| Breaking News |  | Tuesday, July 12th, 1988: Cleveland Loses 3B Howell, Suspended by League The Cleveland Indians were not very happy with the home plate umpire in today's loss to Washington at Cleveland Stadium. One in particular -- Jack Howell. Upon being called out on strikes, the Indians third baseman gave the ump quite an earful. For that, the man in blue gave him the thumb and sent him to an early shower.
But the disgruntled Howell lingered on the field for another five minutes berating the umpire. Finally his manager got him off the field and into the clubhouse.
But it got worse after the game, when Howell told reporters, "He was blind today. They played 'Three Blind Mice' for him. If he doesn't know the words to the song, I'm sure we can get it in braille, so he can follow along."
For all of his escapades and after-the-game oration, the league office suspended Howell for 2 games.
This year Howell is batting .248 with 83 hits and 14 home runs. He has scored 58 times and has batted in 50 runs. |  | Wednesday, June 8th, 1988: Rice Wallops #300 Jim Rice hit a historic home run today -- career blast number 300. "I am happy to be in such elite company. It has been quite a ride so far," Rice said after the game.
The Indians left fielder went 2 for 4 with 1 home run and 1 RBI as the Cleveland Indians won 14-4 over the Oakland Athletics.
Rice has a lifetime .272 average and .340 on-base percentage in his career with 2109 hits, 415 doubles, 76 triples, 300 home runs, 1187 RBIs and 1138 runs scored. |  | Tuesday, June 7th, 1988: Big Day for Dykstra: Swats 6 Hits Lenny Dykstra had an answer for everything the Oakland Athletics threw him today in the Cleveland 20-1 triumph at Cleveland Stadium. He made good contact 6 times and 6 times he drilled the ball for a base hit.
The Cleveland designated hitter went 6 for 6 in the game to put his name in the record book.
Summing up his batting philosophy to BNN writers after the game, Dykstra said, "I just see the ball and I hit it."
L. Dykstra walked in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, hit an RBI double in the 5th, hit a three-run home run off T. Waddell in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 8th and hit an RBI double in the 9th.
In his season totals, Dykstra has 7 home runs, .351 BA, .465 OBP, 37 RBIs and 53 runs scored. He has played in 62 games. | | | | Team Information | | Record overall | 45-49, .479 PCT | | Position in Division | 4th, 8.0 GB | | Record at home | 23-22, .511 PCT | | Record on the road | 22-27, .449 PCT | | Record in X-inning games | 4-3, .571 PCT | | Record in one-run games | 11-9, .550 PCT | | Record versus LHP | 14-13, .519 PCT | | Record versus RHP | 31-36, .463 PCT | | Record last 10 games | 4-6, .400 PCT | | Record in April | 14-13, .519 PCT | | Record in May | 13-16, .448 PCT | | Record in June | 12-13, .480 PCT | | Record in July | 6-7, .462 PCT |
| Team Batting Stats & Rankings | | Batting Average | .282 - 5th in AL | | On-Base Percentage | .363 - 2nd in AL | | Slugging Percentage | .420 - 6th in AL | | On-Base + Slugging | .783 - 4th in AL | | Runs Scored | 528 - 2nd in AL | | Hits | 928 - 4th in AL | | Extra-Base Hits | 285 - tied for 7th in AL | | Home Runs | 72 - 8th in AL | | Bases-On-Balls | 417 - 1st in AL | | Strikeouts | 549 - 14th in AL | | Stolen Bases | 100 - tied for 3rd in AL |
| Team Pitching Stats & Rankings | | Earned Run Average | 5.22 - 12th in AL | | Starters' ERA | 5.31 - 12th in AL | | Bullpen ERA | 5.05 - 12th in AL | | Runs allowed | 533 - 12th in AL | | Hits allowed | 955 - 11th in AL | | Opponents AVG | .290 - 11th in AL | | BABIP | .311 - 11th in AL | | Home Runs allowed | 58 - 3rd in AL | | Bases-On-Balls | 432 - 14th in AL | | Strikeouts | 354 - 13th in AL |
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