American League Roundup : Orioles Have Fight on Their Hands but Win, 2-1

Baseball’s dog days, the time when tired, frustrated players get into fights over any old brush-back, have arrived early this year.

It used to be August when knockdown pitches meant free-for-alls. But Saturday at Baltimore, the third brawl of the week erupted between the Orioles and the Chicago White Sox, in the sixth inning of the Orioles’ 2-1 victory.

Last Tuesday, fights broke out in games at St. Louis and Cincinnati. As is usually the case, punches were thrown but few were landed and only insignificant damage done.

In this game, the score was tied, 1-1, when White Sox reliever Gene Nelson hit Rick Dempsey on the wrist with a curveball. Dempsey threw down his bat and helmet, ran to the mound and wrestled Nelson to the ground. Naturally, both benches emptied.

A major battle was between Oriole pitcher Ken Dixon and White Sox coach Doug Rader. When order was restored after about 10 minutes, Dixon, Rader and Dempsey were ejected.

Dixon had yielded only four hits and fanned eight, so Manager Earl Weaver protested the game at this point. Weaver maintained that Dixon was singled out although numerous other fights were going on at the same time.

“It hit me on the wrist and across the eye. I don’t even think I threw a punch,” Dempsey said. “Everything happened so fast, but it’s typical of what’s happened the last couple years about this team (Chicago). It’s happened a lot; not just once in a while.

“Certain teams take that road when things start going rough. When they start head-hunting, then you have to do something about it.”

The protest became moot when rookie Jim Traber, off to a tremendous start for the Orioles, singled on an 0-and-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth. Traber, brought up as a replacement for Eddie Murray at the All-Star break, has been prominent in the Orioles’ surge into contention.

In the 10 games since he joined them, the Orioles are 7-3 and have moved from 10 games behind the slumping Boston Red Sox to just 5 1/2 back. Traber has had a part in four of the victories. Traber, who played 10 games late in 1984 with the Orioles and did nothing, hit four home runs in his first 20 at-bats this tour. Since joining them, he is 10 for 30 and has driven in nine runs.

Minnesota 8, New York 4--Before the weekend series at New York, Twins management let it be known that Manager Ray Miller’s job was in jeopardy and he could be out by Monday.

Suddenly, the Twins, who had lost 10 of their previous 13, are tigers.

In two games that have put a crimp in the Yankee title plans, the Twins have pounded out 28 hits and 17 runs.

In this game, halted for almost two hours in the fifth inning with the Twins leading, 5-1, Tom Brunansky led the attack with three hits, scored a run and drove in two. Gary Gaetti, who hit two home runs and drove in five runs Friday night, had two more hits and scored twice in this one.

Frank Viola held the Yankees to one hit, Rickey Henderson’s homer, in four innings, but the Twins brought in Allan Anderson after the rain. The rookie left-hander gave up three runs, but struck out five and improved his record to 3-3. The Yankees are 13-21 against left-handers.

Oakland 2, Toronto 0--Eric Plunk gave up only two hits in six innings at Oakland, but he walked seven and the A’s had to turn to some unusual relievers to save the victory.

Dave Stewart, who went eight innings to win Wednesday, pitched 1 innings of hitless relief, and Joaquin Andujar pitched a scoreless ninth to record the save.

The last time Andujar pitched in relief, it was disastrous. It was in the last game of the World Series, he was thrown out and eventually traded to the A’s because of it.

Jose Canseco singled in the only run the A’s needed in the third to increase his major league-leading RBI total to 81.

Toronto’s Jesse Barfield, the majors’ home run leader, did not play because of a sore wrist.

Texas 8, Cleveland 5--Scott Fletcher, who had four hits Friday night, continued to make life miserable for the Indians at Arlington, Tex. The hot-hitting shortstop had two doubles that figured in rallies as the Rangers made it three in a row over the Indians.

Rich Yett, getting a rare start, lost his first, while Bobby Witt lasted five innings to win his fifth.

Detroit 4, Kansas City 3--Detroit fans are booing Willie Hernandez, but the left-handed reliever is doing his part to get the Tigers into the race in the East.

Hernandez pitched 2 innings of superb relief to get the win and improve his record to 6-4. He also has 19 saves for the Tigers, who are just 7 1/2 out of first.

Alan Trammell raced home from third on John Grubb’s grounder to first with one out in the 11th to win it. Trammell just beat Steve Balboni’s throw.

George Brett ended an 0-for-11 slump with a two-run home run for the Royals.

Seattle 5, Milwaukee 2--Jerry Reed held Milwaukee to four hits over 5 innings at Seattle to win his third game in seven days.

Danny Tartabull drove in four runs with a homer and a single.

Reed (4-0) started and beat the Boston Red Sox last Sunday and gained a win in relief Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.