American League Roundup : Blyleven Completes 12th Game, Beats Rangers on Four-Hitter, 7-2

Bert Blyleven pitched a four-hitter for his major league-leading 12th complete game and Andre Thornton hit a home run and drove in four runs Tuesday night at Cleveland to lead the Indians to a 7-2 romp over the Texas Rangers.

With the worst record in the majors, the Indians haven’t had many bright spots this dismal season. The pitching of the reluctant Blyleven has been the highlight.

After a slow start, the 34-year-old right-hander has regained his best form. Although he keeps asking to be traded, he goes out every fifth day and pitches a solid game.

Blyleven, a 19-game winner with the woeful Indians last season, has improved a 3-6 start to an 8-8 record. Blyleven has completed his last seven starts.

He won five of them. In the two he lost his teammates backed him with two and no runs, respectively. He has reached several milestones this season, including his 200th victory. His five strikeouts enabled him to pass 100 strikeouts for the 15th season. He has 101 this season and is only one behind league leader, Jack Morris of Detroit.

“I’ve made up my mind about wanting a trade,” said Blyleven, who has four shutouts among his victories. “I want out of Cleveland. I’m signed through 1986. I had hoped to be out by the June 15 trading deadline.

“It is a little discouraging to pitch for this team. They don’t score many runs. It has been a little encouraging, though, to have Thornton start to hit again. He can make a difference.”

Thornton underwent knee surgery March 26. After he came back, he struggled until just recently. Now, he has driven in 13 runs in the last seven games. In those seven games, he is 7 for 7 with men on base.

“He stabilizes the middle of the lineup,” Blyleven said. “When Andy hits like has been the last week, guys like Pat Tabler and Brook Jacoby get better pitches to hit. His attitude during his slump was outstanding. Andy’s a hard worker and a dedicated man.”

“It is really up to Andy and I to lead this club. We are the real veterans.

“Guidance is part of our professional life. All joking aside, we’re the role models.”

Thornton’s home run was a 425-foot blast. He also had two singles and walked with the bases loaded.

Toronto 9, Seattle 4--George Bell hit a 13th--inning grand slam to lead the Blue Jays over the Mariners at Seattle.

Tony Fernandez led off Ed Vande Berg (0--1). He was erased on a fielder’s choice by Damasco Garcia, but lloyd Moseby and Jeff Burroughs followed with singles to load the bases.

Louis Thornton came in to run for Burroughs before Bell belted his first career grand slam and his 17th home run of the season to snap a 4--4 tie.

The Blue Jays collected 20 hits overall and Seattle had 16. Bell’s home run was the first extra--base hit of the night by either team.

Ron Musselman (3--0) held the Mariners to just one hit over the final three innings to pick up victory.

Toronto lost the services of right--handed hitting catcher Buck Martinez, who will be out at least two months after suffering a dislocated ankle in a collision with Phil Bradley at home plate in the third.

New York 6, Kansas City 4--Ron Guidry (11-3) won his 10th in a row in this game at New York, but Yankee Manager Billy Martin will not pitch him on three days’ rest so the stylish left-hander can start the All-Star game on Tuesday.

“He’s going to pitch Sunday,” Martin said. “The regular season is more important than the All-Star Game. I hope the American League wins, but he is staying right in the rotation.”

Guidry, who had completed three of his previous four starts, failed by one out to go the distance this time. Brian Fisher came in but gave up a hit and Dave Righetti, with the potential tying runs on base, had to get the final out.

Rickey Henderson and Don Mattingly each had two hits and a run batted in to lead the assault on Bud Black (5-10). Mattingly extended his hitting streak to 17 games and last year’s batting champion raised his average to .304.

“I’m starting to hit the ball,” said Mattingly, who is on a 25-for-39 tear since he began his hitting streak. “Early in the season I was pulling off the ball. Now I’m trying to hit the ball up the middle. I feel good and I’m even seeing left-handers good.”

Detroit 6, Chicago 5--When Chet Lemon came up with the bases loaded, one out in the bottom of the ninth at Detroit in a 5-5 game, he was confronted by five infielders and only two outfielders. Lemon foiled Manager Tony LaRussa’s strategy by hitting a drive to the base of the wall in right field for a single to score the winning run.

“It was just a shot that you take,” LaRussa said, after moving center fielder Luis Salazar into the infield to give the White Sox three fielders between second and third. “We were trying to get a double play to get us out of the inning or at least get a force at home. We knew that almost any ball he hit to the outfield would beat us.”

Lemon’s hit climaxed a four-run last-inning outburst that wiped out a 5-2 deficit.

“I saw all those infielders,” Lemon said, “and I thought, ‘That’s weird!’ I knew I had to hit the ball in the air when I realized the guy wasn’t coming in to pitch to me.”

Baltimore 11, Minnesota 6--Eddie Murray hit the 10th grand slam of his career in the sixth inning at Baltimore to climax a big comeback for the Orioles.

The Twins gave Ken Schrom a 4-0 lead by jumping on Dennis Martinez in the third inning.

But the Orioles chased Schrom with a six-run fourth inning in which John Shelby and Alan Wiggins each hit two-run singles. Murray put the game out of reach in the sixth with his 13th home run.

Oriole pitcher Nate Snell suffered a broken rib when Mike Stenhouse’s line drive struck him. Snell, who got Stenhouse at first, left a winner by pitching one-hit ball for 2 innings.

Boston 6, Oakland 3--Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd pitched a seven-hitter at Oakland to win his 10th, but he needed a three-run ninth-inning rally to win it.

Three errors, a bunt, a bloop single and an infield hit contributed to the winning rally.