American League Roundup : Fernandez Sparks Blue Jays’ Win

Sluggers George Bell and Jesse Barfield and the pitchers get most of the acclaim, but a key reason the Toronto Blue Jays are leading the American League East is Tony Fernandez.

The unassuming young veteran doesn’t just give the Blue Jays the best performance at shortstop in the league, he is also the club’s steadiest hitter.

As he has done so often this season, Fernandez came through with the key hit in a three-run eighth inning rally Monday at Milwaukee that gave the Blue Jays a 5-3 victory over the Brewers.

Before the comeback that led to their sixth victory in a row, the Blue Jays had a first-inning scare. Bell, tied for the major league home run lead with 43, was hit in the face with a pitch by Milwaukee pitcher Bill Wegman. Bell suffered a non-displaced fracture of the tip of his nose. It is expected the slugger will return to the lineup tonight.

The Brewers led, 3-2, going into the eighth and sent bullpen ace Dan Plesac to go for the save. A walk, a double by pinch-hitter Garth Iorg and Fernandez’s single tied the score. Two wild pitches and a sacrifice fly produced two more runs.

“It’s probably the worst outing I’ve had in the big leagues,” said Plesac, who has 23 saves and was selected on the All-Star squad. “Unfortunately, it came at a bad time.”

Toronto bullpen ace Tom Henke almost let it get away in the ninth. He walked Bill Schroeder, and Ernest Riles doubled to put the potential tying run on second. Henke disposed of B. J. Surhoff on a pop fly, struck out Paul Molitor and got Robin Yount on a fly to register his 32nd save.

Fernandez singled in Toronto’s first run in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. During the streak, despite a sore leg that has cut down on his running, Fernandez is 25 for 61 (.410) and has driven in 11 runs. He has lifted his average to .324.

Although he was 25 just last month, the Dominican Republic product is in his fourth season as the Toronto shortstop. It is no coincidence that the Blue Jays became a contender when Fernandez took over the most important position in the infield.

Detroit 12, Baltimore 4--Alan Trammell hit a three-run home run to spark a five-run first inning at Baltimore that made it easy for Jack Morris (17-7) to gain another victory.

Morris gave up eight hits in seven innings, including home runs to Larry Sheets and Mike Young, but was never in serious trouble.

The victory, which kept the Tigers one-half game behind Toronto in the East, may have been costly. Reliever Mike Henneman was hit in the left shoulder by Young’s line drive in the ninth and had to leave the game.

Trammell has career highs with 23 home runs and 91 runs batted in.

Oakland 2, Texas 1--Alfredo Griffin singled with two out in the ninth inning at Oakland to score Tony Phillips from second base and make Dave Stewart the first 19-game winner in the major leagues.

Stewart (19-9) gave up six hits and pitched his sixth complete game as the Athletics stayed within three games of first place in the West.

Oakland had a 1-0 lead until the eighth when Pete O’Brien homered to tie the game.

Mark McGwire doubled and scored the A’s first run in the fourth.

New York 9, Boston 5--Willie Randolph led the Yankees’ 17-hit attack with a two-run home run in the first inning at Boston and Rick Rhoden pitched five innings to improve his record to 16-9.

After going 4 for 5, Dave Winfield said the Yankees, who are five games behind Toronto, were ready to make a run for the title in the East.

Minnesota 8, Chicago 1--With veterans Joe Niekro and Steve Carlton unable to do the job, the Twins have been searching for another starting pitcher for the stretch drive.

They may have solved the problem. Right-hander Jeff Bittiger, just up from Portland of the Pacific Coast League, pitched a strong seven innings at Minneapolis to earn the victory as a last-minute sub for Les Straker.

Straker developed a blister on his pitching hand. Bittiger, a one-time third baseman in the New York Mets’ organization, gave up six hits and didn’t walk a batter.

The Twins made the rookie’s task easier with Tom Brunansky’s two-run home run and three hits and two runs batted in by Gary Gaetti.

Bittiger, drafted by the Mets in 1980, was sent to Philadelphia before the start of last season. Late in the season, he started three games with the Phillies and was 1-1 with an ERA of 5.23.

“I’m pretty confident right now,” Bittiger, 25, said. “I hope I get to start again in four or five days. When I arrived, Bert Blyleven asked me if I was the new bat boy.”

Seattle 6, Cleveland 4--On a day in Cleveland when his elbow hurt and his shoulder was stiff, Mark Langston lasted six innings and tied the Mariners’ record for victories in a season with his 17th.

Tom Candiotti (7-15) was having trouble with his knuckleball, so the Mariners scored three in the first to make it easier for Langston.

He had a 6-1 lead going into the seventh, but after Brook Jacoby homered, Eddie Williams doubled and Andy Allanson singled, Jerry Reed hurried to the rescue.