American League Roundup : Molitor’s Double Extends Streak to 36 Games

Paul Molitor keeps getting this feeling he has been on his hitting streak for a long, long time.

The Brewers’ designated hitter extended the streak to 36 games Friday night with a double in the fourth inning at Milwaukee.

Molitor’s hit overshadowed another fine performance by Len Barker. Barker, in his second strong comeback effort, gave up just 4 hits in 6 innings in the Brewers’ 3-0 victory over Kansas City.

The double, Milwaukee’s first hit off Danny Jackson (6-15), was the 17th in the streak, which is now the sixth longest in major league history.

The streak, the longest in the majors since Pete Rose hit in 44 in a row in 1978, leaves him 20 games short of Joe DiMaggio’s record string of 56 consecutive games.

“It seems like it’s been a very long time for me,” Molitor said. “I think, knowing how far away the record is has taken a lot of pressure off me.”

Molitor began his streak July 16, the first game after the All-Star break. Molitor, who will be 31 today, is normally a third baseman. But hamstring problems have made it impossible for him to be an everyday player. Except for the July 21 game against Seattle, when he didn’t play, he hasn’t missed a game since the streak started.

Barring rainouts or more injuries, Molitor, by getting his daily hit, would reach Rose’s figure on Aug. 30. He would reach 50 on Sept. 6, tie DiMaggio Sept. 12 and break the record the next day in a home game against Detroit.

There were 37,141 fans on hand and they gave Molitor, who has missed 37 games because of injuries this season, a two-minute standing ovation after the hit.

Molitor was more impressed by the greeting when he came up in the first.

“That first at-bat was very special,” he said. “It was the warmest, nicest ovation I’ve had in my 10 years.”

He went 1 for 3 and is now 64 for 152 (.421) on the spree. If he extends the streak tonight, he will tie Tommy Holmes, who performed the feat for the Boston Braves in 1945, for fifth on the all-time list.

“Maybe, it is an advantage being the DH,” Molitor, who has an elbow injury that makes it difficult for him to throw. “I’m able to concentrate on each at-bat, rather than having to concentrate on playing defense.

“The important thing is that my hitting has given a lift to the offense. You can just see it.

“I know the streak will end someday and I don’t expect to get real close to the streak by the greatest player in the history of the game, but it’s been fun.”

Rob Deer, especially, has been helped by Molitor’s streak. Deer, who hit grand slams in Wednesday and Thursday’s game, singled home two runs in this one.

Cleveland 12-8, Detroit 4-3--Rookie right-hander John Farrell pitched a six-hitter in the nightcap of a rain-soaked doubleheader at Cleveland to give the Indians a sweep.

After Mel Hall drove in three runs to lead a romp in the opener, Farrell, in his first major league start, outpitched Frank Tanana (13-8) who had won five in a row.

Despite the two defeats, the Tigers still lead the East, but only by a percentage point.

The second game was delayed almost 1 1/2 hours in the second inning because of rain.

The Indians pounded out 28 hits, including 4 home runs.

Oakland 6, New York 4--Alfredo Griffin hit a two-run home run, and Mark McGwire a two-run double in a five-run third inning at Oakland that enabled the Athletics to move within three games of first place in the West.

The Athletics jumped all over Ron Guidry (3-8) and gave Steve Ontiveros (7-6) a lead the Yankees couldn’t overcome despite home runs by Don Mattingly, Mike Pagliarulo and Bobby Meacham.

Boston 11, Minnesota 3--The Twins may have the best home record in the majors, but they aren’t even competitive on the road.

The Twins lost their fourth in a row on this trip and now are 24-39 on the road. The other three losses were by 11-2, 7-1 and 8-0.

Roger Clemens (13-7) lost his fastball in the sixth inning, but it didn’t make any difference, because he was breezing. He struck out nine batters before leaving with two out in the seventh.

Rookie Mike Greenwell drove in three runs for the Red Sox with a triple and two singles.

Chicago 5, Texas 1--Bill Long, known as a control pitcher, struck out a career-high nine at Arlington, Tex., and scattered eight hits to improve his record to 7-6.

Long threw 141 pitches in the 95-degree weather and 91 of them were strikes.

The White Sox broke the game open with four runs in the sixth, two of them coming in on Greg Walker’s double.

Seattle 3, Baltimore 2--John Moses and Phil Bradley hit home runs at Seattle, and Mike Moore (6-15) pitched a club-record fifth consecutive complete game.

Moore allowed six hits and one earned run, Jim Dwyer’s eighth-inning home run.