American League Roundup : Niekro Gets a Win While Appealing His Case

Joe Niekro, while appealing his 10-day suspension for allegedly scuffing baseballs, gave impetus to the Minnesota Twins’ pennant drive Friday night at Minneapolis.

The knuckleball specialist, who was not checked at all by the umpires, pitched the Twins to a 9-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics, and the Twins’ lead in the West was increased to two games.

For eight innings, the 42-year-old Niekro was brilliant. He gave up just three hits and had a 9-2 lead. But he opened the ninth by allowing a walk, hitting a batter and giving up a single--and then headed for the showers.

In Monday night’s game against the Angels, umpires found scuff marks on several baseballs and discovered that Niekro (6-8) had an emery board and sandpaper in his pocket. American League President Bobby Brown imposed a 10-day suspension. Until Niekro’s appeal is heard, though, he can continue pitching.

Three errors by A’s shortstop Alfredo Griffin and Kent Hrbek’s 26th home run helped make it an easy win for Niekro.

“It was an emotional game,” Niekro said. “The big thing is coming to this game and doing well for the club. We’re in a pennant race and we needed the win. Luckily, I had good enough stuff and they got me some runs.”

It was Niekro’s first win since June 14.

“What’s the difference if he’s scuffing it?” the A’s Mark McGwire said. “He throws a knuckleball and it’s going to move. If I was pitching and I could get away with it, I’d probably scuff it, too.”

Both benches emptied in the fifth when Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley hit Gary Gaetti in the wrist with a pitch, but no punches were thrown.

Detroit 8, New York 0--Jim Morrison caught the first plane for Detroit Friday after learning he had been traded to the Tigers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He couldn’t wait to face Yankee pitching.

In his debut, Morrison singled and homered as the Tigers pounded the Yankees for the second game in a row. They made it easy for Jeff Robinson.

Robinson (8-5) gave up three hits in the first inning and two more to open the second, but he retired the next 24 batters as the Tigers knocked the Yankees out of first place in the East. Toronto moved into first place, a half-game ahead of the Yankees and 1 1/2 ahead of the Tigers.

Morrison ‘s home run in the sixth inning finished Yankee starter Rick Rhoden (14-7). Rhoden gave up all eight runs and 10 hits before departing.

Dave Bergman drove in four of the runs with a three-run home run and a single.

Yankee pitching has been tagged for 92 hits and 59 runs in the last eight games. Thursday night, the Tigers beat the Yankees, 12-5.

Morrison, who played third base Friday night, singled in the fourth and scored when Bergman hit a three-run home run.

Robinson gave up three infield hits with one out in the first inning, but escaped by striking out Mike Pagliarulo and Gary Ward.

In the second inning, Rick Cerone and Bobby Meacham opened with singles. But Robinson helped himself by turning Wayne Tolleson’s bunt into a force play at third. From then on he was perfect.

Toronto 15, Cleveland 1--George Bell hit a three-run home run, and Dave Stieb (11-5) pitched another strong game as the Blue Jays climbed into first place.

Stieb, who was 3-10 at this stage a year ago, held the heavy-hitting Indians to a run and seven hits in eight innings to gain his first victory in Cleveland.

“I think it’s too early to think it’s real important that if we lose tomorrow and the Yankees win, then we drop a half-game out of first place,” Stieb said.

Stieb, who was on the mound when the Blue Jays fell out of first place in June, has won five in a row.

Bell’s home run was his 34th, putting him just three behind McGwire, the major league leader. Fred McGriff hit his 16th for the Blue Jays leading off the second to trigger a four-run rally.

Milwaukee 7, Chicago 4--Former Dodger Greg Brock singled in the tiebreaking run, and Ernest Riles singled in two more runs for the Brewers in the 10th inning at Chicago.

With a runner on second and one out, the White Sox intentionally walked Rob Deer, who had hit two home runs. Brock then singled off second baseman Fred Manrique’s glove.

Deer’s second homer tied the score, 4-4, in the eighth.

Boston 4, Kansas City 3--Marty Barrett walked with the bases loaded with two out in the ninth inning at Boston to climax a two-run rally.

Charlie Leibrandt (11-9) had a five-hitter and a 3-2 lead going into the ninth. He walked Don Baylor, and then Dwight Evans doubled over the glove of left fielder Bo Jackson.

With one out, John Marzano’s sacrifice fly scored the tying run. Spike Owen was walked intentionally, and rookie John Davis replaced Leibrandt. Davis walked Mike Greenwell to load the bases, then walked Barrett on a 3-and-1 pitch.

Jackson struck out three times to run his major league leading total to 142.