One Mistake Proves Costly for Radke

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 10, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

One pitch. One regret. And life goes on for Brad Radke, though his streak will not.

Radke’s winning streak ended at 12 starts Saturday night when Luis Sojo doubled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, sending the New York Yankees past the Minnesota Twins, 4-1, at Minneapolis.

“I guess my luck kind of ran out tonight,” Radke said. “It happens. It couldn’t go on forever.”

But, oh, if he could have that one pitch back.

Playing before a crowd of 42,151, the second-largest of the season at the Metrodome, Radke gave up two runs and six hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out seven.

The walk proved costly.

With one out in the eighth and the score 1-1, Derek Jeter walked. He stole second and went to third when catcher Terry Steinbach’s throw bounced off the glove of leaping shortstop Pat Meares.

Sojo then hit a 1-and-2 pitch to center field for a ground-rule double to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. “I’m a little disappointed,” Radke said. “The pitch that I made, I mean, I could have got out of there with a 1-1 score. It was a fastball I wanted to get in, and I left it right over the heart of the plate.”

One of only three pitchers since 1950 to win 12 starts in a row, Radke (16-6) had his streak snapped one win short of matching Ellis Kinder’s 13-game run in 1949.

The American League record for consecutive victories is 16, held by four players. Schoolboy Rowe was the last to do it in 1934. The modern major league record is 19 by Rube Marquard in 1912.

Radke (16-6), whose winning streak was the longest in the majors this season, also failed to break the Twin record for consecutive wins. He shares it with Scott Erickson, who did it in 1991.

“It was really fun watching Brad pitch during this time,” said Minnesota Manager Tom Kelly, who also watched Erickson’s streak. “It was fun for everybody watching him go through it. Unfortunately, you know these things are going to come to an end some day. But he went down fighting.”

New York starter David Wells (13-5) was shaky early, giving up only his third first-inning run of the season and giving up at least one hit in each of the first four innings.

But he gave up only two hits the rest of the game, both coming in the seventh before retiring Meares on a fly to left field to end a Minnesota threat with runners at second and third.

“He was great,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “He couldn’t afford to give anything up. He kept us in the game, gave us the opportunity to do things.”

Wells, who improved to 5-1 since the All-Star break, gave way to Jeff Nelson with two outs in the eighth. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 35th save.

Texas 4-2, Cleveland 3-4--David Justice hit two solo home runs and reliever Jose Mesa earned his first save since April 24 as the Indians won the second game to split at doubleheader at Cleveland.

The victory enabled the Indians to end a five-game losing streak.

The Rangers won the first game behind the pitching of Terry Clark, who was claimed off waivers from Cleveland last Tuesday.

Paul Assenmacher (3-0) and Mesa gave up one hit in a combined 2 2/3 scoreless innings and Jason Jacome yielded one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in his fourth start since being recalled from the minors June 20.

Justice homered in the fourth for a 2-1 lead. He led off the seventh with his 21st homer, giving Cleveland a 3-2 lead. Both homers were against Eric Moody (0-1), who was making his first major league start.

In the first game, Clark, 36, now with his seventh big league team, gave up one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He retired the first 11 batters before walking Manny Ramirez in the fourth.

It was Clark’s first win as a starter since August 27, 1988, when he was with the Angels. He was 0-9 in 12 big league starts since.

Dan Patterson relieved Clark with the bases loaded in the sixth and struck out Matt Williams to end the threat. John Wetteland, the fourth Ranger pitcher, went 1 1/3 innings for his 24th save.

Kansas City 9, Boston 2--Dean Palmer’s two-run single capped Kansas City’s biggest inning of the season--an eight-run fourth--as the Royals won at Fenway Park.

The Royals have won eight of 10 games against the Red Sox this season and 15 of 19 during the past two seasons.

Rookie left-hander Glendon Rusch (4-8), who had lost his last six decisions and was winless in his last eight starts, gave up six hits, walked one and had six strikeouts in his first complete game.

The Royals sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth to chase Boston starter Jeff Suppan (5-1).

Bill Haselman and Mo Vaughn hit solo home runs for Boston, which had its season-high five-game winning streak snapped.

Detroit 3, Toronto 2--The Tigers won their 54th game, surpassing last season’s total, as Tony Clark had three hits and Scott Sanders got the victory at Toronto.

The Tigers, who improved to 54-60, had the worst record in the majors last year at 53-109.

Sanders (4-9) ended his three-game losing streak, giving up two runs and two hits in five innings. He struck out three and tied his season high with five walks.

Clark had an RBI single during a three-run third inning as the Tigers ended Toronto’s four-game winning streak. The Blue Jays lost for the second time in their last 11 home games.

Dan Miceli struck out three in 1 1/3 innings, Doug Brocail struck out two in 1 2/3 hitless innings and Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Chris Carpenter (0-5) gave up three runs on eight hits--all singles--in six innings.

Oakland 3, Milwaukee 2--Ernie Young doubled in pinch-runner Tilson Brito to break an eighth-inning tie as the Athletics defeated the Brewers at Oakland.

The A’s matched their season-high three-game winning streak and sent Milwaukee to its fourth loss in a row.

Brent Mayne singled with one out off Bob Wickman (6-4), and Brito scored from first as Young drove a double into the left-field gap.

The Brewers had tied the score in the eighth on Jose Valentin’s two-out, solo home run on a 1-and-2 pitch from Oakland reliever T.J. Mathews (3-1), who got the win.

Billy Taylor pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: David Justice

Team: Cleveland

Performance: 2nd game: 3 for 4, two home runs, 2 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Robin Ventura

Team: Chicago

Performance: 2 for 4, home run, double, 4 RBIs, 1 run

Team’s Result: Win