American League Roundup : White Sox Win, Stop Two Streaks

Early Friday, the Chicago White Sox gave Manager Tony LaRussa a reprieve, and Friday night, his players gave him a stirring victory.

Pinch-hitter Tim Hulett hit a two-run single with two out in the ninth inning at Cleveland to climax a three-run rally that enabled the White Sox to end the Indians’ 10-game winning streak, 4-3.

Chicago had lost six in a row, and management had talked to several candidates about replacing LaRussa. However, before the White Sox left for Cleveland and a weekend series, LaRussa was given a vote of confidence.

It appeared the White Sox were well on their way to a seventh consecutive defeat. And 48,146, the largest crowd in Cleveland since Opening Day last season, were enjoying themselves immensely. For 7 innings, the Sox knuckled under to 47-year-old Phil Niekro, and they were trailing, 3-1, going into the ninth.

The way the Cleveland relievers have been pitching, it appeared to be hopeless. During the 10-game streak, the Cleveland bullpen was 3-0 and had four saves. The relievers had not blown a game since April 12.

But the aroused White Sox took on Ernie Camacho (1-0, with six saves), and a walk and a single by Harold Baines brought in Scott Bailes (4-1, with two saves). With one out, Carlton Fisk singled in a run. After Bobby Bonilla flied out, Reid Nichols beat out an infield hit to set the stage for Hulett. Rich Yett (1-0, with one save) was summoned, but Hulett singled, and the White Sox won.

“The controversy over a manager was no excuse for us to keep losing,” Baines said. “No matter who the manager is, if the players don’t play, the team doesn’t win.

“Tony is a nice guy who has done his best.”

Fisk, who may return to catching in the near future, warned not to underestimate the value of a dramatic ninth-inning victory.

“It can be very important, especially with all the trash that’s been flying around this club the last 10 days.”

The loss knocked the Indians out of first place in the East.

Minnesota 8, Detroit 7--The Twins stuck with Bert Blyleven even after a six-run third inning at Minneapolis in which the veteran right-hander gave up a grand slam to Harry Spilman.

Blyleven lasted through six innings and wound up the winner when Gary Gaetti, who earlier homered, scored on a wild pitch by Chuck Cary in the sixth inning to climax a three-run rally and put the Twins ahead to stay.

Seattle 13, Toronto 3--Alvin Davis drove in eight runs with a single and two homers, including a grand slam, as the Mariners presented new Manager Dick Williams with a rollicking win at Seattle.

Davis, who set a single-game team record for runs batted in, hit a three-run homer in the first inning, had an RBI single in the second and capped the night with his slam off the right-field foul pole.

Williams was managing his first game with the Mariners after taking over for Chuck Cottier, who was fired Thursday. Seattle had lost five straight games and 17 of its last 21 under Cottier.

Phil Bradley and Gorman Thomas also hit home runs for the Mariners, who pinned the loss on Dave Stieb (0-4). Stieb gave up five runs in five innings.

Kansas City 7, Baltimore 4--Mark Gubicza may be on his way into the Royal bullpen, and Bud Black may be on his way out.

Gubicza, loser of his first four decisions, was bombed for four runs before he could get more than one out in the first inning at Baltimore. Black gave up only two hits in the next 5 innings to gain the victory.

The usually light-hitting Royals had five home runs, two of them by Darryl Motley, to pull out the victory.

Boston 9, Oakland 6--Wade Boggs hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly with none out in the the 10th inning, triggering a four-run outburst that led the Red Sox to victory over the A’s.

Oakland’s Carney Lansford tied it with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, hitting it off Bob Stanley (1-1), who had relieved Roger Clemens.

Clemens took a 5-2 lead and a six-hitter into the ninth but left after giving up a pair of singles. He struck out 11 and set a team record by striking out 10 or more batters in his fourth straight game. He did not walk a batter.