American League Roundup : Tigers Regain First on Robinson’s One-Hitter

Everyone was impressed except Jeff Robinson.

Robinson pitched a one-hitter Thursday night, and the Detroit Tigers trounced the Kansas City Royals, 7-1, at Detroit to regain first place in the East--but to Robinson it was just another game.

“I just tried to go out and do the best I could,” Robinson said. “As far as I’m concerned, the game is over. We won. That’s all that’s important.”

Robinson (12-4) allowed only a fourth-inning single to Frank White and three walks.

The Tigers took a half-game lead over the New York Yankees, who lost to the Milwaukee Brewers.

“If we pitch the next 64 games like we’re the best in the division, we’ll win this thing,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said.

What Anderson has in mind are more performances like Robinson’s. He retired the last 18 Royals for the eighth victory in his last nine starts at Tiger Stadium. Robinson’s only loss at home was to Boston, 12-3, on April 21.

Detroit swept the six-game season series here from the Royals. It was the first time the Royals hadn’t won a game in Detroit.

“Every year there are surprises, and Robby is this year’s,” teammate Dave Bergman said.

Bergman singled home a run off Rick Anderson in the second inning and scored on Matt Nokes’ two-out single to give Robinson a 2-0 lead, all he would need.

Kansas City scored in the fourth when George Brett walked, White singled and they moved up on a wild pitch. Bill Buckner drove in White with a ground ball.

Milwaukee 6, New York 1--B.J. Surhoff had three hits, including a run-scoring double that sparked a three-run sixth inning, and the Brewers knocked the Yankees out of first place in New York.

Mike Birkbeck (5-5) won his third straight decision as the Brewers snapped a five-game losing streak. Birkbeck allowed a run and seven hits in 5 innings before leaving with the bases loaded.

Chuck Crim struck out Ken Phelps to end the threat and pitched 3 innings to pick up his sixth save.

The Yankees, 0-30 when trailing after seven innings, had a four-game winning streak snapped.

After Surhoff’s double off Ron Guidry (1-2) tied the score, Jim Gantner drove in a run with a grounder, and Robin Yount singled home another run.

Baltimore 5, Cleveland 2--Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken hit home runs, and Oswald Peraza pitched eight shutout innings at Cleveland as the Orioles beat the Indians for the first time in nearly a year.

The Orioles lost their previous 11 games to Cleveland. Baltimore, which last beat the Indians on Aug. 11, 1987, is 1-9 against Cleveland in 1988.

Cleveland’s Julio Franco went hitless in four plate appearances against Peraza and had his 22-game hitting streak snapped.