American League Roundup : Rangers Get Home Run From Unlikely Source as They Beat Tigers, 7-5

Last season it seemed that good things were happening all the time to the Detroit Tigers. They could do no wrong and they wound up world champions.

The exact opposite is happening this season. Something always seems to keep them from moving into position to challenge for first place in the East.

The least likely player to hit a home run in Sunday’s game with the Texas Rangers hit one and the Tigers lost, 7-5, at Detroit to drop 4 1/2 games behind Toronto.

Toby Harrah had just singled in the tying run in the top of the ninth when second baseman Wayne Tolleson stepped up to face Aurelio Lopez.

A switch-hitter, Tolleson had hit only three home runs in more than 1,000 at-bats. It had been almost two years since he last hit one and he had never hit a home run batting left-handed.

He has now. Tolleson hit a 3-and-2 pitch into the upper deck in right field.

“He hung a slider,” Tolleson told the Associated Press. “I saw him shake two pitches off so I figured it wouldn’t be a fastball. I didn’t know what he would throw but I was ready to adapt to an off-speed pitch.

“It was certainly a surprise. I don’t even remember my last home run (Aug. 17, 1983).”

Tolleson took a ribbing from his teammates and Manager Bobby Valentine joined in.

“Was I surprised? I was surprised it went into the upper deck,” he said. Then added with a chuckle, “And when he slid into second, I figured Wayne was surprised, too.”

The Tigers had taken a 5-4 lead in the fifth when Kirk Gibson hit a three-run home run. But a single by Alan Bannister, a sacrifice and Harrah’s single tied it and set the stage for Tolleson.

“Other than home runs our hitting has been a problem all year,” Manager Sparky Anderson of the Tigers said.

“Lopez threw pitches up to Harrah and Tolleson. Not only were they up, they were in the middle of the strike zone. One thing about Lopez, though. I know he’ll keep coming back as often as I give him the ball.

“The fans that booed him say they are the greatest fans in the world--but only when we are winning. Now is when we need them.”

New York 5, Minnesota 2--Although there is some dispute over his actual birth date, it is generally believed that Satchel Paige is the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout in the majors. It is believed he was 46 years and 75 days.

Phil Niekro (46 years, 111 days) keeps threatening to break the record. In this game at Minneapolis, the old knuckleballer almost did it. With one out in the eighth a Niekro knuckler failed to dance and Kent Hrbek hammered it for his 11th home run.

Niekro went on to pitch a seven-hitter for his ninth win this season and the 293rd of his career. He isn’t much concerned about wins or shutouts, but rather about the attitude of his teammates.

“There is a fever in the clubhouse,” he said. “Guys are walking around pumping everyone up before the game. It’s like a nice disease. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much confidence in a team before a game.”

A three-run home run by Dave Winfield in the first inning that carried 456 feet to left was all Niekro needed.

Toronto 11, Oakland 4--For a lead-off hitter, Damaso Garcia is driving in a lot of runs. In this game at Toronto, Garcia singled in two runs in a five-run seventh inning to give him a career-high 47 runs batted in.

“I might drive in 70,” Garcia said, “which is pretty good for a lead-off hitter.”

Jesse Barfield also had a big day for the Blue Jays. He had two doubles and a triple and drove in three runs. The Blue Jays had 15 hits, eight of them doubles.

Dennis Lamp allowed one run in three innings of relief and was credited with the win, giving him a 6-0 mark this season. The victory enabled the Blue Jays to maintain their 1 1/2-game lead over the Yankees in the Eastern Division.

Baltimore 6, Kansas City 4--Eddie Murray sliced a two-run double to the opposite field in the seventh inning at Baltimore to pin the eighth loss in the last nine decisions on Royals’ ace Bud Black.

The game marked the end of Lee Lacy’s 20-game hitting streak, but the major leagues’ leading hitter, George Brett, hit a two-run home run in the first inning to extend his streak to 12 games. The Orioles’ Mike Young hit a three-run home run in the second inning, giving them a 3-2 lead and extending his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.

Cleveland 4, Chicago 3--Just when it appeared the Indians might never win again at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Tony Bernazard hit a two-out home run in the 10th to end their 14-game losing streak at the home of the White Sox.

The last previous Cleveland win at Chicago was in May 1983. Bernazard’s eighth home run of the season ended the Indians’ five-game losing streak and the White Sox ‘ five-game winning streak.

The Indians built a 3-0 lead, but the White Sox scored twice in the sixth and a pinch single by Oscar Gamble with one out in the ninth tied it.

Milwaukee 5, Seattle 4--Bob Gibson is getting used to pitching under pressure. The new ace of the Brewers’ bullpen gave up only one hit in three innings to earn his seventh save in this game at Milwaukee.

Gibson, a starter most of his career, took over for Ray Burris (5-7), who had settled down after giving up back-to-back homers to Alvin Davis and Gorman Thomas in the first inning. He worked out of a jam in the seventh with a double play, then gave up a home run to Dave Henderson to open the ninth. Gibson then shut the door.