American League Roundup : Blue Jays Roll Out Another Rookie and Roll Up 5-Game Lead

The Toronto Blue Jays keep coming up with virtual unknowns out of their farm system, and they all contribute to their attempt to stay atop the American League East.

In early July the Blue Jays brought up Tom Filer from Syracuse of the International League. Near the end of the month, they brought up Tom Henke, also from Syracuse, and he has been sensational out of the bullpen.

Filer is 7-0 and the Blue Jays are 11-0 in games he has started. He pitched only one inning Tuesday night at Minneapolis before retiring with a sore elbow. But waiting in the wings was left-hander Steve Davis.

Davis, a 20-game winner in the minors this season, gave up only one-hit in four innings as the Blue Jays beat Minnesota, 8-0. It was Davis’ first major league victory, and the Blue Jays moved five games ahead of the New York Yankees.

The only hit off Davis, a 21st-round selection by the Blue Jays in the 1982 June draft, was a single by Kent Hrbek in the fourth inning. The pitching-rich Blue Jays then brought in Dennis Lamp for three innings and Bill Caudill for the last inning. The quartet gave up three hits, struck out eight and walked only one.

Davis, who was 10-7 at Knoxville (Southern League) last season, his third season in the minors. He blossomed this season at Knoxville, winning 17 before being called up to Syracuse, where he won three more. He pitched two shutout innings Sunday in his major league debut.

“He’s a very confident looking individual out there,” Blue Jays’ Manager Bobby Cox said. “This is the 21st game he’s won. You know he’s a quality guy when a kid can do that.”

Davis could replace Filer in the rotation.

“I just want to contribute to the team as much as I can,” he said. “I can’t come up here and sit on it (20 wins). I want to be here next year.”

Jeff Burroughs drove in three runs for the Blue Jays with a double and single, but George Bell, who hit monstrous home runs in the previous four games, went 0 for 5.

Filer’s elbow problem is not a new injury. He went onto the disabled list twice at Syracuse because of the elbow.

Oakland 3, New York 0--Tommy John had two 20-victory seasons for the Yankees before they gave up on him almost three years ago to the day.

John, released by the Angels early this season, let the Yankees know he isn’t washed up yet. The 42-year-old left-hander held the Yankees to three hits in seven innings and picked up his second win of the year and the 259th of his career. He struck out seven and walked four.

John, traded to the Angels on Aug. 31, 1982 by the Yankees, outpitched Yankee ace Ron Guidry. Guidry (16-5) had won 15 of his last 16 decisions but gave up three runs in the first four innings.

Steve Ontiveros pitched the last two innings for the A’s and gave up the final hit.

Don Mattingly, last year’s batting champion, had two of the Yankee hits and raised his average to .333.

Milwaukee 8, Kansas City 5--In a season that has been mostly disappointing, the Brewers can point with pride to young shortstop Earnest Riles. In this game at Milwaukee, Riles had three singles, drove in two runs and raised his average to .304.

Errors by losing pitcher Danny Jackson and third baseman George Brett helped the Brewers score four times in the second inning. Although he doubled in a run in the ninth, Brett’s string of games in which he hit home runs ended at four.

The errors wiped out a 3-0 Kansas City lead.

Chicago 7, Texas 4--Dave Wehrmeister, who spent most of his 12 seasons in professional baseball in the minors, earned his first major league save in this game at Chicago.

Wehrmeister came to the rescue of Britt Burns (14-8) in the sixth and pitched hitless ball the rest of the way. He retired 11 in a row before issuing a walk.

Bryan Little and Harold Baines each drove in two runs for the White Sox.

Cleveland 6, Boston 2--Left-hander Curt Wardle held the Red Sox to seven hits in 8 innings at Cleveland as the Indians continued their late-season spurt. It was the sixth win in the last seven games for the Indians and the fourth loss in a row for the fading Red Sox.

The Indians pounded out 16 hits, 14 of them singles.

One of the Red Sox hits was Tony Armas’ 17th home run. Another was a run-scoring single by Wade Boggs that extended a 16-game hitting streak.

Seattle 3, Detroit 1--Mike Young pitched a five-hitter at Seattle and Donnie Scott hit a two-run double in the sixth inning ended the Mariners’ four-game losing streak.

Young (9-14) he pitched a five-hit shutout last Thursday against Baltimore.

Chet Lemon ruined Young’s bid for a second consecutive shutout when he hit a home run over the center field fence in the fifth inning.