ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DETROIT
SOURCE: Associated Press
MINNESOTA ROUTS the Tigers 24-11 in the highest-scoring American League game since 1970.
Minnesota's Tom Kelly was apologizing for a record-setting slugfest Wednesday in Tiger Stadium. And he was the winning manager.
Greg Myers and Paul Molitor each had five RBI Wednesday as the Twins set a team record for runs and routed the Detroit Tigers 24-11.
It was the most runs against the Tigers in 84 years, matching the mark set in a 24-2 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics on May 18, 1912, when Detroit's regular players, angered that Ty Cobb had been suspended, went on strike, forcing the team to use players from semipro teams and St. Joseph's College.
Minnesota, which outhit Detroit 19-14, blew a 7-2 lead, falling behind 10-7 in the fourth before rallying. The Twins' previous high for runs was in a 21-7 win over Detroit on June 4, 1994.
But Kelly wasn't very happy about it.
``That wasn't very pretty, and all I can do is apologize to the fans in the stands who sat through that so-called exhibition of major-league baseball,'' he said.
``The only thing good about that game was that we won.''
The teams scored the most runs in a major-league game since Philadelphia beat the Chicago Cubs 23-22 on May 17, 1979.
It was the most runs scored in an American League game since Chicago beat Boston 22-13 on May 31, 1970.
The total also set a record in Detroit, topping the 31 scored in the Tigers' 16-15 win over Chicago on June 2, 1925.
Tigers manager Buddy Bell, ejected for the first time this season, said his team's seventh straight loss was an embarrassment.
``I think that's a pretty good word, and I have as much to do with this as anyone,'' Bell said. ``It's my job to find the right buttons and push them.''
Myers set a career high for RBI with a run-scoring single in the first, an RBI-double in the sixth, a sacrifice fly in the seventh and a two-run single in the eighth.
``It was just one of those days when everything fell in for us,'' Myers said. ``In the gaps, down the line, everything.''
Molitor had an RBI-groundout in the first, a three-run homer in the third and an RBI-triple in the eighth. It was the fourth five-RBI game of his career but first since 1981.
``I know I did it my second game in the big leagues,'' Molitor said. ``I don't remember after that.''
Chip Hale hit a three-run homer in the eighth and Dave Hollins hit a solo homer for the Twins.
Mark Lewis homered twice and drove in four runs for Detroit. Eddie Williams also homered for the Tigers.
Bell was ejected by plate umpire Mark Johnson after arguing a called strike against Lewis in the sixth. Johnson came over to the Tiger dugout before giving Bell the thumb.
Erick Bennett (1-0), the third Twins pitcher, gave up two runs and three hits in 11/3 innings.
Randy Veres (0-2) was the third of Detroit's seven pitchers and gave up three runs in 11/3 innings.
With Detroit leading 10-7 in the fifth, Scott Stahoviak drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double, and Stahoviak scored when catcher John Flaherty's attempt to throw him out at third sailed into left field for an error.
Minnesota increased its lead to 14-10 in the sixth on run-scoring singles by Marty Cordova and Pat Meares, and Myers' RBI-double.
Molitor tripled in a run and scored on Myers' sacrifice fly in the seventh. Myers' two-run single highlighted a five-run eighth and Hale homered in the ninth.
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Minnesota's Paul Molitor (center) is greeted at homeby CNBby teammates Marty Cordova and Matt Lawton after hitting a three-run
homer. color. KEYWORDS: BASEBALL