American League Roundup : Saberhagen’s 2-Hitter Does in Red Sox, 1-0

Kansas City pitcher Bret Saberhagen was not especially confident going into the Royals’ game Wednesday against the Red Sox at Boston.

“Coming off a horrible spring, I was concerned whether I could go a strong seven,” Saberhagen said.

Some concern.

The 1985 American League Cy Young Award winner pitched a two-hitter and outdueled Boston’s Al Nipper as the Royals edged the Red Sox, 1-0, on Steve Balboni’s home run.

“This was good. I feel pretty strong and I have no more control problems,” Saberhagen said after striking out six, walking one and facing just 29 batters in a 120-pitch performance.

“It’s good to go out there and throw strikes. I had a pretty good fastball and pretty good breaking stuff.”

The Red Sox couldn’t argue with that.

“You can see why he won everything in sight last year, pitching-wise and award-wise,” Boston Manager John McNamara said. “He was at the top of his game. He got everything over the plate and had a purpose with every pitch. He didn’t make a mistake.”

Said Jim Rice: “You don’t win the Cy Young on one game, but when you get beaten, 1-0, you have to give the guy credit. He was around the plate all day, and we didn’t get anything going.”

Balboni’s second home run of the season leading off the second was all Saberhagen, 22, needed for his first victory of the season and third career shutout.

Saberhagen, a 20-game winner last season who went on to become the World Series MVP, allowed only singles by Tony Armas with two out in the second and by Don Baylor leading off the fifth. Neither Armas nor Baylor advanced beyond first.

The only other Boston runner was Wade Boggs, who walked and was erased when Rice grounded into his third double play in eight games in the fourth.

Nipper (1-1) threw a five-hitter, struck out one and walked four.

Minnesota 7, Oakland 5--Gary Gaetti’s two-run home run in the 10th inning off A’s reliever Keith Atherton gave the Twins the victory at Minneapolis.

With two out in the 10th, Mark Salas reached base on an infield hit. Gaetti then hit a two-strike pitch deep over the left-center field fence and the Twins snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ron Davis (1-0) earned the victory in relief of Bert Blyleven with 1 innings of one-hit work. Atherton (1-1) took the loss.

Oakland starter Joaquin Andujar, acquired in the off-season from the St. Louis Cardinals, allowed five hits, struck out four and walked two before being relieved with one out in the seventh inning after developing a sore shoulder.

Chicago 10, Detroit 4--Ron Kittle drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a sacrifice fly and Carlton Fisk also homered as the White Sox broke out of their slump by trouncing the Tigers at Chicago.

The win, behind the four-hit pitching of Floyd Bannister (1-1), Bill Dawley and Bob James, was only the second in eight games for the Sox and came at the expense of Walt Terrell (1-1).