American League Roundup : Steinbrenner Comments Apparently Put Fear of Winning Into Yankees

The New York Yankees responded to the disparaging remarks of owner George Steinbrenner, but not in the way he expected.

The Yankees fell into such a deep slump that their pennant hopes have almost faded away.

Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray rapped run-scoring singles in the seventh inning Friday night at Baltimore and led the Orioles to a 4-2 victory. It was the Orioles’ first win over the Yankees this season after six defeats.

The Yankees, who fell 6 1/2 games behind Toronto, lost their eighth in a row--and sixth since their owner popped off. With only 14 games remaining the Yankee hopes of winning the East are exceedingly slim.

It was just eight nights ago that the Yankees opened a four-game series with the Blue Jays by rallying for a victory that cut the Toronto lead to 1 1/2 games. Most of the speculation concerned how soon the Yankees would move into first place.

After the Blue Jays won the next two games, Steinbrenner was beside himself. In the Yankee Stadium press box, he chastised Dave Winfield, Don Baylor, Ken Griffey, Ed Whitson, Dave Righetti and Manager Billy Martin.

Although Steinbrenner later said he was sorry for the things he said, the damage was done.

In the six games since Steinbrenner attempted to shake them up, the Yankees have been outscored, 45-18.

With Rich Bordi pitching well in only his second start of the season, this was a 2-2 game until Alan Wiggins started Bordi’s downfall with a two-out single in the seventh. After two pitchouts, trying to catch Wiggins, Bordi walked Lee Lacy. Ripken singled in the tie-breaking run, and Murray greeted reliever Righetti with another single to make a winner of Mike Flanagan (4-4).

Even Manager Earl Weaver said he feels sorry for the Yankees.

“You have to feel sorry for them; they just aren’t hitting,” Weaver told the Associated Press.

Martin agreed with Weaver. “You just have to hope they get some base hits,” he said. “If they don’t get base hits, you die with them. There’s nothing I can do. I don’t blame anyone.”

There were two highlights for the Yankees. Rickey Henderson stole his 71st base, and Don Mattingly drove in his 129th run, tops in the majors.

Toronto 7, Milwaukee 5--Surprising Jimmy Key held the Brewers to one hit in seven innings at Toronto to improve his record to 14-6 and move the Blue Jays closer to their first division title.

Key retired the first nine Brewers before Paul Molitor hit a home run to open the fourth. With Rance Mulliniks and Garth Iorg each driving in two runs, the Blue Jays built a 7-1 lead for the second-year left-hander.

When an error and a walk put the first two Brewers on in the eighth, Tom Henke replaced Key. Henke gave up a hit for the Brewers’ second run, and when he yielded a three-run homer to Paul Householder, Henke was replaced in the ninth. Gary Lavelle came on to strike out the last two batters.

It was the fourth win in a row for Key, who beat the Yankees last Saturday and triggered Steinbrenner’s outburst.

As a rookie last season Key, used mostly in relief, had a 4-5 record and an earned-run average of 4.65. He and Doyle Alexander have been the leaders in the Blue Jays’ drive.

Kansas City 5, Minnesota 1--Steve Balboni came up in the first inning at Kansas City with the bases loaded and fighting a slump. With one swing, Balboni ended a 3-for-30 drought and gave the Royals four quick runs. It was Balboni’s 33rd home run.

Charlie Leibrandt gave up eight hits in 7 innings and improved his record to 16-8, ending the Royals’ four-game losing streak.

Balboni’s home run made a loser of longtime Royal nemesis Bert Blyleven (14-16), who is 23-16 in his career against the Royals.

Detroit 6, Boston 2--Jack Morris threw a seven-hitter at Boston, and Chet Lemon hit a home run and a two-run single to give the Tigers their fourth win in a row.

Wade Boggs, the major league’s leading hitter, had two more hits to give him 221. He needs one more to break Tris Speaker’s 73-year-old Red Sox record for hits in a season. He has 14 games left to break the record, and is batting .373.

Chicago 10, Oakland 4--Ron Kittle hit a home run and drove in three runs at Chicago to lead the White Sox assault on Tommy John. John gave up 10 hits in 3 innings.

Texas 10, Seattle 9--In a wild one at Arlington, Tex., Phil Bradley singled home a run in the ninth to put the Mariners in front. But Bobby Jones and Ellis Valentine hit homers in the bottom of the inning to win it for the Rangers.