Fred Lynn has finally hit his stride.
With the two-time Most Valuable Player shifting into high gear, the Detroit Tigers have clawed their way back to the top of the Joy in Mudville American League East.
Lynn led the way with an perfomance that earned the 24-year-old star AL Batter of the Month honors. Lynn shook off his season-long rust with a .336 August batting average. Lynn hit five home runs and drove home 23.
Lynn's performance mixed well with rookie sensation Bob Bailor's solid month. The 25-year-old first-year short stop hit a robust .372 for August. In addition, Bailor twice collected five-hit games in the month.
Detroit also got right-handed starter Verne Ruhle back from the disabled list for the stretch run.
Meanwhile, reliever Rich "Goose" Gossage has been dominating out of the bullpen. The former first-round pick is tied for the AL lead with 33 saves, a key reason why Detroit has overtaken Baltimore in the standings.
The Tigers jumped the six-time defending AL East champion Orioles and head into the season's final month with a three-game lead.
Detroit and Baltimore will face each other four times in September. The Orioles hold a slim 8-6 edge in the season series.
Diamond JIM Notes: Detroit slugger
Dave Kingman is batting just .203 on the season. However, 29 of his 99 hits have gone over the fence for home runs . . .
Baltimore may regret trading away closer
Rawly Eastwick to the
New York Mets. While Eastwick has racked up 18 saves for the first-place Mets, the Orioles have gotten inconsistent performances from
Tug McGraw. Thus, Baltimore has put left-hander
Scott McGregor into the closer role . . . While the
Chicago White Sox have struggled this season, right-hander
John "The Count" Montefusco may be on his way to the Cy Young Award. Montefusco notched his seventh shutout of the year against Baltimore August 18 at Comiskey Park . . . Houston right-hander
Don Wilson has gone 15-3 since being called up from the minors on June 6 . . . Fellow Astro
Frank Tanana has lost three of his last five decisions and has fallen off the pace to surpass
Dock Ellis' 31 wins in a single season . . . Joining Detroit rookie
Bob Bailor in the August five-hit club were
Mike Easler (Rangers) and
Davey Lopes (Cardinals) . . . Among the minor leaguers announcing their retirements were
John Boccabella,
John Vuckovich and
Dick Green.
August Awards
American League
Batter of the Month--Fred Lynn, Detroit Tigers
Pitcher of the Month--Larry Dierker, Kansas City Royals
Rookie of the Month--Bob Bailor, Detroit Tigers
National League
Batter of the Month--Cecil Cooper, St. Louis Cardinals
Pitcher of the Month--Don Wilson, Houston Astros
Rookie of the Month--Tom Poquette, Chicago Cubs
Major League 1970 09-01-1976
Standings Report | |