American League Roundup : Bo Hits Grand Slam as Royals Trounce Tigers

When people found out that Bo Jackson, the sensational running back from Auburn, intended to be a professional baseball player, they warned him it would be a long, tough haul.

These well-meaning people pointed out that he could step into pro football and be a star in a hurry. They told him there was no chance he could do that in baseball. He had too much to learn, they said.

Maybe they didn’t know that Jackson is a fast learner.

In just 85 professional baseball games, 53 of those spent in the minor leagues, the fleet, 24-year-old outfielder has become a sensation.

Jackson hit a grand slam and a three-run home run Tuesday night at Kansas City to lead the Royals to a 10-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers stopped him the rest of the game, sort of. He only had two singles and lifted his average to .500 (14 for 28). In just seven games this season, he has hit three home runs and driven in 13 runs.

When the Royals brought Jackson up late last season, he batted only .207. His main characteristic was that he struck out about one-third of the time. The Royals said Jackson learned a lot in spring training. It is an overwhelming understatement.

“I’m having the time of my life,” the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner said. “I’m enjoying myself. And, the more I play, the better I’ll get. I feel I’m 100 % better than I was last September.”

The American League pitchers are inclined to believe him.

Especially, Dan Petry, the loser. Petry struck Jackson out three times in training camp with breaking pitches. It was breaking pitches Jackson hammered for his hits in this one.

On most teams, Jackson’s teammate Kevin Seitzer, the new first baseman, would be getting rave reviews.

Seitzer, who hit a triple and two singles in this game, raised his average to .481. He’s 13 for 27 but hardly anybody even knows he’s around.

Mark Gubicza is just glad to have them both around. With his teammates giving him five runs in the first three innings, Gubicza breezed to a five-hitter to give the Royals a 4-3 record.

Milwaukee 7, Baltimore 4--The Brewers have been doing it just about every other way, why not win one with the long ball?

Paul Molitor led off the game at Baltimore with a home run, teammates hit four more and the undefeated Brewers extended their winning streak to eight games.

Ken Dixon, who gave up 33 home runs last season, gave up four of the home runs, including Rob Deer’s fourth of the season. The only Brewer homer not off Dixon was Greg Brock’s second in the American League.

Rookie Mark Ciardi went five innings in his first start to get the victory.

Boston 4, Texas 1--Al Nipper has started 79 major league games and still is looking for his first shutout. In this game at Boston, Nipper pitched seven shutout innings.

But, when he lost it, it was no fluke. Pete Incaviglia, with one out in the eighth, hit a 3-and-2 pitch off the wall by the flagpole in center.

“That was hit so hard,” Nipper said, “it should have been counted as two runs.”

Don Baylor gave Nipper all the offense he needed with a three-run home run, his third home run in his last five at-bats.

New York 10, Cleveland 6--What the Indian pitching staff lacks in ability, it makes up for in age and experience.

After 48-year-old Phil Niekro was jumped on for four hits and three runs while retiring just four batters at New York, the Indians switched to a younger pitcher.

Steve Carlton, a mere 42, served up a grand slam to Joel Skinner in the fifth inning and the Indians lost for the seventh time in the last eight games.

In two games against the Yankees, the Indians have given up 21 runs.

Cecelio Guante gave up one run in 3 innings to gain his first American League victory.

Toronto 4, Chicago 3--Rick Leach singled home Willie Upshaw with none out in the 13th at Toronto to give the Blue Jays the win.

The hit by Leach came after reliever Joel McKeon opened the inning by walking Upshaw and Ernie Whitt.

The Blue Jays scored twice in the eighth on George Bell’s two-run single off Floyd Bannister, who held them to four hits through seven innings.

Minnesota 9, Oakland 8--Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti and Tom Nieto drove in two runs apiece as the Twins held on for a victory over the Athletics at Oakland.

The Twins, who led 7-0 in the fourth inning, failed to hit a home run for the first time this season.

DAN HAFNER