Tigers Wait for a Second to End Streak

L.A. Times Archives

July 5, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Brian Hunter hit his first career grand slam and the Tigers ended an 11-game losing streak against Baltimore, beating the Orioles, 11-8, Friday night for a doubleheader split at Detroit.

Lenny Webster singled to break a fifth-inning tie and three relievers combined for five shutout innings as Baltimore won the opener, 4-3, to stretch its winning streak to five.

In the second game, Detroit overcame 5-0 and 8-5 deficits to beat Baltimore for the first time since Sept. 6. Bob Hamelin hit a two-run homer for the Tigers--his second homer of the day. Detroit ended a streak of eight consecutive home losses to the Orioles.

Brady Anderson left the second game when he was hit by a pitch by Omar Olivares leading off the game and bruised his left leg. Anderson, hit in the same spot by a Greg Keagle pitch in the opener, stayed in the game but left in the third inning.

“He might miss the All-Star game,” Oriole Manager Davey Johnson said. “He definitely won’t play [today].”

Hunter’s grand slam highlighted a five-run second. After the Orioles scored three times in the third, Hamelin’s two-run homer made the score 8-7.

Alan Mills (1-1) relieved to start the fourth and was tagged for four runs. Run-scoring singles Bobby Higginson and Travis Fryman put Detroit ahead, 9-8, and Hamelin and Damion Easley walked with the bases loaded to give the Tigers a three-run lead.

Toronto 1, New York 0--Juan Guzman and Kelvim Escobar combined on a two-hitter and Orlando Merced homered in the sixth inning at Toronto.

The victory was the Blue Jays’ second in 10 home games and fourth in 17 games against the Yankees at SkyDome. It also ended New York’s four-game road winning streak.

Guzman, who left after five innings in only his second start since coming off the disabled list, gave up one hit, struck out eight, and didn’t walk a batter while facing only two over the minimum.

Minnesota 13, Milwaukee 1--Nobody worries about leaving 14 runners on base when 13 others come across to score.

Greg Colbrunn went four for six with a double, homer and four RBIs, and the Twins got 23 hits at Milwaukee, handing the slumping Brewers their fifth consecutive loss.

The hit total was one short of a club record, last accomplished on June 4, 1994, against Detroit. The Twins’ 13 runs tied a season high.

Terry Steinbach went four for four and every starter except Marty Cordova, who went one for four, had at least two hits.

Cleveland 7, Kansas City 6--Marquis Grissom’s tie-breaking infield single in the eighth led the Indians at Cleveland.

Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar went two for four to extend his hitting streak to 29 games. Alomar is batting .429 during the streak, the longest in the majors this season and longest by an Indian player since Nap Lajoie hit in 31 straight in 1906.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, Grissom lined a sharp one-hopper to David Howard at second base. The ball bounced hard off the infielder, a tough error that allowed Matt Williams to score easily.

Chicago 6, Boston 5--Heathcliff Slocumb hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in the ninth, allowing the White Sox to beat the Red Sox at Chicago after Roberto Hernandez wasted a three-run lead in the top of the inning.

With the score tied, 5-5, Ozzie Guillen doubled off Slocumb (0-4) leading off and took third on a wild pitch.

Dave Martinez was hit in the hand by a pitch with one out. The next batter, Darren Lewis, squared to bunt. But Slocumb threw another wild pitch, allowing Guillen to score.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Greg Colbrunn

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 4 for 6, double, HR, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Lee Stevens

Team: Texas

Performance: 3 for 4, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Bob Hamelin