American League Roundup : Royals Find a Way to Win After Umpire Loses His Bearings

Jim Sundberg blooped a double into center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to score George Brett from first base and give the Royals a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox Saturday night at Kansas City.

Brett had walked with one out, and after Frank White struck out, Sundberg sent Bob James’ 0-and-1 offering into center field. Brett never slowed, and the relay was just off line enough to allow him to slide in safely.

James fell to 2-4 with the loss. Winner Bud Black (3-3) pitched the final 1 innings in relief of starter Mark Gubicza.

Kansas City appeared to break the 6-6 tie with two outs in the eighth when Willie Wilson tried to score from first on Jorge Orta’s double. The ball and Wilson arrived at home plate at the same time, and Chicago catcher Carlton Fisk applied a tag. But there was no umpire at the plate to make the call.

After several seconds of silent confusion, home plate umpire Durwood Merrill came back down the line from third base and called Wilson out.

“I thought he’d have to call me safe, but then Durwood came down the line and called me out,” Wilson said. “Durwood had to make a call so I guess he went on seniority.” Fisk is 38.

Kansas City Manager Dick Howser said he had never seen such a play in his career. “Not in 25 major league seasons,” he said.

Crew chief Jim Evans said: “It was a matter of the home plate umpire making an over-hustling mistake. He was over-hustling on the way to third base, in case a play developed there. The plate umpire stays at home with two outs.”

Gubicza took a 6-1 lead into the eighth, but Fisk hit a three-run homer to complete a five-run rally and tie the score.

Milwaukee 6, Minnesota 3--Ernest Riles hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to snap a 2-2 tie as the Brewers won at Minneapolis.

The second-year shortstop has 20 RBIs this season and eight have been game-winners, tops in the American League.

Detroit 4, Oakland 1--Jack Morris brought an end to a two-game Detroit losing streak and his own two-game losing streak with a three-hit victory at Detroit.

His catcher, Lance Parrish, hit two home runs in a game for the second time this year to drive in three of Detroit’s runs.

Toronto 9, Cleveland 6--George Bell hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run fifth inning at Cleveland, and Lloyd Moseby drove in four runs for the Blue Jays.

Cleveland starter Phil Niekro, seeking his 304th career victory, took a 6-3 lead into the fifth inning, but departed after the Blue Jays loaded the bases. Bell’s homer came off Jamie Easterly (0-2).

Texas 3, Boston 2--Bobby Jones, called up from Texas’ Oklahoma City farm club only two days earlier to replace the injured Larry Parrish, delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single on a 3-and-2 pitch with two out in the ninth as the Rangers beat the Red Sox at Arlington, Tex.

The decision ended a six-game Boston winning streak and boosted Texas into first place in the American League West by a half-game over the Angels.

Baltimore 5, Seattle 4--Cal Ripken led off the 10th inning at Seattle with a home run to give the Orioles their 12th win in 14 games.