American League Roundup : Eighth Time Is Charm for Struggling Viola

Left-hander Frank Viola of the Minnesota Twins, the league’s 1988 Cy Young Award winner, finally has won a game.

Viola, a non-winner of his first seven starts, pitched shutout ball for seven innings Tuesday night at Boston and lasted into the ninth as the Twins beat the Red Sox, 6-2.

Last season Viola, on his way to 24 victories, the most in the majors, had already won five in a row. He now is 1-5 with a 4.60 earned-run average. By winning two in a row, the Twins, expected to challenge the Oakland Athletics in the West, have won four of their last 17.

Viola had a shutout until two out in the eighth, when Ellis Burks singled after a double by Wade Boggs.

“It’s just nice to finally win one,” Viola said. “Maybe these last two games will get us going. We’re too good a team to keep losing.

“I felt from the start I had the stuff to win. But on other occasions when I felt that way, I’ve lost.”

After signing a $7.9-million, three-year contract extension before the season, Viola has been the target of Twins fans who have seen him hit hard in all five of his home starts.

“Who knows,” he said. “Maybe, I’ll pitch well in the dome again, now.”

New York 5, Texas 3--The Yankees acquired several new pitchers during the off-season. But the addition of left-hander Dave LaPoint, who had struggled with several teams, had been more or less an afterthought.

And despite an ERA of over 5.00, LaPoint can’t seem to lose. LaPoint improved to 5-1 by pitching six innings at New York and getting the benefit of a two-run home run by Jesse Barfield, the newest Yankee.

The Rangers’ Charlie Hough (2-4) walked nine in 4 1/3 innings.

Seattle 4, Toronto 3--The Mariners are another team pulling surprises. The Mariners got another strong game from rookie Erik Hanson at Toronto and won for the seventh time in the last eight games.

Hanson (4-2) gave up three hits in seven innings. The Mariners took the lead for good in the fifth when Henry Cotto’s double drove in Harold Reynolds. Jeffrey Leonard then singled to make the score 4-2.

Chicago 10, Milwaukee 1--Manager Jeff Torborg didn’t give up on former Dodger Shawn Hillegas, despite his start this season.

Hillegas was 1-4 and had an ERA of 5.25. But when the White Sox broke loose at Milwaukee, he breezed through seven innings.

Hillegas was lucky, too. A drive by Robin Yount with a man on in the fourth was ruled a foul ball instead of a home run. A TV replay indicated the ball was fair.

Ron Kittle then hit a three-run home run in the fifth for the White Sox.

Kansas City 3, Cleveland 1--Danny Tartabull, robbed of an extra base hit earlier, walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning at Cleveland to win it.

Pat Tabler then hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to seal the victory for Bret Saberhagen (3-3) Tabler has driven in 91 runs with the bases loaded in his career.

Tom Candiotti took a 1-0 lead into the seventh, when Bill Buckner’s sacrifice fly tied the score.