Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 81

Tigers' msgic number: Sunday, Sept 0, 1CM LIONS PREVIEW 10 HORSE RACING 11 0 OUTDOORS 12 I 0 I I I DETROIT FREE PRESS Today's telavtelon highlights: CBC 9 a.m. Auto Racing: Italian Grand Prix CBS 1 p.m. Lions Football: Detroit at Atlanta 0 1:30 p.m. Tigers Baseball: Detroit at Toronto CBS 4 p.m. Tennis: U.S.

Open (This combination of Tigers victories andor Toronto losses clinches the AL East title for the Tigers.) Call with sports news: 222-6660 Sports Phone, 1-976-1313 nno 1 0 iff arm st i mem wmt Llilic Boivncy Michigan proves players win games, not rankings ANN ARBOR What they drum into football players' heads is not to get too goofy when you win and not to get too grumpy when you lose. This may explain why Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh, when asked who's the No. 1 team in the By BILL McGRAW Free Pres Sports Writer TORONTO The Tigers swamped the Blue Jays Saturday, increased their lead, lowered their magic number but lost their top pitcher at least for the day. The final score was 10-4. Stiffness in his right shoulder forced Tigers starter Jack Morris to leave the game in the fifth inning with the score tied, 2-2.

First reports said the stiffness was not thought to be serious and Morris was expected to make his next start Wednesday in Baltimore. ANY ARM TROUBLE in Exhbition Stadium would appear ominous for Morris, because it was here that he experienced a "twinge" in his right elbow on June 12. That happened as the Blue Jays rocked him en route in to a 12-3 victory. He missed his next two starts, won on his return, but has gone 5-7 since then and his earned run average has climbed from 2.39 to 3.67. That two-month period was a tumultuous time for Morris as his emotional outbursts became an issue with his teammates and the press.

Morris stopped talking to report- in the six-run Tiger eighth after walking two others, one intentionally. The Jays didn't help that inning. They comj mitted two errors. The Tigers got to Toronto starter Luis Leal before the Jays got to Morris. Darrell Evans hit his 15th homer, a solo shot over the right-field fence in the second.

In the bottom of the inning, Toronto's George Bell blooped a double into center, moved to third and scored on two ground balls. DAVE BERGMAN, who won Friday's game with a three-run home run in the 10th, led off the third with a triple that turned center fielder Jesse Barfield inside out. But Bergman was stranded on third after Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson failed to come through. In the fourth, Bell met a Morris pitch and drove it into the left-field stands. Morris walked Willie Aikens and gave up a single to Ernie Whitt, but struck out the next two batters.

The Tigers came back to tie it again in the fifth when John Grubb hit his sixth homer of the year. Morris left the game after one out in the fifth after allowing two runs and five hits. Scherrer threw 1 innings and struck out three, What makes the Minnesota Twins think they can win the AL West? Page 6H. ers and began shutting himself off more from the other Tigers. He had lost his last two starts going into Saturday's game, but had begun talking to the press again in the past week, even though his behavior in the clubhouse remained stand-offish.

Morris was 10-1 May 28. He is now 17-10, and his chances of winning 20 for the second straight year are growing increasingly slim. RELIEVER BILL SCHERRER got the win Saturday, the Tigers' second in two days against their closest rivals. A division crown seems nearly a lock now: The Tigers' magic number fell to 11 while their lead jumped to 10y2 games in the American League East. They have 20 games remaining.

For the second straight game, the Tigers' bullpen was flawless, while Jays relievers faltered. Dennis Lamp, who signed as a free agent for $800,000 to be the Jays' stopper, continued to disappoint. He walked in a run on four pitches country now, said, "I don't know. I'm just worried about playing Washington next week." Outspo ken rascal. It also might explain what fullback Alonzo Highsmith said when he was asked who was No.

1 after Michigan put the whammy on top-ranked Miami, 22-14. "We are," he said. Since Highsmith plays for Miami, this is proba bly a case of a football player trying to minimize his disappointment, although there is always the chance Alonzo took one too many blue-and-maize winged helmets to the head. ichigan What happened Saturday was thatMiami came north with a No. 1 ranking, a 2-0 record, a 13-game winning streak and a quarterback named Bernie Kosar who throws on every down but fifth.

