American League Roundup : Orioles Lose, but Still Lead by 5 1/2

The amazing Baltimore Orioles, the big success story the first half of the season, appear ripe for the taking. The catch is the American League East doesn’t appear to have a team capable of taking them.

Rob Deer led a 14-hit attack with three run-scoring singles Sunday at Milwaukee as the Brewers beat the Orioles, 7-2. The Orioles, despite losing three of their last four, still lead the division by 5 1/2 games.

Once again, with the Yankees losing, they are the only team in the East above .500.

The Brewers, after winning two out of three in the weekend series, are seven games behind and think they could be the team to go after Frank Robinson’s youngsters.

Chris Bosio, having trouble only with hot-hitting Phil Bradley, improved his record to 9-5 with a strong seven innings.

Bradley was five for five and drove in a run, but the Orioles were unable to get him home. Bradley has hit safely in 14 consecutive games. Bradley is nine for 10 in the last two games and has raised his average to .314.

Bradley was called for interference when he prevented second baseman Jim Gantner from completing a double play in the fifth inning. Robinson immediately protested the game. So, Milwaukee Manager Tom Trebelhorn protested Robinson’s protest.

“The umpires are supposed to announce the protest right away,” Trebelhorn said. “They never did announce it. Maybe, it’s silly, but, in my view, if you don’t announce it, the protest is no good.

“Maybe winning two out of three is what we need to get a streak going.”

Boston 10, New York 5--The Yankees went into Boston on a three-game winning streak and with high hopes of cutting into the Orioles’ lead.

But the Red Sox bats, silent at Fenway Park this season, finally awakened and the Red Sox took two of three.

They won the first game Friday night on Mike Greenwell’s inside-the-park home run. But in this one, Dwight Evans, Nick Esasky and Luis Rivera hit the ball out of the park. It was the Red Sox’ first multi-homer game at this hitter’s park since May 27.

“We’re only six games back,” Manager Joe Morgan said. “If this means we’re out of our slump, maybe we can come up with another Morgan Miracle.”

Toronto 2, Detroit 0--The Blue Jays want to be counted as a team that can make a run at the Orioles. A brilliant performance by Dave Stieb enabled the Blue Jays to sweep a three-game series at Detroit for the first time ever.

Stieb (8-5) had a no-hitter for 5 2/3 innings and gave up just two hits before leaving the game after seven innings on a hot day. Lou Whitaker lined a single past first baseman Fred McGriff for the first Tiger hit with two out in the sixth.

Rookie Junior Felix hit his eighth home run and the Blue Jays won their fourth in a row to move within seven games of the Orioles.

Oakland 7, Texas 1--Shortly after the Athletics extended the contract of Manager Tony LaRussa, the players went out and routed the Rangers at Oakland.

Already the longest-serving manager since the franchise moved to Oakland, LaRussa is signed through 1992.

Mark McGwire hit his 17th home run and drove in three runs to help Bob Welch improve his record to 10-4.

Rickey Henderson continued to spark the A’s offense. He was one for two, stole his league-leading 36th base and scored three runs.

Welch, a former Dodger, was saved by another former Dodger, Rick Honeycutt, who recorded his 11th save this season. Honeycutt had just eight before this year. He retired the last eight Rangers, four of them on strikes.

Seattle 8, Cleveland 0--If the Mariners were in the East, they would be talking about going after the Orioles. Instead, their 42-44 record leaves them in fifth place in the West, 10 1/2 games out of first place.

Scott Bankhead pitched a six-hitter at Seattle for his sixth victory in a row as the Mariners won for the 10th time in the last 13 games.

Kansas City 5, Chicago 4--Willie Wilson couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate his 34th birthday.

Wilson singled home George Brett from second base with one out in the ninth inning at Kansas City to keep the Royals 3 1/2 games behind the Angels in the West.

Brett, not selected to the American League All-Star team for the first time since 1975, doubled with one out to start the winning rally.

Rookie Tom Gordon, though he gave up the tying run in the seventh, settled down to get the win, his 10th in 12 decisions, all in relief.