American League Roundup : An Old-Timer Inspires Niekro, 47, to Defeat Oriole Whippersnappers

Before he went out and pitched his best game in two months Saturday at Cleveland, where the Indians won, 2-1, over Baltimore, 47-year-old Phil Niekro watched an old-timers’ game in which 13 of the 29 participants were younger than he.

One of those who was not younger was Mel Harder, 76, who started the first game in Cleveland Stadium 54 years ago and who shared a locker with Niekro Saturday. “He gave me a real boost,” Niekro said. “He said, ‘Young man, go get ‘em,’ and I decided to be aggressive.”

Niekro, who had lost two games in a row, held the Orioles to seven hits, including a home run by Eddie Murray, in 8 innings to improve his record to 9-9. It was the 309th victory of his career.

“When I get invited to old-timers’ games, they’ll probably talk about some of the things I’ve done,” Niekro said, “and I’ll probably think about it. But until I walk away, I won’t look back.

“I was around the plate, changing speeds and throwing more hard knuckleballs. I was more aggressive than I have been lately.

“I got behind Murray with one out in the ninth, and he got all of a fastball, but I finally beat the only team (out of 25 he has faced) that I had never beaten. I take special pride in that.”

Last Oct. 6, Niekro became the oldest major leaguer to pitch a shutout when he beat Toronto, 8-0, for his 300th victory.

He had to be sharp Saturday because Mike Flanagan (6-8) pitched a strong game after the second inning. With one out in the first, consecutive singles by the Indians’ Julio Franco, Joe Carter and Andre Thornton produced a run.

In the second, the Indians’ Pat Tabler doubled and scored on a two-out single by Tony Bernazard. But after Bernazard’s single, Cleveland had only four hits.

“We got timely hitting and strong pitching,” Indian Manager Pat Corrales said. “Phil’s pitching was the key. We can challenge Boston, New York and the others, if we can just get steady pitching.”

It was the 683rd start for Niekro, who was a relief pitcher early in his career. Only Cy Young (818), Don Sutton (695) and Gaylord Perry (690) have started more games.

Detroit 12, Boston 6--Since returning to the Red Sox rotation, Oil Can Boyd has become steadily worse. In this game at Boston, he lost for the third time in a row and was knocked out before he retired anyone in the fifth inning. Boyd (11-9) gave up 11 hits and five runs.

In his first start after being suspended for jumping the team shortly before the All-Star game, Boyd gave up three runs and eight hits in 7 innings of a 3-1 loss to Chicago. Last Monday at Detroit, he went eight innings, giving up five runs and 10 hits.

Saturday, the Tigers pounded out 21 hits, including a pinch grand slam by Larry Herndon off reliever Joe Sambito. Detroit pitcher Jack Morris (15-7) needed the lusty attack because he yielded six runs and nine hits in seven innings. Dwight Evans and Don Baylor hit home runs for the Red Sox.

Toronto 13, Texas 1--When knuckleballer Charlie Hough wasn’t walking batters, he was being hit hard at Toronto.

Because of a depleted pitching staff, Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine left Hough in to absorb a beating. In 5 innings, Hough walked six, gave up 10 hits and a club record 12 runs.

Tony Fernandez and Damaso Garcia hit home runs for Toronto, and Ernie Whitt had three hits and drove in four runs to make it easy for Jimmy Key (11-8).

Dale Mohorcic, who broke the league record when he pitched in his ninth consecutive game Friday night, got the last two Blue Jays in the sixth. He is only three games away from the major league record of 13 consecutive appearances set by one-time Dodger reliever Mike Marshall.

Kansas City 4, New York 2--The Royals resorted to some old magic at Kansas City to end the Yankees’ four-game winning streak.

George Brett and Hal McRae, both 14-year veterans, drove in the runs in the sixth that gave Danny Jackson (8-8) the victory. McRae doubled in two runs to give him 1,000 runs batted in as a Royal, but he injured a groin muscle sliding into second on the hit and had to leave the game.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 5--Ben Oglivie hit a pinch two-run triple with two out in the eighth inning at Chicago to pace the Brewers to victory. Paul Molitor singled home Oglivie with what proved to be the winning run.

Seattle 7, Minnesota 6--Alvin Davis hit a two-out solo home run in the ninth inning to boost the Mariners to victory at Seattle.