American League Roundup : Seaver Not Brilliant, but He Gets a Win in Debut With Red Sox

Dwight Evans drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double in the first inning Tuesday night at Boston as pitcher Tom Seaver was made to feel at home in his Red Sox debut.

Seaver (3-6), supported by a 14-hit attack, wasn’t brilliant in a 9-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, but he was good enough to win for the first time since April 23. Seaver gave up nine hits and four runs in seven innings before departing.

Nevertheless, it was a winning start for what the 41-year-old right-hander calls the “last ride” of his career.

“This is very gratifying,” said Seaver, who has won 307 games. “My goal is to pitch seven innings and allow three or fewer runs. I missed by one run, but I’m pleased. At this stage I’m very happy to pitch seven innings. It means I kept my team in the game.

“It was nice pitching for a team leading the league and capable of scoring lots of runs. Until the trade was made, it was a difficult year for me. Every time I went to the mound in Chicago, I knew there were scouts in the stands checking me out.”

Seaver asked the White Sox last fall to arrange a trade so he could finish with a team in the East. When no trade was forthcoming, Seaver became so frustrated he threatened to quit. Finally, the Red Sox, making sure the New York Yankees didn’t get him, sent outfielder Steve Lyons to the White Sox in exchange for Seaver.

“I’m glad to get this game out of the way,” Seaver said. “Physically, I am fine. I just have to get myself organized. I’m looking forward to helping this team.

“I have to prove to myself I can still pitch. I have to prove to my new teammates I can still pitch. They don’t care whether I won 300 or 500, they don’t need a memory coming in here. I have to prove myself.”

Manager John McNamara had no complaints with Seaver’s first outing, in which he made 125 pitches.

“He’s still a surgeon at his trade,” said McNamara, who managed Seaver for two seasons at Cincinnati.

The Blue Jays, who had been on a spurt before losing the first two games at Boston, had 16 hits, but still fell to 11 1/2 games behind the division-leading Red Sox. Boston has a 50-25 record and leads second-place New York by eight games.

Texas 5, Minnesota 0--A trio of youngsters with blazing fastballs is getting most of the publicity, but Charlie Hough is still king of the hill for the Rangers.

The 38-year-old knuckleball specialist pitched a five-hitter at Arlington, Tex., to end the Twins’ four-game winning streak and improve his record to 8-3.

Hough had the Twins, noted for their power, hitting the ball into the ground. They hit into four double plays, and Hough retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

Hough wasn’t impressed with his performance. “That was possibly the worst shutout that has ever been thrown,” he said. “I didn’t pitch very well. The guys just caught everything they hit.”

The three youngsters who have kept the Rangers in the pennant race are Bobby Witt, Ed Correa and Jose Guzman.

Pete O’Brien and Pete Incaviglia each hit two-run homers to help the Rangers end a two-game losing streak.

New York 5, Detroit 4--Old-time Dodger fans will remember 1966 when relief pitcher Phil Regan earned the nickname “The Vulture.” Regan would come in late in the game and fail to hold a lead for one of the starters. But the Dodgers would rally and Regan, after failing to get the save, would be the winner. He did it so well, he had a 14-1 record.

Dave Righetti, the bullpen ace of the Yankees, is getting the same reputation. In this game at New York, rookie Doug Drabek had a 4-2 lead and a three-hitter when Righetti replaced him with one on and one out in the ninth. Righetti gave up a walk and two hits, but got the win when Dale Berra hit his second home run of the season in the 10th.

Although he has 17 saves, this was the ninth time Righetti failed to hold a lead. He has won six of them.

Baltimore 7, Milwaukee 3--Fred Lynn hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning at Baltimore and singled in a run in the seventh to help end a long period of frustration for Mike Flanagan.

Flanagan, who had failed to win in 11 consecutive starts since April 17, gave up seven hits and only two earned runs in six innings to earn his second win of the year.

“I was tight for a while,” Flanagan said, “but I got my breaking ball working and made some good pitches. It was nice to have a lead and Rich Bordi did a great rescue job.”

Seattle 8, Kansas City 5--Pinch-hitter Ricky Nelson’s tiebreaking single keyed a four-run eighth inning at Seattle as the Mariners handed the Royals their fifth straight loss.

Pete Ladd (4-2) pitched the final 1 innings for the victory. Dan Quisenberry (0-2) got the loss.