AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Brewers Give Bit Extra, Win in 19 Innings, 10-9

The Chicago White Sox and the Brewers had a six-hour celebration on the anniversary of the longest game in major league history Wednesday at Milwaukee.

It was May 1, 1920, that the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves battled to a 1-1 tie in 26 innings.

The White Sox and Brewers went a mere 19 innings, with the Brewers winning, 10-9, when former Dodger Willie Randolph singled with two out and the bases loaded.

In the 15th inning, Randolph also singled with two out to drive in the third run of the inning and enable the Brewers to prolong the marathon.

Despite this, the White Sox elected to give Paul Molitor an intentional walk in the 19th to load the bases for Randolph.

“The way it started out I was oh for six or something like that,” Randolph said. “I dreaded going back home alone. I figured I’d try to make up for it and get something done. It shows we can battle back.”

The White Sox jumped off to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings, but the Brewers scored six runs in the fifth.

Don August (2-2), who appeared to be the loser when he gave up three runs in the 15th, pitched five innings to get the victory.

The first run in the 15th came home when Ozzie Guillen lined a hit off August’s neck. Normally, a starter, August was brought in because the Brewers were out of pitchers. The line drive knocked him down.

“I checked my ear to see if it was bleeding and when I didn’t find any blood I said I must be half all right,” August said. “I had to keep going. We didn’t have any more pitchers.”

In the longest game in the majors since the Dodgers and Montreal Expos went 22 innings in August of 1989, there were 13 pitchers and 25 other players used.

There were 37 hits, 19 by the White Sox, three of them home runs.

The longest game in the American League was between these same teams at Comiskey Park in May of 1984. The White Sox won, 7-6.

“It was our turn,” said Jim Gantner, who scored the winning run in this one and played in 1984.

Gantner singled and stole second with one out to start the winning rally. After an intentional walk and a fly out that moved Gantner to third, Molitor was walked. Randolph quickly ended the agony.

Minnesota 1, Boston 0--Scott Erickson pitched a two-hitter at Minneapolis for his second consecutive shutout.

Erickson (3-2) didn’t have his cushion until Dan Gladden homered off relief pitcher Jeff Gray in the eighth inning.

Erickson had a career-high seven strikeouts. He pitched hitless ball for 5 2/3 innings before Jody Reed had a bloop single to spoil it.

Red Sox starter Greg Harris almost matched Erickson for seven innings, giving up three hits before Gray took over in the eighth.

Since going one for 32 to open the season, Gladden has been improving steadily, batting .326 since the terrible start.

Erickson has a string of 22 scoreless innings.

Baltimore 2, Seattle 1--Bob Melvin’s infield hit in the sixth inning at Baltimore broke up Randy Johnson’s bid for a no-hitter and drove in the winning run.

Johnson, bidding for his second no-hitter, couldn’t overcome his seven walks, four in the sixth when the tying run scored before Melvin broke up the no-hitter. Johnson walked Dwight Evans on a three-and-two pitch to forced in the tying run.

Detroit 6, Kansas City 4--Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run home run and Lou Whitaker drove in two runs at Kansas City to give the Tigers a three-game sweep.

Bill Gullickson (3-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings as the Tigers handed the Royals their sixth defeat in a row.

Danny Tartabull homered for the Royals.

Mike Boddicker (2-3) gave up all six runs in 7 2/3 innings and is 6-13 against Detroit in his career.