Orioles Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees’ fleet center fielder and leadoff man has 14 hits in 20 at-bats--a .700 pace that has lifted his average to an American League-leading .360.

He started his current 21-for-35, nine-game hot streak against Baltimore last week and continued it Tuesday night with three singles and three RBIs in four trips. He also stole his 32nd base in 33 attempts.

“You can’t walk him because that’s like a double,” Boddicker said. “He’s just hot.”

Henderson’s two-run single capped a five-run fourth inning, and he singled home the Yankees’ final run in the seventh against Sammy Stewart. The one out he made was a line drive to center field.

“I hope I never cool off,” said Henderson, who has hit .366 against Baltimore during his six years in the majors. “I’ve been on base a lot, I’m playing well and that seems to get us going.”

Meanwhile, Ed Whitson recorded his second victory over Baltimore in seven days while the Yankees chased the struggling Boddicker (7-7) in a five-run fourth inning.

Whitson (3-6), who pitched a six-hit shutout--all singles--against the Orioles last Wednesday, continued his recent turnaround after a slow start this season and stretched his string of scoreless innings to 21 before Baltimore scored in the sixth on a walk to Rich Dauer and Cal Ripken’s double. Eddie Murray followed with a single, but right fielder Dave Winfield threw out Ripken trying to score.

Whitson allowed 1 run, 4 hits and struck out 6 in 6 innings before leaving with a burning sensation on the inside of his right elbow. Brian Fisher allowed a three-run homer to Fred Lynn, his 13th of the season, in the ninth inning before Dave Righetti picked up his 12th save.

Detroit 3, Boston 0--The Red Sox have the highest batting average in the major leagues, but even they are no match when Jack Morris has his game in gear.

Morris, hit hard his last time out, bounced back with a four-hit shutout to lead the Tigers to the victory at Boston.

“He’s had a little bad streak, but he does that every year,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said. “You know he’s going to come back. He’s still the most dominant pitcher in the league. It’s been that way for four or five years now.”

The victory over the Red Sox ended a drought for Morris (9-5), who last beat Boston on June 8, 1983. He allowed two doubles, two singles and one walk and struck out three to raise his American League-leading total to 96. It was his third shutout and seventh complete game of the year.

Boston starter Bob Ojeda (4-2) allowed 10 hits and walked 3 over 7 innings to take the loss.

Toronto 7, Milwaukee 1--Jim Clancy fired a six-hitter and the Blue Jays took advantage of Jaime Cocanower’s wildness to defeat the Brewers at Toronto.

Clancy (4-4) pitched 8 innings, struck out 5 and walked 1 en route to his second victory in a week against Milwaukee.

Leading 1-0, the Blue Jays sent 12 batters to the plate in the third and scored six runs with the assistance of four walks and a wild pitch by Cocanower.

Oakland 5, Chicago 4 (13)--Mike Heath tied the score with a leadoff homer and pinch-hitter Dusty Baker drew a bases-loaded walk in the 13th inning to lift the Oakland A’s to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Oakland.

Heath tied the score, 4-4, on the first pitch off Gene Nelson (4-3) the fourth White Sox pitcher. The A’s then loaded the bases when Nelson walked Mike Gallego on four pitches, gave up a one-out single to Dave Collins and hit Carney Lansford with a pitch. Baker hit for Rob Piccolo, and worked the count to 3-1 before drawing the walk for his second game-winning RBI.

Keith Atherton (3-3) pitched 2 innings, gave up 3 hits and struck out 2, both with the bases loaded in the 13th, to get the victory.

Kansas City 3, Minnesota 0--Danny Jackson pitched his second shutout of the season and Lonnie Smith drove in one run and scored another to lift the Royals over the Twins at Minneapolis.

Jackson (6-4) pitched his third complete game on a four-hitter while striking out five and walking two. It was the seventh shutout of the season for the Royals’ pitching staff.

John Butcher (4-7) went the distance for the Twins.

Seattle 2, Texas 1--Matt Young and Ed Nunez combined on a six-hitter and Alvin Davis stroked a first-inning RBI single to lead the Mariners past the Rangers at the Kingdome.

Young (7-8) gave up 5 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2 before giving way to Nunez, who pitched the final inning for his ninth save.

Scheduled starter Burt Hooton was sidelined with a stomach virus, and Charlie Hough (5-9) took the loss.