European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 03, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday. October 3,1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports Gwynn takes batting title by the associated press san Diego Tony Gwynn went 3 for-4 to overtake san Francisco s will Clark and win his third straight National league batting title As the san Diego padres beat the giants 3-0 sunday on the final Day of the regular season. Gwynn. Who trailed Clark by less than a Point coming into the game ended the year with a .336 average. Clark went l-for-4, flying out to Center in his final at Bat in the eighth to finish at .333. Gwynn is the first National leaguer to win three consecutive batting titles since Gwynn Stan Musial of St. Louis accomplished the feat from 1950-52. No giant has won a batting title since Willie Mays led the no round no with a .345 average in 1954. When the franchise was Bascin new York. Reliever Mark Davis pitched the final two innings for his 44th save equating Dan Quison Berry. Then pitching for Kan Sas City for the fifth highest save total in one season. Greg Harris. 8-9. Got the win giving up four hits and three walks while striking out seven in seven innings. The giants open the National league championship playoff series in Chicago wednesday night. In other season ending games cubs 5, cardinals 1 St. Louis Rick Sutcliffe tuned up for the National league playoffs with a Strong Outing leading Chicago to a Victory Over St. Louis. Sutcliffe 16-11,gave up four hits struck out four and walked none before being relieved by Paul Assenmacher in the seventh. Sutcliffe is scheduled to pitch game 3 of the no playoffs against the giants in san Puckett s .339 beats out Lansford for Bat Crown puck Cut by the associated press Seattle Kirby Puckett had two doubles in five at bats sunday to win the american league batting title with a .339 average but he Minnesota twins closed out the season with a 3-1 loss to the Seattle mariners. The american league playoffs begin tuesday with East division Champion to Ronto at West division Champion Oakland. Puck Cut entered the game Balling .338, just .0005 ahead of Oakland s Carney Lansford who went hit less in three at bats sunday to drop his average to .336. Puck Cut finished with 215 hits tops in the major leagues and be came the first right handed hitter Ever to Lead the majors in hits in consecutive seasons and the first to Lead the Al in Hilling since Lansford then with Boston won during the strike interrupted 1981 season. Alex Johnson of California in 1970, was the last previous right handed Batter la win the american league batting Crown in anon strike season. Puckett snapped Wade Hoggs string of four consecutive Al batting titles and edged san Diego s Tony Gwynn who batted .336, for the highest average in the majors. In other games on the final Day of the american league regular season athletics 4, royals 3 Oakland Calif. Chris Bando s rib single in the i Ith inning lifted the a s Over Kansas City and gave Oakland its major league leading 99th Victory. Stan Javier Drew a walk off Terry Leach 5-6, stole second and was sacrificed to third by Billy Bane before Bando whose brother Sal played on Oakland s championship teams in the 1970s, singled to left in Only his second at Bat of the year. Jim Corsi 1-2, got his first major a head to head look at the playoffs Page 26 Francisco saturday night. The cubs who won for the eighth Lime in 10 games finished the regular season with a 93-69 record Siv games ahead of the new York mels and seven in front of the cardinals cubs second baseman sync Sand erg set a major league record for consecutive errorless games in a season with 90. Breaking the Mark set by Manny Trillo of Philadelphia in 1982. It to 7,1 Rales 3 Pittsburgh Kevin Mcreynold shit a two run Homer and Sid Fernandez allowed four hits Over Eigil innings As new York beat Pittsburgh. Mcreynolds 22nd Homer highlighted a four run fourth inning against Bob Patter son 4-3. Howard Johnson walked before league Victory. The athletics though hampered by in juries for much of the season won just five fewer games than they did last year. Bill Buckner drove in All three runs for Kansas City which finished second with a 92-70 record. Angels 4, rangers 3 Anaheim Calif Johnny Ray s Pinch hit rib single in the eighth inning gave California a Victory Over Texas. Reliever Darrel Akerfelds trying to protect a 3-2 Lead allowed a one out double to Brian Downing. Dante Bichette singled to score Pinch runner Devon White and took second on clan Dell Washington s groundnut Ray then lined an 0-2 pitch from Jeff Russell into left to score Bichette. Greg Minton 4-3, got the final Oul in the eighth before Brian Harvey pitched the ninth for his 25th save. The Angels 75-87 a year ago finished with a 91-71 record despite losing eight of their last 10 games. The Ranger ended with an 83-79 Mark Only their second winning season in eight years. Orioles 7, Blue jays 5 Toronto Francisco Melendez knocked in three runs including a two run single in Baltimore s five run eighth inning that carried the orioles to a Victory Over inc american league East Cham Pion Toronto. Toronto which clinched the division by winning the first two games of the season ending series and visits Oakland tuesday night in the playoff opener led 3-2 before Steve Finley Rene Gonzales and Stan Jefferson hit consecutive one out singles to tie the score. Melendez followed with a single scor ing Gonzales and Jefferson before Tim see Al on Page 27 an sports television and radio baseball game 1, american league championship series Toronto a Oak land 1 . Wednesday to and 1 07 . Radio. Mcreynolds homered to left. Fernande. 14-5, won nine of his lasl12 decisions and improved his career re Cord against Pittsburgh to 10-3. Astros 2, reds i Cincinnati Jim dish pics pitched a four Hiller Toliff Houston Over Cincinnati. Dirs Haies 15-10, set career highs this season in wins shutouts. 3, starts. 34, and Complete games 6.1 be struck out five and did t walk a Batter. The reds Only hits were singles two by Tudd bin incr and one each by Rolando in orcs and Dave Collins. Uric Yelding drove in the astros first run with a two out infield single in the seventh Ihen scored on Craig Biggio s double. Both runs came off Tim scary. 8 see no on Page 27 agony and ecstasy Washington defensive lineman Charles Mann reacts with Joy and new Orleans place kicker Morten Andersen holds his head after missing a 36- Ard Field ital attempt at Nen Orleans. I lie missed kick enabled the redskins to Edge inc saints 16-14. Stories on sunday s nf1.  on Pali s 23 and 25.