American League Roundup : Cox Talks a Good Game--Blue Jays Playing It

It was just two weeks ago today that Manager Bobby Cox held a meeting with his faltering Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays, who had led the Eastern Division almost from the start of the season, had seen their lead cut to 1 1/2 games over the onrushing New York Yankees. The Blue Jays appeared to be falling apart.

Apparently, Cox came up with the magic words. Since the meeting before the game of July 21, the Blue Jays have been almost unbeatable. The once-precarious lead has mushroomed to 9 1/2 games.

Backup catcher Gary Allenson doubled in two runs in the sixth inning Saturday at Toronto, and the bullpen performed brilliantly in a 4-1 victory over Texas. It gave the Blue Jays a 13-1 record since Cox called the meeting.

Dennis Lamp (7-0), who has been brilliant as a middle reliever, entered in the third inning when starter Jimmy Key developed a blister on his index finger. Lamp pitched 3 scoreless innings before turning the chore over to the late-inning specialists.

“He knew just what needed to be done,” Lamp said, talking about the meeting Cox ordered. “It wasn’t a shouting match or anything like that. That’s not Bobby’s style. He’s not a Billy Martin or an Earl Weaver type.

“He just wanted to remind us of how a first-place team is supposed to play. He told us he wanted us to hustle a little more and put up our best effort. That’s what the meeting was all about--getting the killer instinct back.”

Another Cox decision has made a winner of Lamp, the 32-year-old right-hander from Los Angeles. Last season, as the late man out of the bullpen, Lamp did not enjoy much success. He was 8-8 with an earned-run average of 4.50 and only nine saves.

When the Blue Jays added Gary Lavelle and Bill Caudill during the off-season, Cox was able to make Lamp a middle-inning reliever. Lamp has thrived at the job.

The win over the Rangers was a club-record 10th in a row at home for the Blue Jays. Caudill, slowly rounding into the form that made him one of the most respected relievers in the league, pitched the last two innings, earning his 14th save and third in the current spurt.

“When you’re 9 1/2 games in front,” Lamp said, “it sure puts a lot of pressure on the other teams. It’s a good feeling.”

New York 8, Chicago 4--It has all the earmarks of more Yankee dissension. Upon arriving at Yankee Stadium before the game, Ed Whitson learned that pitching coach Mark Connor had been fired and replaced by Bill Monbouquette.

Whitson dedicated the victory, which evened his record at 7-7, to Connor. “I think he took the blame for my poor start and our poor start,” Whitson told UPI after winning for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. “This is the first time I’ve seen a pitching coach fired during the season.”

Manager Billy Martin, unhappy with the firing of Connor, which apparently came on orders from above, said: “I’m not going to make any comments. If I comment, it will get me into trouble. I hope the new guy does a good job.”

The Yanks gave Whitson a four-run cushion in the first inning, capped by rookie Dan Pasqua’s two-run home run, his fourth homer of the season. Ron Hassey and Don Mattingly also homered for the Yankees, and Oscar Gamble of the White Sox hit the 200th of his career.

Boston 5, Kansas City 4--Bill Buckner hit a three-run home run at Kansas City, and Roger Clemens returned from the disabled list to post a victory. Clemens, in his first appearance since hurting his shoulder July 7, allowed only one run and three hits in six innings.

The Royals, who rallied Friday night from a two-run deficit and won in the 10th, tried a repeat. They were down, 5-2, in the bottom of the ninth in this one and scored twice but couldn’t pull out the victory.

It was only the Royals’ second defeat in the last 11 games.

Detroit 9, Milwaukee 3--The Tigers turned on the power at Detroit to get Dan Petry his 12th victory. Lance Parrish hit two home runs, while Kirk Gibson and Darrell Evans each hit one.

The Tigers jumped on Danny Darwin, who lost his ninth consecutive game.

“When your big guys are hitting and driving in runs, everything comes easier,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said.

Seattle 6, Oakland 2--Gorman Thomas couldn’t explain why he is suddenly hitting so many home runs. In this game at Oakland, Thomas backed the seven-hit pitching of Mike Moore (10-6) with his 24th home run. It was his 10th homer in the last 13 games.

“I can’t put my finger on what it is,” Thomas said. “If I could, I would have been doing it all year. I know it helps to be playing every day.”

Moore is 6-2 since recovering from a leg injury June 21.

Cleveland 10, Baltimore 4--Curt Wardle, obtained from Minnesota in the Bert Blyleven trade, arrived at Cleveland only a couple of hours before the game.

The Indians handed him the ball, and Wardle, in his first start of the season, held the Orioles to four hits and two runs in seven innings to improve his record to 2-3.

Julio Franco drove in five runs as the Indians, winning for the fourth time in the last five games, pounded out 16 hits.