American League Roundup : A Change Changes Loser DeLeon Into Winner

There never was a question about Jose DeLeon’s talent; his numbers just didn’t add up--until lately.

DeLeon, who was 2-19 last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, continued his resurgence with the Chicago White Sox Thursday at Detroit by combining with two relievers for an 8-2 victory over the Tigers.

The defeat dropped Detroit into fourth place, six games behind Boston in the East.

It was the third victory in four starts for DeLeon since the Pirates traded him to the White Sox July 23.

“It’s so good to have some runs,” said DeLeon, who seldom had that luxury with the Pirates. “It’s hard to believe I’m 3-1 . . . Everything has been so good for me here.”

DeLeon was 7-3 with a 2.83 earned-run average and seemed to flirt with a no-hitter every time out as a rookie for the Pirates in 1983, he but was 9-32 the past two seasons.

He spent much of this season with Hawaii of the Pacific Coast League and was 1-3 in limited duty with the Pirates before the trade.

In five starts for the White Sox, DeLeon has allowed only 16 hits and 5 earned runs in 28 innings.

“People in baseball have always known Jose has great stuff,” White Sox Manager Jim Fregosi said. “I think he’s got a chance to have a great future. He’s only 25 years old.”

DeLeon allowed 2 runs on 4 hits during his 5 innings. He struck out 7, including 3 in the first inning, and walked 3. Bobby Thigpen gave up 2 hits and 5 walks in 2 innings, and Ray Searage finished up.

Detroit’s Frank Tanana (9-6) lasted only 1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits.

Chicago’s Ron Hassey hit a two-run double in a four-run first inning, then doubled in a run and scored in a three-run eighth.

Boston 11, Kansas City 6--Tony Armas knocked in four runs, three with his seventh home run, as the Red Sox overpowered the Royals at Kansas City.

The Red Sox, who also got homers from Rich Gedman and Dwight Evans, increased their lead in the East to four games over the idle New York Yankees.

Al Nipper (8-7) got the victory with relief help from Calvin Schiraldi, who picked up his fifth save.

With the score tied, 6-6, Wade Boggs led off the sixth with a triple against Bud Black (4-7) and scored on Don Baylor’s two-out single.

Texas 8, Milwaukee 2--Ruben Sierra hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run second inning, and rookie Mike Loynd scattered 5 hits over 7 innings to lead the Rangers past the Brewers at Arlington, Tex.

The victory moved the second-place Rangers within 1 1/2 games of the idle Angels in the West.

Loynd (2-0) struck out four and walked one. Dale Mohorcic and Greg Harris pitched the final two innings. Teddy Higuera (15-8) took the loss.

Gorman Thomas singled home a run for the Brewers in the first inning and hit his 15th homer of the season in the ninth.

Baltimore 12, Cleveland 2--Storm Davis pitched his first complete game since April 20, and the Orioles scored six runs in the second inning in a rout of the Indians at Cleveland.

The Orioles moved into third place in the East but remained 5 1/2 games behind Boston.

Lee Lacy extended his hitting streak to 15 games with four hits, including an RBI double during Baltimore’s second inning.

Davis (9-9) allowed nine hits and struck out five. Cleveland rookie Cory Snyder hit his 14th homer.

Minnesota 14, Seattle 1--Mickey Hatcher drove in a career-high five runs, and rookie Mark Portugal scattered seven hits at Seattle as the Twins handed the Mariners their ninth defeat in 10 games.

Hatcher delivered a two-run double in Minnesota’s four-run third inning, a two-run single in a seven-run fourth and an RBI single in a three-run fifth.

Portugal (3-8) walked four and struck out four in going the distance for the second time.