The Baltimore Orioles (0-2) could not lock down their game against the Texas Rangers (2-0), as Baltimore reliever Mark Williamson blown the save, as Scott Fletcher hit a go-ahead, eventual game-winning two-run single during the top of the 9th. The Rangers and the Orioles each had 11 hits. Texas' Larry Parrish was a triple short of the cycle, batting 3-for-3 with a two-run homer & double. Backstop Mike Stanley got his first start of the season, and took advantage of it by collecting 3 hits (including a double). Besides getting the game-winning hit, Fletcher finished the day batting 2-for-5 with 3 RBI (5 RBI for the season). The Ripken brothers tried their best to pull out their first season win... Billy batted 3-for-5 with a RBI double (1 run), while older brother Cal batted 2-for-4 with a RBI single. Cal's RBI single in the 7th inning momentarily gave the O's a 4-3 lead. After recording a win the day before, Charlie Hough came into the 9th, and completed the save. Rangers win, 5-4.
The Seattle Mariners pitching showed up again, as the M's defeated the California Angels, 5-1. Although he wasn't perfect by any account (7 hits & 4 walks), Mike Moore pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 run. Mike Kingery getting his first start as a Mariner (after being involved in the Danny Tartabull trade), hit a three-run homer in his very first at-bat, to give Seattle an early 3-0 lead. John Moses would help Seattle by adding a solo home run. The Angels' Don Sutton (0-1, 6.00) showed his age, while allowing 7 hits & 4 runs with only 1 strikeout. California's Johnny Ray batted 2-for-4 with a RBI & BB; Ray currently is batting .625 (5-for-8) through the first 2 games of the season.
The Detroit Tigers' Frank Tanana kept the New York Yankees (1-1) at bay, as the Tigers (1-1) would pull out their first win in front of a happy home crowd. Mike Heath (who came in for catcher Matt Nokes later in the game) hit the go-ahead winning two-run single in the bottom of the 8th. Lou Whitaker batted 2-for-4 with a double & RBI. Tanana may not have earned the decision, but pitched a solid game by allowing only 4 hits, 1 run & walk through 7 innings, while collecting 5 strikeouts along the way. Rickey Henderson hit a solo home run during the loss. Tigers win, 4-2.
A rain delay, delayed the game in K.C. between the visiting Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals. Pitchers came out rusty, especially the Sox' Richard Dotson, who surrendered 4 runs in the 1st inning, due to a RBI double by rookie Kevin Seitzer and a three-run homer by Danny Tartabull in his first at-bat as a Royal. Seitzer batted 1-for-2 (which included the RBI double), while drawing two walks, and scoring once. Speedster Willie Wilson stole two bases, while scoring 2 hits & 2 runs. The White Sox would come back with 2 runs, but the Royals' Dan Quisenberry would earn his 2nd Save, as the Royals win 5-3. Mark Gubicza (1-0, 1,80 ERA) earned the win, while Dotson (0-1, 12.27 ERA) only lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing 6 hits, 5 runs & 3 walks. The Sox' Ivan Calderon batted 2-for-3 with a solo HR & BB.
Can lightning strike twice? In this case, yes. Last game, the Brewers won with a walk-off single in the 10th inning by pinch-hitter Bill Schroeder... This time, the Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) won with a walk-off home run by Bill Schroeder, once again in the 10th inning. The Boston Red Sox (0-2) lost again in extras and to the same player, not a great start for the defending American League Champions. The Brew Crew first got on the board thanks to Dale Sveum's solo HR during the bottom of the 5th. The Red Sox would tie the game back up, 1-1, on Sam Horn's bases loaded sacrifice fly. Boston's Bruce Hurst would pitch the entire game -- 9 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 BB & 6 K's. The Brewers' starter Bill Wegman had a no-decision, while allowing 4 H, 1 ER & 3 BB through 8 1/3 innings (3 K's).
The Oakland Athletics score 7 runs during the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Minnesota Twins. Tony Phillips hit a three-run homer early on for the A's, while it was catcher Terry Steinbach's three-run homer in the 9th, which was the highlight of their big inning. The Twins' Bert Blyleven only allowed 2 earned runs through the first 7 innings, until getting tattooed with 4 earned runs through his final 1 1/3 innings -- resulted in a crooked line in the box score. Blyleven had 9 strikeouts. Tom Brunasky (1-4, two-run HR) and Greg Gagne (2-5, 3B, 2B & RBI) were Minnesota's big offensive stars. Dennis Eckersley may have blown the save (due to Brunasky's homer), but earned his first win.
Last, but not least, the Cleveland Indians at the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cleveland led 2-1 with 10 hits, while entering the bottom of the 5th inning; The Blue Jays had only 5 hits. Cleveland took a 2-1 lead on a solo HR by Julio Franco during the top of the 5th, but everything would fall apart for Phil Niekro (0-1, 9.64 ERA) and the Cleveland Indians (0-2). The Jays would score 12 runs between the 5th and 8th innings, on their way to a lopsided 13-3 win. Toronto has outscored Cleveland 25-6 during the first two games of this series.
For Toronto, Jesse Barfield batted 3-for-4 with a double, 3 RBI & two runs. Ernie Whitt batted 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, a walk & a run. Cecil Fielder in his first start of the season, playing DH, smacked a solo HR, while drawing 2 walks & scoring 3 times. Lloyd Moseby added 3 hits, an RBI, stolen base & 2 runs.
Cleveland's Carmen Castillo batted 2-4 with an RBI double & run in their loss.
Toronto improves to 2-0, and will play the series finale tomorrow.
* * * Next, National League highlights from April 8th * * *
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