American League Roundup : Rangers Take Over First on Hough’s Shutout

Charlie Hough would have liked a complete game shutout, but pitching the Texas Rangers back into first place in the American League West was good enough.

Hough, a former Dodger, threw a three-hit 1-0 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox Monday night in Chicago, but he didn’t get to finish the game because Manager Bobby Valentine went to his bullpen in the ninth inning.

Hough retired Carlton Fisk to open the ninth, but after Harold Baines singled, Valentine called in left-hander Mitch Williams to face left-handed swinging Greg Walker, who lined out to third.

When Williams walked Jerry Hairston to put the lead run on base, Valentine called on Greg Harris, who retired Ron Kittle on a pop foul to end the game and record his eighth save.

“Charlie had the best knuckle ball he’s had all season,” Valentine said, “but I had a left-hander who gets people out and a right-hander who gets people out. It turned out all right.”

Coupled with Kansas City’s 7-2 loss to Milwaukee, the Rangers took over first place in the AL West, one game ahead of the Royals.

Pete O’Brien doubled in the game’s only run in the first inning after Oddibe McDowell had walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Fletcher.

The first hit off Hough (4-2) was a leadoff single by Wayne Tolleson in the third inning. Hairston doubled in the seventh and Baines singled in the ninth for the other hits.

Chicago starter Joe Cowley (1-3) allowed six hits and struck out 10.

The victory ended a three-game losing streak for the Rangers while the Sox suffered their eighth loss in the last nine games.

Milwaukee 7, Kansas City 2--Rick Manning came off the bench to hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his first of the season, and Ted Higuera scattered nine hits as the Brewers snapped the Royals’ four-game winning streak in Milwaukee.

Higuera (7-4) pitched his sixth complete game, walking three and striking out five.

Because of injuries and illness, the Brewers entered the game with only two bench players available--catcher Rick Cerone and outfielder Manning. Manning entered the game in the fifth inning after Rob Deer bruised his left foot while swinging at a pitch in the third.

Toronto 3, Minnesota 1--Jim Clancy pitched six no-hit innings and George Bell hit a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Twins at Toronto.

Bell also made a good defensive play when he made a leaping catch against the left-field fence to rob Tom Brunansky of a game-tying home run in the ninth inning.

Clancy (6-3) who allowed three hits, carried a one-hitter into the ninth when the Twins knocked him out on successive singles by Roy Smalley and Kent Hrbek. Tom Henke relieved, and Brunansky crushed what appeared to be a certain game-tying, three-run homer to left.

But Bell leaped against the left-field wall and caught the ball and all the Twins were left with was a sacrifice fly. Henke then retired the next two batters to save the win.

Boston 3, Cleveland 1--Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd scattered nine hits over 6 innings to record his fifth straight victory and Jim Rice drove in two runs as the Red Sox beat the Indians at Boston.

Boyd (7-3) got relief help from Steve Crawford in the seventh. Crawford picked up his second save by pitching out of a seventh-inning jam, inducing Joe Carter to fly out to right to retire the side with runners on first and third. Mel Hall homered in the sixth inning for Cleveland’s run.

Cleveland starter Neal Heaton (2-5) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 innings.

Oakland 7, Detroit 1--Dave Kingman’s two-run double opened the scoring in a seven-run first inning, when Detroit pitchers issued seven walks, as the A’s beat the Tigers at Oakland.

The A’s Chris Codiroli (4-6) pitched three-hit ball over seven innings to get the victory, and Bill Mooneyham finished up. Detroit’s only run came on Lance Parrish’s seventh-inning homer, his 11th.

The Tigers, who had Kirk Gibson in their lineup for the first time since April 22, lost their fourth straight game. Gibson, who was on the disabled list because of an ankle injury, was 0 for 4 as a designated hitter, striking out three times, on his return. Detroit starter Dan Petry (4-5) took the loss.