American League Roundup : Witt Controls Himself, Tames Tigers Again With Three-Hitter, 3-2

The Texas Rangers always counted on fireballing Bobby Witt to become their best pitcher. He was big, strong, and had a fastball in the mid-90s.

The Rangers made him the third player chosen in the June, 1985, draft. They knew that once Witt learned control, he would be something else.

They waited through two seasons while he led the American League in bases on balls, then began to wonder. Then, he was so terrible in the spring they sent him to triple-A Oklahoma City.

In early July they brought him back for a final chance. What they have seen is the Bobby Witt they dreamed about.

Witt pitched a three-hitter Tuesday night at Arlington, Tex., to beat the Detroit Tigers, 3-2. It was the second time he beat the Tigers in less than two weeks and prevented them from increasing their lead in the East.

He has allowed three runs and seven hits in the complete game victories over the Tigers. On nights when Witt pitches, the Rangers can shut down the bullpen.

This was Witt’s sixth start since July 10. Although he is only 4-2, he has gone the distance in each game. His two losses were both on the road. In 52 innings since his return, he has given up 33 hits and 12 earned runs. His earned-run average, which was 7.68 when he was sent down, is 2.08 for his last six starts.

“When we sent him down,” Manager Bobby Valentine said, “we told him he had to learn how to throw strikes and improve his mood.

“That fellow you are seeing now is the new and improved Bobby Witt. He is beginning to do the things we expected him to do all along.

“Before, he’d think it was great if he went five innings. Now he thinks about nine innings. He feels so much better about himself.”

Witt gives much of the credit to former major league pitching star Ferguson Jenkins. At Oklahoma City, Jenkins streamlined his motion and boosted his confidence.

“Before I’d go into the dugout between innings, cursing about some mistake I’d made,” Witt said. “I’d dwell on what happened before, not on what was coming up.

“I guess the biggest improvement has been my mechanics. I’ve got my motion now. I don’t have to go through mental check-lists. Everything’s coming natural to me.”

The Rangers scored four times in the third inning in a rally triggered by one of Curtis Wilkerson’s four hits. Later, Pete Incaviglia hit his 20th home run.

Milwaukee 3-1, Boston 2-5--After a stunning loss in the opener of the doubleheader at Milwaukee, the Red Sox came back behind the pitching of Mike Boddicker to get a split and move into second place, 3 games behind Detroit.

With the score in the opener, 2-2, rookie Joey Meyer led off the ninth inning with a home run off Roger Clemens. It was only Clemens’ second road loss this season. Meyer hit his homer 380 feet to the opposite field.

Boddicker, who is 2-1 since being acquired from Baltimore, got superb relief from Bob Stanley, who held the Brewers to two hits in the last 3 innings.

Oakland 8, Chicago 1--Another player who likes to finish what he starts is Dave Stewart of the Athletics. In this game at Oakland, Stewart pitched his sixth consecutive complete game, giving up just five hits.

Stewart (15-10) had plenty of long distance support, too. The H-men provided the power. Ron Hassey, Dave Henderson and Glenn Hubbard hit home runs. Hubbard’s came with two runners on. It was Henderson’s 17th.

Toronto 6, New York 3--Backup catcher Sal Butera doesn’t get to play often behind durable Ernie Whitt, so he has to do the best he can.

The best in this game at New York was a two-run triple to highlight a five-run sixth inning that carried Mike Flanagan and the Blue Jays to victory.

Flanagan (11-8) relaxed with a 6-1 lead, and Jack Clark and John Slaught opened the sixth with home runs and he was gone. It was Clark’s 22nd homer.

The Yankees’ Don Mattingly extended his hitting streak to 15 games, but Dave Winfield extended his hitless string to 0 for 20.

Kansas City 5, Baltimore 4--Managers haven’t learned yet not to pitch to Pat Tabler with the bases loaded. He came up in the ninth at Kansas City with the Royals losing, 4-2, and the bases full.

Tabler hit a bases-clearing double to give the Royals a stirring victory. He raised his lifetime average with the bases loaded to .571. He is 35 for 62 with 84 RBIs with the bases loaded.

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3--Gary Gaetti hit a two-run home run at Minneapolis, but it was Kent Hrbek’s single that drove in the tiebreaking run in the sixth to hand Greg Swindell his 10th defeat in his last 12 decisions.

Fred Toliver (4-1) struck out 10 in six innings to get the victory. Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth and picked up his 30th save.