American League Roundup : Rangers Defeat Twins in a 37-Hitter, 14-10

The battle between the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers Tuesday night at Minneapolis added fodder to those who contend the baseball is livelier this season.

In a game in which there were 37 hits, the Rangers, with Geno Petralli getting three of them and driving in five runs, outlasted the Twins, 14-10.

Those who claim the baseball has a “rabbit” in it point to the big difference in home runs this season. Through Sunday’s games, there had been 123 more home runs hit in the National League than there a year ago. In the American League, there had been 64 more than at the same time last season.

Surprisingly, the 37 hits included 10 doubles, but only one home run, by the Rangers’ Pete O’Brien. Gary Gaetti had three doubles for the Twins.

The Twins went into the game with 88 home runs in 57 games but failed to hit one for the second game in a row. If they keep up their pace they would break the record of 240 hit by the 1961 Yankees.

Those who feel there is a livelier ball point to the emergence of Kirby Puckett as a power hitter. Until this season the Twins’ center fielder had hit only four home runs in 1,248 at-bats.

This was one of the wildest games of the season. The Rangers jumped in front with five runs in the second. The Twins caught up by the third. The Rangers went ahead, 8-5, in the top of the sixth, and Minnesota came back with four in the bottom.

O’Brien’s lead-off home run in the eighth tied the game, but the Rangers scored two more runs and the Twins couldn’t match them.

Jeff Russell, who was called up Monday from Oklahoma City to replace injured Mike Mason on the roster, was the winner in his first appearance of the season, giving up one run in two innings. Greg Harris pitched the last 1 innings to get his 11th save.

Cleveland 8, Oakland 7--Joe Carter played a part in allowing the A’s to build an early 6-0 lead at Cleveland, so it was probably fitting that he played a part in the Indians’ comeback.

Carter, one day after his 21-game hitting streak ended, went 5 for 5 and drove in the tying run in the ninth and scored the winning run on Mel Hall’s single with one out.

In the top of the ninth, Dave Kingman hit his 13th home run to give the A’s a 7-6 lead.

Tony Bernazard singled with one out in the bottom half and Carter, who drove in four runs, doubled to score pinch-runner Otis Nixon.

In the first inning Carter, playing first base, booted a grounder that led to three unearned runs.

“I said, ‘Well, I’ve got to get three hits and knock in three runs just to get even”’, Carter said. “After that anything else I did was a plus.”

Boston 4, Toronto 3--The Red Sox gave their slumping hitting star, Wade Boggs, most of the night off at Toronto, but he still helped them pull out a win in the 10th.

With two out and runners on first and third in the extra inning, the Blue Jays gave an intentional walk to Boggs, who was 1 for his last 12 when he came to the plate. Mark Eichhorn, who has been brilliant in relief for the Blue Jays this season, then walked Mike Stenhouse on a 3-and-2 pitch to force in the winning run. Stenhouse was batting .143.

The Red Sox had lost four out of five before pulling out this one. There was other good news for Boston. Jim Rice, who had gone 30 games without hitting a home run, finally hit his sixth of the season. And Don Baylor followed Rice with his 14th home run of the season.

New York 6, Detroit 3--Mike Easler hit run-scoring doubles in the fourth and sixth innings at Detroit and Don Mattingly hit his third home run in two games.

Joe Niekro improved his record to 7-3. He gave up five hits in 7 innings. Dave Righetti got the last two outs to record his 13th save. Milwaukee 6, Baltimore 3--Rookie Bill Wegman pitched a six-hitter at Milwaukee and Earnest Riles hit a two-run homer to give the Brewers their fourth consecutive victory. Wegman, who lost his first five decisions, has won two in a row.

The Brewers scored four runs in the first inning to make a loser of Scott McGregor (5-5). Cecil Cooper had a hand in the rally. After going 0 for 22, he singled in a run.

Oriole Manager Earl Weaver was ejected for the first time this season in the fifth inning by umpire Rocky Roe because he argued over a ball called on Riles. On the next pitch, after Weaver departed, Riles homered.

Kansas City 9, Seattle 5--George Brett went 5 for 5 and Jorge Orta had four hits and drove in three runs, sparking an 18-hit attack that led the Royals at Kansas City.

Brett, who had a double and four singles, had his fifth career five-hit game. He scored three runs and drove in one. Orta hit two doubles and two singles.

The start of Tuesday night’s game was delayed 1 hour and 57 minutes because of rain.

Reliever Steve Farr (4-1) got the win. Reliever Milt Wilcox (0-8) was the loser.