What also happened was that Michigan showed up with a team that hadn't played a game and a quarter tipsM mini back who had 26 career yards passing. Michigan won. Michigan in top form So what would Highsmith say to someone who might disagree with who's No. 1 right now? "I'd say Michigan played a fine, fine game," the Miami player said, "and maybe we 11 meet up again sometime. They shouldn't be in any hurry.

If there was a series Saturday that typified the way Michigan played, it was the one that came after Gerald White was stopped on fourth-and-one in Mi ami territory. Morale at that nnint chnnM hflvp off the top By TOMMY GEORGE Free Press Sports Writer ANN ARBOR Michigan's defense picked apart the nation's No. 1 team, swiping six Bernie Kosar passes and forcing two Miami fumbles en route to a 22-14 victory Saturday. For the No. 14 Wolverines, playing before 105,403 fans at Michigan Stadium, the season-opening win could not have been more spirited or impressive.

The defense put Kosar in a pickle all day, and the offense behind fullback Bob Perryman's three touchdown runs and some pinpoint passing from Jim Harbaugh in his first collegiate start kept Miami's defense on the run. "In a game like this, you remember the big plays on defense," said Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. "When you get six interceptions against a guy that great, it's good. (Defensive coach Gary) Moeller did a great job when he put that defense in. I thought he was nuts, but it worked." See WOLVERINES, Page 9H State wins a squeaker i vy oeen as low as a icaun- A AM er's salary.

rnJ Ifh But on first down, super tackle Kevin Brooks creamed Kosar for a two-yard loss. On second down, Kosar lmammmmmmmmmm Bo Schembechler lobbed one 20 yards to senior Stanley Shake- speare, but Michigan's Brad Cochran did knocketh Shakespeare out of bounds before he could come down with the ball. So, on third down, Kosar stayed away from the sidelines and tried one over the middle to a freshman. Michigan's Doug Mallo-ry stripped Alfredo Roberts of the ball and practi cally handed Alfredo his head. Michigan could not have played much better.

It was exactly what Wolverines fans had been wait ing for, and was more than they had a right to expect. What they couldn't know was just how pre pared assistant coach Gary Moeller's defense If it 'V would be. How the pass defense would handle the By JACK SAYLOR Free Press Sports Writer BOULDER, Colo. Michael Jackson wasn't the only one to stage a Victory Tour to Colorado this weekend. Michigan State got George Pedes' second season started the same way his first one did Saturday, with a victory over Colorado.

It wasn't easy. The Spartans ran up a 24-0 lead, then survived a pass-happy Colorado offense and a last-seconds field goal attempt before defeating the Buffaloes, 24-21, at Folsom Field. It wasn't until Colorado kicker Larry Eckel missed his magic of Kosar the Magnificent. How big hombres 3 wfc'vr lillll Ji like linebacker Rodney Lyles and tackle Mike Hammerstein would go after Miami passes like dogs after Frisbees. Moeller made the 6-3, 225-pound Lyles move back into the secondary, causing Schembechler to say of his own trusted aide, "I thought he was Free press Photo by mary schroeder tmrd Held goal in as many tries, a jz-yarder with LL seconds It's all hugs after Michigan takes the lead, 6-0, over top-ranked Miami.

That's Bob Perryman remaining, that MSU's victory was secure. who scored all three U-M touchdowns in the grasp of teammate Sim Nelson. See SPARTANS, Page 2H nuts." So Lyles intercepted three passes. "Lyles probably made All-America today," Schembechler exaggerated. "I might have one after all." What outsiders also couldn't know about Mich igan was how cool Harbaugh would be, or how Lendl escapes Monte Robbins would punt the Hurricanes into a hole all day, or how Buzzard Bob Perryman would make holes of his own for three Michigan touch downs.

