Molitor Increases Streak: 39

Paul Molitor’s teammates decided it was time to make their contribution to his hitting streak, which reached 39 games Tuesday night at Milwaukee.

The Brewers pounded Cleveland Indians pitching, giving Molitor, Milwaukee’s leadoff batter, numerous chances to extend his streak.

Molitor’s hit came on his fourth at-bat, and it was only the sixth inning. The designated hitter lined relief pitcher Don Gordon’s first pitch to right for a single.

The Brewers, who are 25-14 during Molitor’s streak, held on to win, 10-9, after building an 8-1 lead.

In the game, which was watched by only 15,580, Molitor batted five times in all. He flied out in the first, walked in the second, grounded out in the fourth and, in his final at-bat, in the eighth, flied out again.

Almost unnoticed as Molitor moves into the upper echelon of players with long hitting streaks is Brett Butler of the Indians. Butler hit a ninth-inning home run to stretch his string to 19 games.

Molitor, who is 68 for 164 during the streak for a .415 average, needs a hit tonight to reach 40 and tie Ty Cobb for the fourth-longest streak since 1900. That would leave only George Sisler (41), Pete Rose (44) and Joe DiMaggio, who set the all-time record of 56 in 1941, ahead of Molitor.

Molitor will get his chance to tie Cobb against John Farrell.

“Being realistic,” Molitor said, “whether the moment is a day away, five hours away or a week away, it’s going to happen. The streak will end. I’m just enjoying it while it lasts.”

Molitor is getting close to having a shot at his first batting title. To qualify, the 10-year veteran must come to the plate 502 times. With five in this game, Molitor, who missed 44 games with injuries, has 369 plate appearances. Barring injuries, he has a good chance to bat 502 times. The Brewers have 37 games remaining, and with Molitor leading off, he should have at least 148 more appearances.

Of course, Molitor will have to beat Wade Boggs to win the title, even if he does qualify. Molitor’s average dropped to .370. Boggs went 0 for 3 and is hitting .362.

It was the 20th time during his streak that Molitor had only one hit.

One of Molitor’s big problems these days is handling the media. Until the weekend, his feat went almost unnoticed except for Milwaukee-area reporters. Now the three major networks and a dozen newspapers are trailing him.

“If you learn anything about yourself, it’s how you are going to react to outside distractions during the streak,” Molitor, 31, said. “I’ve not had that much experience with the media in these numbers--except for postseason play in 1981 and 1982. And, that was more team-focused.

“Over the years I have learned to keep things in perspective. This game will do that for you.”

The Brewers marvel at the way Molitor is handling all the pressure. “I think we are far more nervous and excited about it than Paul is,” teammate Glenn Braggs said. “He acts as if it were just another ballgame. The rest of us sure don’t. We’re nervous. We want him to go all the way.”

Molitor’s streak has overshadowed the fact that the Brewers are playing good baseball. Although they trail the Eastern Division-leading Detroit Tigers by 7 1/2 games, the Brewers’ 67-58 record would put them atop the AL West.

“The streak has overshadowed what we’ve done as a team,” Molitor said. “I’ve been noticing what the other fellows have been doing. If we can have the team continue to play second fiddle and continue to gain ground, I don’t think anyone minds that.”