American League Roundup : Twins Hit Five More Homers in 9-8 Win

The people who make the major league baseballs keep insisting that they have not put a “rabbit” into the baseball. But the Minnesota Twins keep hitting home runs at a record pace.

The Twins had five more Friday night at the Metrodome and needed all of them to edge the Cleveland Indians, 9-8.

The home runs by Kent Hrbek, Tom Brunansky, Tim Laudner, Randy Bush and Ron Washington increased Minnesota’s total to 105 in 66 games.

If the Twins keep up that pace for the entire season, they will hit 258. The major league record is 240, set by the New York Yankees in 1961.

The National League has hit 30% more home runs than it had at the same time a year ago, and the American League is up 9%. Yet, Rawlings, which manufactures the baseballs, claims it is exactly the same ball that was used last season.

Twin Manager Ray Miller is becoming an authority on the subject. “I think the ball is livelier,” he said. “The balls are hard. They’re wrapped very tight.”

Hrbek is leading the Twins’ recent surge. He has 7 home runs in the last 13 games and 17 for the season. Hrbek was 3 for 5 and is batting .547 in his last 13 games (29 for 53).

Bush hit a two-run home run to break a 4-4 tie and spark a six-run sixth inning that gave the Twins the lead for good. Dickie Noles was the loser. He was the first Cleveland reliever to lose since May 24.

“It’s exciting sitting there, watching some of our hitters,” said Bush, who delivered his homer as a pinch-hitter. “It sure is fun to watch the excitement those people are generating. Maybe, it’s contagious.”

Texas 10, Oakland 7--Gary Ward and Larry Parrish hit home runs to highlight a nine-run second inning that carried the Rangers to victory at Arlington, Tex. Ward’s was a two-run inside-the-park home run.

Ranger rookie Bobby Witt (4-5) struck out nine but needed relief help with two out in the sixth.

The Rangers sent 12 men to the plate in the big inning. Six runs were unearned.

Ward began the rally with a fly to left that Dusty Baker misjudged, and it went for a double. Two errors on one play by pitcher Chris Codiroli led to his downfall.

On Ward’s homer, right fielder Jose Canseco made a leaping try for a catch but fell when he got his spikes caught in the padding on the fence. Canseco was not hurt.

Baltimore 14, Boston 3--Mike Boddicker has assured the Orioles of avoiding a long losing streak this season. With Tom O’Malley driving in five runs to lead a 20-hit attack at Boston, Boddicker ended the Orioles’ four-game slump and improved his record to 10-1.

Boddicker gave up six hits in pitching his third complete game.

O’Malley had two doubles and a single as the Orioles bombarded six Boston pitchers. The Orioles did not hit a home run, and neither of their big hitters, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, drove in a run.

Although he gave up only three hits, Mike Brown was the loser. He was struck on the right elbow by a hot smash off the bat of Juan Bonilla in the second inning and had to leave the game.

New York 10, Toronto 8--Sometimes the hitting of the Yankees will overcome atrocious pitching. Such was the case at Toronto as the Yankees ended a five-game losing streak.

Yankee rookie Doug Drabek had an 8-2 lead in the ninth, but when he put two runners on, bullpen ace Dave Righetti relieved. Righetti had two strikeouts, but in between he gave up two singles and a walk. With two out, George Bell hit a grand slam to tie the game. As Brian Fisher (3-3) came in to relieve, Righetti heaved the ball into the stands.

With two out in the top of the 10th, Rickey Henderson doubled to score Mike Pagliarulo, then scored himself on Willie Randolph’s single.

Milwaukee 1, Detroit 0--On a night when baseballs were flying out of other parks, they had a pitching duel at Milwaukee.

Tim Leary of the Brewers and Walt Terrell of the Tigers each pitched four-hitters. Three of the Brewer hits came in the fourth inning, and Ben Oglivie singled in the only run of the game.

Seattle 5, Chicago 3--Jim Presley doubled to start a four-run second inning and homered in the third to spoil the debut of interim Manager Doug Rader at Chicago. Rader replaced Tony LaRussa, fired by the White Sox earlier in the day.

Tom Seaver (2-6) gave up five hits and struck out six in seven innings. Two of the five runs he yielded were unearned.