American League Roundup : Four-Hit Shutout Puts Blyleven’s Threat of Career Shift on Hold

Sportswriting has been given a temporary reprieve.

Bert Blyleven had been pitching so poorly that he threatened to change occupations and become a sportswriter.

However, the Indians’ veteran right-hander lost interest in a new profession Friday night when he pitched a masterful four-hitter at Cleveland to beat the Texas Rangers, 4-0.

In his last start Sunday at Baltimore, Blyleven became so angry he made obscene gestures at the fans and drew a fine. It might have triggered his thinking.

“I was thinking about becoming a sportswriter,” Blyleven said, “but I knew if I did that, I would never get another start.

“When you go into May and you’re 0-2 with an ERA over 5.00, you’re a little concerned. I knew if I kept going out there, something would happen----hopefully good.”

Blyleven struck out nine and walked three in pitching his 47th career shutout.

“A lot of times,” the Rangers’ Larry Parrish said, “it’s bad when you face a pitcher of that caliber and he’s struggling. You know he’s got a good game coming up somewhere. It was just our luck that he came up with the gem against us.”

Tony Bernazard gave Blyleven all the offense he needed. Bernazard drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and scored another after hitting a double.

Blyleven, the ace of the Cleveland staff, posted a 19-7 record last season. After the incident in Baltimore, Blyleven made a public apology.

The Indians needed their ace to pitch a big game to straighten out a wobbly staff.

“I hope he wins nine more in a row,” Manager Pat Corrales said. “We need him to go on a streak.”

Chicago 7, Detroit 1--It’s an old battery, but it still works very well. Tom Seaver, 40, pitched a seven-hitter at Detroit to win the 291st game of a brilliant career. Carlton Fisk, 37, his catcher, hit a two-run home run to continue his impressive early start.

“I have ways to get Tom Seaver to a peak on definite days--the days when I’m going to pitch,” Seaver said. “I know how to pitch, I’ve always known how to pitch.”

Fisk attributes a winter of hard work to his fast start, which includes five home runs. “I don’t feel old,” he said. “Sooner or later, the years will catch up with me. They haven’t yet.”

New York 7, Kansas City 1--In his previous 28 major league starts, Dennis Rasmussen had pitched only one complete game. However, in this game at New York, he pitched a five-hitter and went the distance to give Manager Billy Martin a win in his first home game of his fourth term as skipper.

The Yankees could have won by an even bigger margin, but they hit into three double plays and the first triple play of the season.

Rickey Henderson lined into the triple play in the sixth inning to halt a budding rally.

Don Mattingly went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs to lead the Yankees’ attack.

In other years, Martin was accorded standing ovations, but this time, after replacing popular Yogi Berra, there were some boos with the cheers when he took the lineup to the plate.

Baltimore 8, Minnesota 7--Cal Ripken tied the Orioles’ club record for consecutive games played and also ended the Twins’ winning streak at 10 in the game at Minneapolis.

Ripken, whose 463rd game in a row tied Brooks Robinson’s mark, hit a two-run home run with two out in the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie.

“It was a situation where the count was 1-0 and I took a chance it would be a breaking ball,” Ripken said. “And I got hold of it.”

Ripken also singled twice.

Don Aase, although he gave up a run in the eighth, improved his record to 3-0.

The Twins had a four-hit night from Kirby Puckett and a 400-foot home run by Gary Gaetti, but the Orioles also had home runs from Fred Lynn and Jim Dwyer.

Toronto 5, Seattle 4--Jesse Barfield collected four hits to pace a 16-hit attack as the Blue Jays scored their seventh victory in the last eight games, all on the road.

Right-hander Doyle Alexander (4-0) gained the win at Seattle, with help from three relievers. Bill Caudill pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

Boston 10, Oakland 0--Mike Easler hit a pair of two-run homers--the first in a seven-run fifth inning--and Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd struck out 12 to power the Red Sox.

Boston pounded four Oakland pitchers for 15 hits, with Easler and Wade Boggs getting three each. Jim Rice added a two-run homer and Bill Buckner a solo blast as Boston got eight extra-base hits.

Boyd (3-1) scattered eight hits and walked two. His 12 strikeouts tied his career high. The right-hander struck out 12 last Sunday in a 5-2 loss to Kansas City.

The Red Sox sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth and collected four doubles, two singles, two homers and a walk against three pitchers.