AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Fielder’s Ruthian Shots Help Tigers Sweep

One of the reasons major league teams permitted Cecil Fielder to escape to Japan for the 1989 season is that he’s more than a bit overweight.

But the slugging star could well answer critics with the retort that Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirate star, gave when he was being called heavy in his rookie season.

“The greatest player of all time (Babe Ruth) was fat,” Stargell said.

Fielder may not be another Ruth, but he’s certainly wrecking American League pitching.

He is in the process of proving that when he led the majors last season with 51 home runs and 132 runs batted in, it was no fluke.

Fielder hit two home runs in the opener of a doubleheader at Detroit and drove in five runs as the Tigers outlasted the White Sox, 11-9.

Bill Gullickson became a 15-game winner for the Tigers when they hung on to win the second game, 4-3. With Toronto losing again, the Tigers moved to within two games of first place in the East.

The White Sox missed a chance to close in on Minnesota in the West. The two defeats dropped them 2 1/2 games behind the Twins, who lost to the Angels.

Fielder is on his way to a rare feat, back-to-back titles in home runs and RBIs. He has 34 home runs and 98 RBIs.

“I’m hitting the ball hard and getting some good swings,” Fielder said. “My body isn’t what it was at the beginning of the season. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to get some rest. But being the DH helps out a lot.”

In the opener, the Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the third inning and nine in the fourth, with Fielder hitting home runs in each inning as they built a 10-1 lead.

Gullickson, 10-14 last season at Houston, improved to 15-6. He gave up six hits in 7 2/3 innings. Two of the hits were home runs by Carlton Fisk and Tim Raines.

Milwaukee 5, Toronto 4--A dramatic home run by Paul Molitor sent the Blue Jays reeling to their sixth consecutive defeat.

Molitor came up with two out in the ninth at Milwaukee, two on and the Brewers trailing, 4-2. Moreover, Tom Henke, who had not blown a save all season was on the mound.

The hot-hitting Molitor drove a 1-and-1 pitch for his 13th home run and ended Henke’s record streak at 25 saves in 25 opportunities.

Henke, who rarely comes in with runners on base, retired the first two batters in the ninth. But Jim Gantner doubled and Bill Spiers walked to set the stage for Molitor.

In the top of the ninth, Joe Carter hit a two-run home run, his 28th homer.

Kansas City 5-8, New York 0-1--Much of the credit for the Royals’ improved performance in the last month has gone to new Manager Hal McRae. But with McRae sitting out a two-game suspension, the Royals swept at New York.

Kevin Appier and Mike Boddicker turned in sharp pitching performances and the sizzling Royals continued to move up.

Appier pitched a three-hitter in the opener for his second shutout in a row. Boddicker (10-7), suffering from a virus, gave up eight hits in six innings.

It was the Yankees’ third doubleheader in four games. They swept one and lost two.

Danny Tartabull hit a home run over the 408-foot sign in center in the opener. In the nightcap, Kirk Gibson’s 13th homer broke a 1-1 tie in the third. Brian McRae hit safely in both games, extending his hitting streak to 22 games.

Cleveland 8-5, Boston 6-7--Coming off a sweep of a four-game series at Toronto, a doubleheader debacle would have been a terrible blow to the Red Sox.

The Red Sox blew a 3-0 lead in the opener and a 5-0 lead in the nightcap. However, after losing the opener, the Red Sox scratched out two runs in the ninth to split.

After two infield hits, pinch-hitter Carlos Quintana hit a two-out, two-run double to win it.

In the opener Carlos Baerga had three hits, including a single to drive in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

Baltimore 4-8, Texas 3-7--The sinking hopes of the Rangers in the West were dealt another severe blow at Baltimore.

A throwing error by pitcher Kenny Rogers enabled the Orioles to win the opener. In the second game the Orioles used consecutive four-run innings to build an 8-4 lead and held on for the sweep.

The Orioles used 13 pitchers in the doubleheader, tying a major league record set by San Diego in 1977. They broke the AL record of 12 set by Washington in 1971.

Seattle 5, Oakland 2--Rickey Henderson opened a game with a home run for the 48th time in his career, but the rest of the night at Seattle belonged to the Mariners.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner hit two-run home runs off Dave Stewart (9-7) in the fifth inning to break open a 1-1 game. For Buhner, it was his eighth home run in the last 12 games and 24th of the season.

The home team always wins in this series. At home the Athletics are 6-0, and the Mariners are 5-0 at Seattle.