Indians’ Niekro Wins 303 : Veteran Pitcher Stops Blue Jays

Phil Niekro returned Monday to the site of his 300th career victory on the final day of the 1985 season. This time, he left with victory No. 303.

“I had an easier time than last time,” Niekro said, referring to the pressure he felt last year prior to beating the Toronto Blue Jays for his 300th victory. “But it’s no different than any other win.”

The veteran knuckleballer, released by the New York Yankees during spring training and signed by Cleveland, scattered 10 hits over eight-plus innings to even his record at 3-3 as the Indians snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays.

Manager Jimy Williams said his club may have been looking too much for Niekro’s knuckler and been caught off guard by his fastball.

“The guy’s won 300 games, but he hasn’t won them all with the knuckler,” Williams said. “He’s used other pitches and his fastball was very effective.”

Mel Hall sparked Cleveland’s 13-hit attack by going 4 for 4 with three runs scored and one run batted in, while Joe Carter had three RBI as the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak was stopped.

Niekro, who struck out four and walked three, gave way to Scott Bailes after Tony Fernandez’s leadoff double in the ninth. Bailes got the last three outs for his third save.

The Blue Jays gave starter Dave Stieb, 0-6, a 2-0 lead on George Bell’s two-run double in the first inning, but the Indians rallied to keep Stieb winless after nine starts this year.

Chris Bando, who had two runs batted-in, walked in a run in the second after Hall’s leadoff triple, Pat Tabler’s infield single and Brook Jacoby’s walk loaded the bases.

The Indians, who had lost nine out of 10 games after winning 10 in a row, took a 4-2 lead with three runs in the third. Hall had a run-scoring double and Carter a two-run single, keying the rally.

Hall scored his third run of the game in the fifth when he singled, moved to second on Jacoby’s single and came home on Bando’s single.

The Blue Jays had made it 4-3 in the fourth on an RBI single by Damaso Garcia and 5-4 in the eighth on Cliff Johnson’s fifth homer.

Cleveland got an insurance run in the ninth with a run-scoring single by Carter.