Viola Gets 24th Victory, Tops in Majors, at Angels’ Expense

Frank Viola won his 24th game, most in the major leagues, as he pitched the Minnesota Twins to an 8-5 victory over the Angels Friday night.

The loss was the 10th in a row for the Angels, who set a club record with their 20th loss in September.

Viola (24-7) surpassed the 23 National League victories of both the Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser and the Cincinnati Reds’ Danny Jackson. Viola has the best winning percentage in the American League (.774) and is the Twins’ top winner since Jim Perry, who had 24 victories in 1970.

Viola gave up 11 hits in 7-plus innings, and Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth for his 41st save.

Kirby Puckett, Tom Herr and Tim Laudner each had 3 of Minnesota’s 13 hits. Puckett has hit in 15 consecutive games, batting .469 during that span, and has 72 multiple-hit games, a team record.

For the Angels, Mike Witt (13-16) gave up 9 hits and 5 walks in 5 innings.

The Twins scored 3 times in the first inning. Herr singled, Randy Bush walked, and both scored when Puckett’s single got past right fielder Chili Davis. Laudner hit his 13th homer of the season, a solo shot, in the fourth.

The Angels scored twice on 4 hits in the sixth. Jack Howell led off with a double, and singles by Johnny Ray, Wally Joyner and Davis produced the runs. The Angels chased Viola with 3 runs in the eighth.