American League Roundup : Terrell Comes Close to No-Hitter as Tigers Finally Beat the Twins

Walt Terrell knew the instant he released the pitch that he had made a mistake--one that ruined his hopes of a no-hitter.

It was a slider in the seventh inning Sunday at Detroit and Tom Brunansky belted it off the wall in left-center for a double, the only hit the Minnesota Twins made in the game.

Although he lost his chance at a gem, Terrell had the satisfaction of gaining the Tigers’ first win of the season over the Twins in their eighth meeting. Larry Herndon, Darrell Evans and Alan Trammell hit home runs to pace the Tigers to the 8-0 victory.

“As soon as I threw it, I knew it was a bad pitch,” Terrell told the Associated Press. “Brunansky is known as a mistake hitter, and that sure was a mistake.

“I sort of hung my head after I let it go. Then I heard him hit it and I turned my head to see how far it was going to go.”

Despite an occasional mistake, Terrell, obtained from the New York Mets in exchange for Howard Johnson last December, has played a prominent role in the Tigers’ battle to stay in the race in the East.

Although Jack Morris, Dan Petry and Willie Hernandez are the Tiger pitchers who get most of the headlines, it is Terrell (10-4) who has the best record.

The double by Brunansky ended a string of 14 hitless innings for the 27-year-old right-hander who was 11-12 with the Mets last season. When Terrell walked Tim Teufel and Greg Gagne with one out in the eighth, Hernandez came on to get the last five outs and pick up his 19th save.

“My no-hitters usually are over in the first inning,” Terrell said. “I had really good stuff today. Naturally, I’m disappointed. I was really kicking myself for the bad pitch.

“I had been thinking no-hitter since the fourth inning. When Brunansky came up, I said, ‘If I can get him, maybe I can do it.’ Then I threw the high slider.”

Other than Brunansky’s hit, the Twins managed only one other ball out of the infield, a soft fly to left by Randy Bush in the fourth.

“He had good stuff,” conceded Roy Smalley. “The few times we did hit the ball hard, it was right at somebody.”

Chicago 5, Baltimore 3--Tom Seaver struck out a season-high 11 batters at Baltimore and moved to within three victories of the coveted 300 plateau, but he wasn’t really impressed with his performance.

“I didn’t realize I had that many strikeouts,” Seaver (9-7) said, “but I don’t consider a game in which I give up three runs a well-pitched game.

“I may have wanted this one a little more. It was my father’s birthday, and I thought a victory would make a nice present. I was all (worn out) with one out to go.”

Dan Spillner came on to get the final out and pick up his first save.

The White Sox attack was mostly bunts. Bryan Little executed two squeeze bunts for runs and also beat out a bunt. Ozzie Guillen also drove in a run with a bunt.

New York 7, Texas 1--Apparently, the three best pitchers in baseball will not be showing their wares in the All-Star Game. Joaquin Andujar (15-4) chose not to go because he was angry at National League Manager Dick Williams. Dwight Gooden (13-3) will be there, but he pitched nine tough innings Sunday.

Ron Guidry (12-3) chose not to represent the American League because he felt it was more important to do his part to move the Yankees closer to first place.

Guidry pitched a four-hitter at New York to win his 11th in a row and put the Yankees just 2 1/2 games out of first place in the East.

In his best start since 1978, when he was 14-1 on his way to a 25-3 season, Guidry has made a successful switch from a hard thrower to a control pitcher.

For the fourth time in his last seven starts, the 34-year-old left-hander did not walk a batter. He struck out six and had a shutout until the ninth when Toby Harrah doubled, went to third on a grounder and scored on Buddy Bell’s sacrifice fly. He has not lost since April 29, when Texas beat him.

Dave Winfield, playing as a designated hitter for the first time this season, opened the second inning with his 12th home run and before the rally ended the Yankees had four more runs on their way to making former Dodger Burt Hooton (4-4) the loser.

Boston 6, Seattle 2--While Guidry didn’t want the honor of being picked for the All-Star Game, Oil Can Boyd did and wasn’t. Boyd, by holding the Mariners to six hits in 7 innings at Seattle, improved his record to 11-7.

“I wish Sparky Anderson (American League All-Star manager) was watching,” Boyd said. “I was in total control. I wanted to make the All-Star Game more than anything else in the world. This will be the last time for a very long time that I don’t make it.”

Boyd’s task was made easier by the hitting of Wade Boggs. In extending his hitting streak to 20 games, Boggs was 3 for 3, including a two-run home run. Boggs is making the race for the batting title a three-way affair. He is up to .342, trailing George Brett (.358) and Rickey Henderson (.357).

Kansas City 9, Cleveland 5--A couple of veterans helped Bud Black (6-10) end his seven-game losing streak in this game at Cleveland.

Hal McRae, 39, singled in two runs in the third to give the Royals the lead, and John Wathan, 35, doubled in two more in the ninth. Black struck out seven and gave up seven hits in six innings.

“It wasn’t pretty, but I’m not complaining,” Black said. “It’s been a long time between wins.”

Oakland 11, Milwaukee 2--Mike Davis, who hit 14 home runs in the A’s first 55 games, went 32 games before he hit another. His three-run blast in the first inning at Oakland sent the A’s on their way to an easy victory.

Carney Lansford and Bruce Bochte also hit home runs for the A’s, who pounded out 13 hits to make it easy for Bill Krueger (7-8).

Although he had a 9-0 lead, Krueger couldn’t get anyone out in the sixth, and Keith Atherton had to come to the rescue. Atherton pitched four scoreless innings.