American League Roundup : Seaver’s Record Day Is Winning One, 4-2

Tom Seaver, making a record 15th Opening-Day start, scattered five hits over 6 innings Tuesday to pitch the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in front of 53,027 fans at Milwaukee County Stadium.

“The thing about being starting pitcher in the season opener is to get the club off on the right foot,” said Seaver, now in his 19th season. “That’s the way I’ve always felt, to keep it close so our club can possibly win it.”

But the 40-year-old right-hander, who collected his 289th victory, didn’t overlook the record he had shared with Walter Johnson.

“I’m very proud of it,” he said. “It’s terrific when you talk about doing something that no other pitcher in the history of the game has done.”

Seaver’s record-setting performance spoiled the return of George Bamberger as the Brewer manager. But even Bamberger could appreciate what Seaver had done.

“Just super,” Bamberger said. “Not just the variety of pitches, but his velocity. He had to be throwing at 88 m.p.h., and that’s a better-than-average fastball.”

“It’s remarkable that he can still throw that hard at 40 years of age.”

The Brewers made five errors in the game, with two by second baseman Jim Gantner resulting in runs.

Gantner’s two errors allowed the White Sox to score twice in the first inning.

Rudy Law reached first when Gantner dropped a pop fly near the right-field line. Moose Haas, who took the loss, then walked Harold Baines, and Greg Walker lined a single to center to drive in Law and advance Baines to third.

Ron Kittle’s grounder forced Walker at second, but Baines scored when Gantner’s hurried throw to first pulled Cecil Cooper off the bag. Gantner misplayed Luis Salazar’s grounder before Haas got Daryl Boston on a pop-up for the third out.

Chicago added another run in the fourth when Boston opened the inning with a double to center, went to third on Marc Hill’s sacrifice, and raced home on Julio Cruz’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Brewers managed to cut the lead to 3-2 in the seventh. Ted Simmons hit a two-out single, rookie Doug Loman doubled, and Seaver then threw two wild pitches to score both runners.

Bob James picked up the save, pitching the last 2 innings for the White Sox, who added an insurance run in the eighth when Salazar reached on a two-base throwing error by Haas and scored on a single to center by Boston.

Seattle 6, Oakland 3--Al Cowens and Bob Kearney each drove in two runs to spark the Mariners to the victory in the season opener in front of a crowd of 37,161 at the Kingdome in Seattle.

The Mariners took a 2-0 lead in the first off Oakland starter Chris Codiroli, who allowed 12 hits before leaving in the fifth, on RBI singles by Phil Bradley and Gorman Thomas.

Oakland scored three times in the third off Mariner starter and winner Mike Moore.