American League Roundup : After Losing First Six, Morris Gets Mad and Pitches 6-3 Victory Over A’s

It took what seemed a lifetime, but Jack Morris, the winningest major league pitcher in the 1980s finally won a game in 1989.

After six consecutive defeats, Morris faced the best team in the American League, the Oakland Athletics, Saturday at Detroit and ended the worst start in his career with a 6-3 victory.

Although he pitched better in at least two losses, Morris went 6 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and two runs, only one of them earne--Mark McGwire’s seventh home run of the season, a drive into the left-field seats. It was the 161st victory of the decade for the right-hander.

Morris, who holds most of the Detroit pitching records, didn’t want to break the one for most consecutive defeats at the start of a season. Ted Gray, a left-hander, opened the 1953 season with nine consecutive defeats.

Part of Morris’ problem has been a lack of runs. In his first two starts, the Tigers were shut out. When he really got sharp, he lost 2-1 and 1-0 games.

But in this one, Pat Sheridan and Lou Whitaker hit home runs and the Tigers scored more than three runs for only the ninth time in 27 games. They ended another four-game losing streak.

Morris, who will get paid $1.98 million this season at the end of a three-year contract, doesn’t talk with the media.

Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson sees Morris not talking with reporters as a sign of good things to come.

“I’ve always said, somebody that’s been to the top of the mountain, it’s a lot harder for them than for somebody that’s been in the outhouse,” Anderson said. “You look back at all the great stars and you’d find they’re all temperamental guys. It’s mediocrity that’s laid back. That’s why they’re good. They’re always critical of themselves, and they don’t run from the tough situations.”

Milwaukee 1, Kansas City 0--It was a blustery 38 degrees at game time in Milwaukee. Ordinarily, the conditions favor a pitcher. In this case, they weren’t good for the Brewers’ Teddy Higuera.

Just back from a back injury, it was the left-hander’s turn for his second start. The Brewers weren’t about to risk another injury.

Bryan Clutterbuck, with a young, sound arm, was given the job. He gave up only five hits in eight innings, but wasn’t around when Jim Gantner snapped a slump with a two-out single that scored Billy Spiers from second in the 10th.

Bill Krueger, who pitched briefly for the Dodgers the last two seasons, pitched two scoreless innings to get his first win since he was at Oakland in 1986.

Mark Gubicza pitched a strong nine innings for the Royals, going 5 2/3 hitless innings before giving up a single to Spiers.

Boston 7, Texas 0--In his first start of the season, Mike Smithson cooled the bats of the Rangers at Boston.

Smithson, a replacement for ailing Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd, held the Rangers to six singles in seven innings after making 11 relief appearances.

“This one was for the Can,” the 6-8 right-hander said in a soft voice. Boyd is hospitalized with a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Wade Boggs, who sat out the night before with tendinitis in his left foot when Nolan Ryan pitched, recovered to lead the assault on Bobby Witt. Boggs had a double, a triple and a single, scored three runs and drove in another.

Jim Rice had two hits and drove in three runs for the Red Sox.

New York 5, Chicago 2--The start of the game at Chicago was delayed for 29 minutes because of snow flurries. The temperature was 36 degrees when the contest finally began.

There was still some snow in the foul areas when Rickey Henderson hit a three-run home run in the ninth to give the Yankees the victory.

After Dave Righetti, in relief, gave up the tying run in the eighth inning trying to save it for Rich Dotson, he became the winner.

With one out in the ninth, Alvaro Espinoza and Roberto Kelly singled off Steve Rosenberg. Then Henderson hit his second home run, off Bobby Thigpen.

Dotson, making his first appearance since April 8, went six innings, giving up six hits and leaving with a 2-1 lead.

Tom Brookens homered for the Yankees, only the second time this season they have hit two home runs in a game.

Mariners 2-6, Orioles 1-5--Edgar Martinez had three hits, including his first major league home run, as the Mariners defeated previously unbeaten Jeff Ballard to cap their first doubleheader sweep in almost eight years.

The Mariners won the opener as Mark Langston gave up four hits and an unearned run in seven innings. Mike Schooler saved both games.

Baltimore’s Larry Sheets was struck on the side of his face by a Langston pitch in the first inning of the first game but was not seriously hurt and remained in the game.

Martinez’s two-run homer gave Seattle a 3-1 lead and highlighted a five-run second inning. All five runs were charged to Ballard (5-1).

The sweep was the Mariners’ first since May 25, 1981.