American League Roundup : Kansas City Sets Table for Tabler, and Cleveland Enjoys Another Feast

Walking a man intentionally to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning would have been smart baseball against anybody except Cleveland’s Pat Tabler, who absolutely thrives on such situations.

Tabler responded with an RBI single off the chest of Kansas City second baseman Frank White, giving the Indians their eighth straight victory Monday night, 5-4, over the Royals at Cleveland.

“That’s a nice spot for Tabler,” said Indians’ Manager Pat Corrales with an understated smile, referring to the fact that Tabler is now 24-for-38 in bases-loaded situations for Cleveland. With the bases loaded, Tabler has hit .632 and has driven in 57 runs.

The victory kept Cleveland in first place in the American League East, 12 percentage points ahead of New York, which beat Chicago, 4-1.

Phil Niekro (2-2), pitching in relief for the first time since 1984, picked up the victory. Niekro, the fifth Cleveland pitcher, hurled a hitless 10th, walking one and striking out two.

Kansas City reliever Dan Quisenberry, who had not allowed a run in his first eight appearances this season, took the loss.

The start of the game on a mild night was delayed 15 minutes because of heavy last-minute ticket sales. The game drew a crowd of 27,118 fans, the Indians’ largest at home this season. The crowd surpassed the combined total of attendance at Cleveland’s previous five home dates. A total of 18,629 people--an average of 3,726--saw those five games, which were played in cold weather.

The score was tied, 4-4, when the Indians loaded the bases in the 10th against Quisenberry. With one out, Joe Carter reached base when shortstop Buddy Biancalana’s throw pulled Steve Balboni off first base, and Andre Thornton moved Carter to third with a single.

Quisenberry (0-1) then walked Brook Jacoby intentionally to set up the force at any base. And, Tabler came through in the clutch--again.

New York 4, Chicago 1--Rickey Henderson hit an upper-deck home run at Chicago as the Yankees won without Manager Lou Piniella.

Piniella was serving the first game of his two-game suspension imposed by the American League for bumping an umpire. Coach Joe Altobelli ran the team in Piniella’s absence. Chicago lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.

Chicago’s Harold Baines went 0-for-4, ending his 11-game hitting streak.

Joe Niekro (4-0) gave up four hits over 7 innings for the victory. Dave Righetti finished up with hitless relief for his sixth save.

Niekro, 41, is off to his best start since 1970, when he went 3-0 with the Detroit Tigers.

Milwaukee 3, Seattle 1-- Tim Leary scattered five hits over seven innings and Paul Molitor drove in two runs with a single and a homer at Milwaukee as the Brewers won their fourth straight game.

Leary (3-2) struck out six and walked one before turning it over to Dan Plesac, who finished up for his second save.

Seattle starter Mark Langston, who had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, took the loss despite finishing with a three-hitter, including Molitor’s first home run of the season in the eighth.

Toronto 10, Oakland 6--Lloyd Moseby drove in four runs with a home run and a single and Ernie Whitt belted a two-run homer at Toronto to lead the Blue Jays to their second straight win.

Oakland’s Mike Davis hit two home runs.

Rookie Mark Eichhorn (3-2) worked 4 innings in relief for the victory. He allowed only one hit, a solo homer by Davis, and struck out six while walking none.

Detroit 10, Texas 3--Lance Parrish hit a pair of three-run homers as the Tigers routed the Rangers in a rain-delayed game at Arlington, Tex.

Parrish belted his fourth and fifth homers of the season, and the six RBIs equaled a career high. His first home run of the game capped a six-run Detroit fourth inning.