American League Roundup : Guidry Beats Twins for His Ninth Win in Row

On April 29, Ron Guidry was knocked out of the box in the eighth inning by Texas and absorbed his third consecutive defeat. At that time, the New York Yankees’ veteran left-hander had a 1-3 record and a 4.40 earned-run average.

Many observers believed that Guidry was on his way out at the age of 34--no more Louisiana Lightning. In the late 1970s, there was no better pitcher in baseball. He was striking out batters at a better than one-per-inning pace, and in a three-year spell he had a 59-18 record.

But they counted Guidry out too soon. He hasn’t lost in more than two months and has even regained his strikeout pitch.

Guidry won his ninth game in a row Thursday night at New York, holding the Minnesota Twins to six hits while pitching the Yankees to a 3-2 victory.

He retired the first nine batters, five on strikeouts. After Kirby Puckett tripled and Tom Brunansky hit his 18th home run to account for both Twin runs in the fourth, Guidry took charge again and finished with eight strikeouts and his fifth complete game this season.

In his last five starts, Guidry has given up only five runs and 28 hits, and has struck out 28 batters in 41 innings. Obviously, he has made the necessary adjustment and is far from finished.

“In the early days, I didn’t have to think about pitching because I’d just throw the ball by everybody,” Guidry said. “I’ve had to learn the last few years how to use the fastball to get out of situations.

“You might say I’ve finally learned how to pitch. If I get behind you, I might throw a change-up now, or I might take something off the fastball. I knew I had to change, or my career was ended.”

Yankee Manager Billy Martin, in his various tours of duty, has seen Guidry at all stages of his career. He is convinced Guidry is better now than he ever was.

“He’s a complete pitcher now,” Martin said. “He’s his own pitching coach. He’s pitching to spots. He’s turning the ball over.”

Guidry (10-3) has tied Dan Petry for most victories in the league and has lowered his earned-run average to 2.70. For the third time in his last six starts, he did not walk a batter.

The Yankees scored their three runs in the first inning. Don Mattingly’s double, which drove in the first run, was the key hit.

Seattle 7, Milwaukee 1--The Mariners have overcome many problems to become a factor in the Western Division. They have won 11 of their last 13 games, with two of their starting pitchers--Mark Langston and Jim Beattie--injured.

Mike Moore, who had been on the disabled list, held the Brewers to four hits at Milwaukee for his third win in a row. A three-run home run in the first inning by Dave Henderson gave Moore all the cushion he needed.

The Mariners jumped all over Moose Haas (7-4), who had a 1.97 ERA in June and flirted with a no-hitter in his previous outing.

Texas 4, Detroit 1--Burt Hooton made his 15th start for the Rangers in this game at Arlington, Tex., and became the first Texas pitcher to beat the World Series champions since last season.

Hooton, with the help of some fine defense, pitched a six-hitter for his second complete game and improved his record to 4-2. One of the hits was a smash off Hooton’s leg in the sixth by Tom Brookens.

Third baseman Buddy Bell made leaping catches to take away two hits and made a diving stop of a hard smash to prevent another.

The Tigers had beaten the Rangers eight times in a row.

The Rangers pounded Walt Terrell (9-4) for all of their runs in the first inning. Pete O’Brien drove in two of the runs and scored one.

Chicago 5, Cleveland 0--There’s nothing like the Indians to get a team and a pitcher out of a slump. In this game at Cleveland, Britt Burns pitched a four-hitter for his first victory since June 8.

Burns’ performance enabled the White Sox to win for only the third time in the last 14 games. Entering this season, Burns had a 5.16 career ERA against the Indians, but this season, he has shut them out for 23 innings.

Baltimore 5, Kansas City 3--Floyd Rayford and Eddie Murray each knocked in two runs at Kansas City to help the Orioles build a 5-0 lead, and they held on to give Dennis Martinez his seventh victory.

Martinez was working on a shutout until Darryl Motley hit a three-run home run with two out in the sixth. Nate Snell then took over and blanked the Royals the rest of the way.

Hot-hitting George Brett went 2 for 3 to raise his average to .342.

Oakland 3, Toronto 2--Dave Collins singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth at Oakland to score Mike Heath from third and give the A’s the victory.

Until Collins lined his hit to center, the runs had all come on homers. Bruce Bochte hit a two-run smash for the A’s, and Damaso Garcia did the same for the Blue Jays.

It was the 41st win for the A’s and the eighth for reliever Jay Howell. Howell also has 17 saves.