American League Roundup : Billy Ripken Rips One for Orioles

Billy Ripken may never become as good a hitter as his older brother, Cal Jr., but he is proving to be more than just a good-luck charm for the Baltimore Orioles.

Ripken, 22, was brought up shortly before the All-Star break and the Orioles haven’t lost a game since he joined them six games ago.

The young second baseman hit a three-run home run Sunday at Kansas City to pace the surging Orioles to a 5-1 victory and a sweep of the four-game series with the Royals.

Billy’s first major-league home run is one more than he hit for Rochester in 232 at-bats before being called up. The fifth-inning drive enabled Dave Schmidt to breeze to his 10th victory in 12 decisions

A slick fielder who has yet to show that he can hit as well as his brother, Ripken was brought up almost in desperation. The Orioles had lost 30 of 35 games. When Billy went on an 11 for 12 spree at Rochester of the International League to raise his average to .286, the Orioles figured they had nothing to lose and brought him up.

After going hitless in six at-bats in two games before the break, Billy has hit safely in four straight.

He had only 11 runs batted in at Rochester, but now has five in the last two games.

“This series sure can’t hurt my confidence,” Billy said. “I’m feeling much better about being in the major leagues after these four games. My first two games in Baltimore I was 0 for 6 and I was kind of scratching my head a little bit. Without a doubt I’ll remember this series the rest of my life. I’ll remember today, especially.”

In the four games, Billy was 7 for 21 and he did his part in spoiling a big weekend for Kansas City fans. A club record 154,094 showed up for the four-game series. Many of them showed up to boo Bo Jackson after the Heisman Trophy winner announced he would play pro football with the Raiders when not playing baseball.

The 38,055 who attended Sunday’s game were deprived of the chance of booing Jackson, who, after striking out four times Saturday, was given the day off.

Billy’s home run made it 4-0 in the fifth and brother Cal Jr. followed with a walk. Eddie Murray doubled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and drive in the final Baltimore run.

Seattle 5, Detroit 4--Alvin Davis had been 0 for his career against Tiger bullpen star Willie Hernandez, so when he came up with the tying run on first in the top of the ninth at Detroit, the Tigers were looking for a bunt.

Instead, Davis went after the first pitch and hit his 11th home run to give the Mariners the victory.

“I decided in the on-deck circle that I was going to go after the first pitch,” said Davis, who had been 0 for 8 against Hernandez. “He usually starts me off with a fastball and I was ready.”

The home run deprived Jack Morris of his 13th victory. The hard-throwing right-hander tired after holding the Mariners to two runs and three hits in seven innings.

The Tigers missed a chance to tie in the bottom of the ninth. Alan Trammell, on second, was out trying to steal third to end the game.

Oakland 5, Boston 3--Jose Canseco singled up the middle with two out in the 11th inning at Boston to drive in two runs and beat the Red Sox.

The runs were set up when Tony Bernazard doubled off the chest of Dwight Evans, an outfielder who took over first base when the Sox used a pinch-runner for Bill Buckner, and Alfredo Griffin beat out a bunt to Evans.

Canseco’s hit came after he failed twice to bunt after noticing that third baseman Wade Boggs was playing deep. It was a bad weekend for Boggs. He went 0 for 6 Sunday and 0 for 3 Saturday. He’s now batting .367.

Minnesota 7, Toronto 6--Tom Brunansky drove in three runs at Minneapolis and Dan Schatzeder was brilliant in relief to earn his first victory of the season.

Schatzeder struck out six in 3 scoreless innings. He gave way to Jeff Reardon in the ninth. Reardon got the save despite giving up a home run to Cecil Fielder.

Chicago 9, Cleveland 7--Greg Walker led off the fifth inning at Chicago with a home run off Steve Carlton (5-8) to break a 6-6 tie and trigger a three-run uprising.

Before Carlton was relieved, Carlton Fisk and Daryl Boston singled. They later scored.

It was the third consecutive loss for the Indians after they won their opener under Doc Edwards, their new manager.