American League Roundup : Foster Hits Homer, but the White Sox Lose, 4-3

George Foster hit a home run in his first American League game Friday night at Chicago but just missed being a hero for the White Sox.

Foster’s home run in the fourth inning, the 348th of his career, gave the White Sox a 3-0 lead. They still led the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-2, going into the ninth, but Paul Molitor singled in the tying run, and relief pitcher Dave Schmidt wild pitched in the run that gave the Brewers a 4-3 victory.

Nevertheless, the White Sox fans were impressed with the 37-year-old Foster. After Foster hit the first pitch in the fourth inning, the 22,187 fans gave him a standing ovation when he came out of the dugout to take a bow. Foster also had a single in the sixth inning.

Already, the White Sox figure they have a bargain. Although Foster is being paid $2 million this season, the White Sox have to give him only $19,000. The New York Mets, who released him Aug. 6, are obligated to pay the rest as well as a $1-million buyout next year.

After they sent Ron Kittle to the Yankees, the White Sox have needed a right-handed power hitter.

“When you lose, whatever you do is never enough,” Foster said. “It felt good to get those hits. As I played more, I became more comfortable.”

Boston 8, Detroit 5--It may be that Roger Clemens’ luck is changing for the better. Everything seemed to go wrong for the Red Sox star from the time in the fifth inning July 30 at Chicago when umpire Greg Kosc blew a call at first base and then threw Clemens out after Clemens bumped him.

He lost two in a row, one of them, 1-0, on his own throwing error, and was suspended for bumping the umpire.

But in this game at Boston, the tide turned. Ed Romero, who had not hit a home run in two years, opened an eight-run fifth inning with a walk and completed it with a three-run home run.

“My job is to make plays, and if I hit that’s a big plus,” Romero, a veteran utility infielder, said. “I’m just happy to win and contribute.”

Despite a mediocre performance, Clemens improved his record to 18-4. He lasted until two were out in the eighth but gave up 10 hits and was responsible for all of the Tiger runs.

“I had a fastball and a fastball,” Clemens said. “I got the ball where I wanted and kept breaking bats while keeping us in the game again. They also fought off some good pitches.”

Joe Sambito got the last four outs to pick up his 11th save and drop the Tigers seven games behind the Red Sox in the East.

Cleveland 3, Baltimore 2--The Indians’ sterling bid to contend in the East may have fallen a bit short, but their fans haven’t given up on them.

They had lost four games in a row, but 55,427 fans showed up and were rewarded with a winning rally in the eighth inning.

The Orioles’ late-season addition, Jim Traber, hit a two-run home run in the fifth, and the Orioles led, 2-1.

With two on and two out in the eighth, the Indians faced Don Aase, the top reliever in the league. Mel Hall singled in the tying run, and Cory Snyder singled in the winning run.

“I made good pitches,” said Aase, who has 29 saves. “Give them credit, they made good hits.”

Traber, in less than a month in the majors, has 9 home runs and has driven in 25 runs.

“It was good to pull one out in front of all those people,” Indian Manager Pat Corrales said. “Scott (Bailes) gave us another good start. He was really sharp except for the pitch Traber hit.”

Bailes retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced, but Juan Beniquez singled in the fifth, and Traber hit a 2-2 curveball out in right-center for the Orioles’ two runs.

Toronto 6, Texas 1--George Bell hit a two-run home run, and Cliff Johnson had a solo blast at Toronto to back the sharp pitching of Joe Johnson.

Johnson gave up five hits and struck out five in seven innings to improve his record to 2-1 since coming from Atlanta July 6.

The Blue Jays knocked Ed Correa (7-10) out in the sixth inning, and Ed Mohorcic replaced him. It was a league-record ninth consecutive game in which Mohorcic pitched. The major league record is 13 by Mike Marshall of the Dodgers in 1974.

The game was delayed by rain for more than an hour in the fourth inning, just moments after Bell’s 27th home run, a two-run smash, gave the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.

The only Texas run was unearned as Toronto shortstop Tony Fernandez made his first error in 34 games in the third inning.

New York 7, Kansas City 4--Just as Manager Lou Piniella said, the Yankees are coming on. Mike Easler and Mike Pagliarulo each drove in two runs in the fourth inning at Kansas City, and the Yankees stretched their winning streak to four games, remaining four games in back of Boston.

Behind Doug Drabek, the Yankees took a 5-1 lead into the seventh inning. They brought in Brian Fisher, who wasn’t much of a puzzle. He gave up a three-run home run to George Brett, and Dave Righetti had to come to the rescue.

Scott Bankhead retired six of the first seven Yankees he faced, but he didn’t get anyone out in the fourth.

Seattle 1, Minnesota 0--Alvin Davis hit a home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth at Seattle to make a winner out of Mike Moore, who pitched a two-hitter.

Neal Heaton went the first eight innings for the Twins, giving up four hits. Keith Atherton took over in the ninth and was the loser.