Baines’ Single Gives White Sox 3-2 Win Over Angels in 10th

Harold Baines merely was looking “to hit a strike” against a pulled-in outfield when he singled in the 10th inning to send home Daryl Boston and give the Chicago White Sox a 3-2 decision over the Angels Friday night.

Baines’ third hit of the night gave the victory to Bobby Thigpen, his first in the major leagues.

Boston had scored the first run of the game in the first inning against California starter Don Sutton.

Asked why he did not walk Baines, Angels Manager Gene Mauch said: “It was just like the other night in Cleveland when I did a similar thing and it worked. Tonight it didn’t. I just wish they had somebody up there that wasn’t the caliber of Baines.”

Baines said California reliever Chuck Finley, 2-1, “obviously was trying to get me to hit a ground-ball out. On his first pitch, I’m sure I would have done exactly what he wanted.”

Thigpen, who pitched three perfect innings with two strikeouts, has not allowed a run in his last 14 games and his last 24 2-3 innings since the final two outs of his major league debut on Aug. 6. He has an 0.61 earned run average.

The Angels had tied the game at 2-2 against starter Floyd Bannister in the seventh on pinch-hitter Darrell Miller’s single.

Finley, the fourth California pitcher of the night, walked Boston leading off the 10th. Boston was sacrificed to second by Steve Lyons and Boston took third on Finley’s wild pitch.

Baines hit the next pitch to deep right-center to earn rookie reliever Bobby Thigpen his first major-league decision.

The Angels had tied the score with a run in the top of the seventh on pinch-hitter Darrell Miller’s single.

George Hendrick singled to open the seventh against Chicago starter Floyd Bannister. Bobby Grich walked and Miller, batting for the injured Wally Joyner, singled to tie the score at 2-2. Joyner injured his right shoulder in the third inning.

Bannister had a shutout going until the sixth when leadoff hitter Bob Boone was credited with a double when his long drive to center bounced off Boston’s glove. Boone advanced to third on an infield out and scored on Brian Downing’s sacrifice fly.

Boone caught in his 1,791st game, moving him past Gabby Hartnett into third place on the career list. Al Lopez holds the record with 1,918 games behind the plate.

California starter Don Sutton’s string of 18 consecutive scoreless innings ended in the bottom of the first when the White Sox scored twice. Singles by Boston, Ron Hassey and Jerry Hairston scored the first and the other came in on third baseman Doug DeCinces’ throwing error on Carlton Fisk’s high bouncer.