American League Roundup : John, Yankees Defeat Indians, 14-2

As a college baseball coach, Tommy John didn’t last until spring training but, as a major league pitcher, he may go on forever.

The left-hander, who will be 44 next month, held the heavy-hitting Cleveland Indians to an infield hit in seven innings Sunday at Cleveland and pitched the New York Yankees to a 14-2 victory.

John, the Yankees’ Sunday pitcher, also pitched seven shutout innings a week ago against Kansas City. Of the 42 outs in the two outings, 6 came on strikeouts and 27 on grounders.

He is pitching so well, the batters are again claiming he doctors the baseball. John said that when Cleveland Manager Pat Corrales asked the umpires to check his glove in the third inning, it gave him a couple of extra pitches.

About 10 months ago, John, who began his pro career in 1961, announced that he was retiring to take a job with the University of North Carolina.

The job didn’t last long. In late November, he quit his post and threatened to sue. He talked about broken promises. A bigger reason may have been that the Yankees were desperate for pitching help. Ron Guidry was a free agent and Joe Niekro had undergone surgery.

The Yankees gave him a tryout, and John, who had won only 16 games since 1983, has made a successful comeback.

The only hit off John (1-0) was an infield grounder in the third by Julio Franco. Andre Thornton’s fly to center in the sixth was the only ball the Indians hit out of the infield.

Rickey Henderson led off the game with his sixth home run to trigger a five-run first that made John’s task a simple one. It was the third time this season he homered leading off.

Milwaukee 5, Baltimore 3--When a team gets hot, it seems to spread throughout entire club. That’s what’s happening to the Brewers.

Juan Castillo, a .167 hitter as a utility infielder last season, started his second game at second base this season and led the Brewers to their 16th win in 17 games in this game at Milwaukee.

Castillo singled in a run and scored another in the third, then hit his first major league home run in the fifth.

“He’s a good right-handed hitter,” Manager Tom Trebelhorn said. “He can turn on the ball. He hit three homers in spring training.”

The Orioles have lost all six games they have played with the sizzling Brewers.

“I don’t think they’ll keep playing .950,” said Oriole Manager Cal Ripken, “but if they do, we can all pack up and go home.”

Kansas City 6, Detroit 1--About the only time the Royals win at Detroit is when Bret Saberhagen pitches. The right-hander from Reseda continued his comeback surge with a seven-hitter to run his Tiger Stadium record to 7-0.

“I said in spring training that if I stayed healthy I’d win, “ said Saberhagen, who was 7-12 last season and is now 4-0.

Bo Jackson had two hits, including a double and stole two bases for the Royals, who are 4-9 in games that Saberhagen didn’t start.

Toronto 5, Chicago 2--Silent George Bell drove in three runs with two home runs at Chicago, but still refuses to talk to reporters. The Blue Jay slugger who has hit nine home runs at Comiskey Park had promised to talk to a reporter this year.

“Promise? You only make promises to beautiful girls,” he said. “You know I don’t talk to reporters.”

Seattle 8, Oakland 5--Reggie Jackson hit a two-run home run, his 550th career homer, at Oakland, but it wasn’t enough to beat the heavy-hitting Mariners.

Jim Presley hit his first home run for the Mariners, but it was Harold Reynolds’ run-scoring triple in the fourth that put the Mariners in front to stay.

Texas 5, Boston 3--Pete O’Brien hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning at Arlington, Tex., to give the Rangers the victory.

O’Brien’s home run came off Calvin Schiraldi, who also tossed up a home-run ball to Pete Incaviglia to give the Rangers a win in the 10th inning Saturday night.

Charlie Hough held the Red Sox to three hits in eight innings, but a wild pitch by reliever Greg Harris allowed Don Baylor to score the tying run in the ninth.

Roger Clemens gave up 10 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks and struck out 10 in eight innings.