American League Roundup : Martin Is 0-2 in His 4th Term

Maybe Billy Martin doesn’t have any magic left. He is 0-2 in his fourth term as manager of the New York Yankees.

It wasn’t even close. A two-run double by Cliff Johnson highlighted a five-run first inning at Arlington, Tex., Tuesday night and the Texas Rangers coasted to an 8-4 victory.

The Rangers bombed the Yankees’ ace, 46-year-old Phil Niekro. Niekro, under Manager Yogi Berra, had won three in a row and had an earned-run average of 1.77.

The first-inning damage was done after two were out. Tommy Dunbar opened with a single and two outs later Larry Parrish, who hit three home runs Monday night to defeat the Yankees, beat out an infield hit. Pete O’Brien singled before Johnson and Don Slaught doubled and Wayne Tolleson singled.

Dickie Noles held the Yankees to three runs and five hits in five innings to gain his second victory. It was the fifth loss in a row for the last-place Yankees.

“Things aren’t getting any easier for us,” Martin said. “We certainly are going to have to put some victories together.”

Minnesota 11, Detroit 2--Gary Gaetti keeps hearing that the American League West teams don’t belong in the same league with the East.

He gave a little example of his disdain in this game at Detroit, driving in four runs in one inning--the 10-run second inning.

It was the soaring Twins’ ninth victory in a row. The streak started after they lost nine in a row.

The Tigers were leading, 2-0, when Kent Hrbek opened the second with a home run. Gaetti drove in one run with an infield hit, and when he came up the second time in the inning, the bases were loaded. He unloaded them with a double.

“It’s a bunch of crap that we can’t play with them,” Gaetti said. “You guys (writers) say that. I don’t think any of the players say that.”

Baltimore 9, Chicago 7--Gary Roenicke isn’t regarded as a home run hitter--except when he faces Floyd Bannister of the White Sox.

In this game at Baltimore, Roenicke hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning off Bannister to start the Orioles on their way to their sixth win in the last seven games.

Roenicke has seven lifetime hits off Bannister and five of them have been home runs.

Mike Boddicker (3-1) gave up seven hits before Tippy Martinez had to rescue him with two out and the bases loaded in the seventh. Martinez struck out Ron Kittle but gave up five runs in the eighth to make it close.

Kansas City 5, Cleveland 1--When Steve Balboni came to bat with the bases loaded in the third inning at Kansas City, he had only one hit in his previous 18 at-bats.

He was looking for a sacrifice fly. Instead, he hit the second grand slam of his career to make it easy for Bret Saberhagen to even his record at 2-2.

The home run was the Royals’ only hit in the five-run inning.

Saberhagen gave up five hits, giving up a run in the fourth on a walk and two singles.

Seattle 4, Milwaukee 2--Alvin Davis hit his first home run of the season and a throwing error by Brewer catcher Charlie Moore led to two more Mariner runs at Seattle.

Davis, last year’s Rookie of the Year, has 10 hits in his last 21 at-bats after a slow start this season. His homer carried 400 feet.

Toronto 4, Oakland 3--At Oakland, Tony Fernandez singled home the tie-breaking run in the ninth inning to help the Blue Jays extend their winning streak to six games.

With the score tied, 3-3, in the ninth, pinch-hitter Jeff Burroughs doubled to the wall in left-center field. Burroughs advanced to third on an infield out. One out later, Fernandez blooped a single to short center to score Burroughs.