American League Roundup : Sutton Pitches A’s Into Second, 10-0

Don Sutton not only went the distance against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, he also recorded his 57th career shutout in a 10-0 victory for the A’s at Oakland.

The win moved the A’s ahead of the White Sox into second place in the AL West, three games behind the Angels.

Sutton (7-5) struck out two, walked three and allowed only two runners past first base in gaining his first shutout of the year.

The veteran right-hander, whose 287th career victory moved him ahead of Robin Roberts into 19th place on the all-time list, seemed more impressed that he went the full nine innings.

“Career wins and shutouts are not two things not important on my list of priorities,” Sutton said. “A shutout is something that every now and then evolves for me.

“We all benefited more than I did. We’ve used the bullpen a lot and had extra innings last night (in a 5-4, 13-inning win over the White Sox), so that is more satisfying than a shutout.”

Rob Picciolo drove in a career-high four runs to pace Oakland’s offense, and Dave Kingman hit his 18th home run, tops in the majors.

Floyd Bannister (5-6) took the loss.

New York 4, Baltimore 3--Bobby Meacham’s two-run single in the ninth inning following a pair of Baltimore errors lifted the Yankees to their sixth triumph in as many meetings with the Orioles this season.

Dave Winfield opened the ninth by outlegging a ground ball to the left of second baseman Lenn Sakata. Sakata fielded the ball but Winfield beat the off-balance, one-hop throw to first.

That was the seventh hit off Baltimore starter Scott McGregor. Don Aase (4-3) relieved and Sakata, who entered the game for defensive purposes in the eighth inning, then bobbled Don Baylor’s potential double play ball near the bag, and the Yankees had runners at first and second.

Sakata committed another error when Aase’s pickoff throw to second glanced off his glove into short center field, allowing Winfield and pinch-runner Omar Moreno to advance.

Pinch-hitter Ken Griffey was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Tippy Martinez, the third pitcher of the inning, retired pinch-hitter Scott Bradley on a pop to shortstop. But Meacham then hit Martinez’s 0-1 pitch to left-center, bringing home the tying and winning runs and giving the Yankees their second three-game sweep over Baltimore in the last two weeks.

Dave Righetti (5-6) the fourth Yankee pitcher, got the last two outs in the top of the ninth and was the winner.

Rickey Henderson, the major leagues’ leading hitter at .359 after a 1-for-3 night, stole four bases for the Yankees.

Milwaukee 5, Toronto 4--Ted Simmons snapped a 4-4 tie with a one-out, solo home run in the eighth inning after Ben Oglivie had hit a two-run blast in the fourth, and the Brewers defeated the Blue Jays at Toronto.

The third homer of the year by Simmons came off an 0-2 pitch from loser Doyle Alexander (7-4) and helped snap Milwaukee’s three-game losing streak.

Right-hander Bob Gibson, who came on to relieve Pete Vuckovich in the sixth inning, earned the victory and improved his record to 6-4.

Detroit 3, Boston 0--Kirk Gibson drove in two runs with his 15th homer and a single, powering the Tigers to victory over the Red Sox behind the shutout pitching of rookie right-hander Randy O’Neal (3-1).

O’Neal allowed five hits, struck out five and walked four before yielding in the eighth to Willie Hernandez, who gained his 16th save.

Boston starter Al Nipper (4-6) took the loss.

Seattle 5, Texas 4--Pinch-hitter Barry Bonnell drew a bases-loaded walk from reliever Dave Stewart to force home the winning run in the 10th inning and lift the Mariners over the Rangers at the Kingdome.

Roy Thomas (2-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the victory, while Stewart (0-4) took the loss.