With Rick Rogers out, the Wolverines weren't supposed to have much of a running attack, but their unsung fullback from Buzzard's upset to make U.S. Open final Bay, came to play, as they say. find on the inside KELLY'S FUTURE: Kelly Tripucka always has been a standout, but it's never been good enough. Inside of Sports, Page 6H. BILLY'S RUNNING: Star running back Billy Sims should call in sick when it comes to playing the Atlanta Falcons.

Lions Preview, Page 10H. Satuiday specials Purdue 23, Notre Dame 21: Quarterback Jim Everett ignited Purdue's offense, passing for 255 yards and two touchdowns as the Boilermakers upset the seventh-ranked Irish. Page 8H. Ohio State 22, Oregon State 14: Tailback Keith Byars, the Big Ten's leading rusher and scorer last season, scored twice in the second half, helping the sixth-ranked Buckeyes rally from an 11 -point halftime deficit. Page SH.

The best of the rest Public gets its first look One of the problems with public discussions of NEW YORK (AP) Escaping from the brink of college football is that few people really know what a team will be like until game day. elimination, second-seeded Ivan Lendl of Czechoslovakia fought off the determined upset bid of young Pat Cash Saturday to reach the final of the U.S. Open Tennis Schembechler and his staff have had their eyes on people like Harbaugh, Robbins and Perryman since the day they first checked them out at their high schools in California, Kansas and Massachu Championships for the third consecutive year. Lendl, basically known for his power game, used a perfect touch on several dramatic topspin lobs as he needed three hours, 39 minutes, and had to stave off one match point before stopping his Australian opponent, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. On Sunday, Lendl will face top-seeded John McEnroe or setts.

They didn't bring these kids here to go out for more Gatorade. Schembechler sees them in practice. He sees the 240-pound Hammerstein stick up a paw and pick off passes. He sees Harbaugh as a tough kid with a temper, not some wimp scared of his first i I iniri iiiifiir iriififti Vul start. He sees players daily that the public only sees on game days.

the No. 3 seed, defending champion Jimmy Connors, who has stopped the Czechoslovak right-hander in the last two title matches at the National Tennis Center. McEnroe and Connors, who between them have captured the last six U.S. Open men's singles crowns, battled in Saturday night's late match. EARLIER, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert Lloyd, "As you saw, there are no superstars on this Nebraska 42, Wyoming 7: Jeff Smith rushed for 170 yards and one touchdown to lead second-ranked Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers overcame four first-half turnovers by scoring 21 third-quarter points on a 15-yard run by fullback Tom Rathman, a two-yard run by Smith and a one-yard quarterback sneak by reserve Travis Turner. Florida 21, Louisiana State 21: Lorenzo Hampton raced 15 yards for a touchdown with less than five minutes left to give Florida a 21-21 tie. LSU missed a chance to win when Juan Betanzos' 46-yard field goal try into a stiff breeze was wide left with 41 seconds to play. The tie spoiled the debut of LSU coach Bill Arnsparger and lengthened the Tigers' non-winning streak in conference play. LSU lost all six of its SEC.

games last year and has not won a league game since beating Alabama, 20-10, in 1982. Wisconsin 27, Northern lllinlos 14: Mike Howard, team, no Heisman Trophy candidates, Schembechler said Saturday. "Just a pretty good football team." the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, met for the women's crown. It was their 61st career meeting.

Each has 30 victories. Lloyd won Unless, of course, Lyles gets three intercep the first set, 6-4. Free Press Photo by MARY SCHROEDER Kelly Tripucka feels at home in the Silverdome. in the first start of his career, completed 13 of 25 passes for 162 yards and led Wisconsin. sophomore, was especially effective in the second quarter, when he completed saven of 10 passa? for 801 yards as the Badgers took a fc4-7 halftime lead.

tions a game, giving him 33 for the season. Both the women's and men's champions earn $160,000. The Lendl-Cash -clash could easily have gone the other Lyles is another guy Michigan recruited from out of state, by the way. way. There were only seven breaks of service in the match four coming in the lastet.

He's from Miami. See U.S. OPEN, Page 3H III.