American League Roundup : Indians Hammer Yankees, 15-3

In March it was a season of great expectations for the Cleveland Indians. In May it was already a season of great frustration.

The Indians, the best run-producers in baseball last season, were picked by some to win the tough American League East.

There was concern about the pitching, but Tom Candiotti was a 16-game winner last season, Greg Swindell was an outstanding prospect and, besides, with the hitting, they didn’t need much pitching anyway.

After 37 games in which the hitters didn’t hit and the pitchers didn’t pitch, the Indians were 11-26 and already out of the pennant race. Until the last two nights, things haven’t gotten a lot better.

All of a sudden, the Indians are getting a chance to get rid of some of the frustration. To make it better, it’s happening at the expense of the New York Yankees, the leaders of the East.

Monday night, Candiotti, who was 3-11, came within six outs of a no-hitter and beat the Yankees with a one-hitter.

It was the hitters turn to shine Tuesday night. Pat Tabler drove in four runs and scored three at Cleveland as the Indians pounded the Yankees, 15-3, cutting their lead to a half-game over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 15 runs were the most the Indians have scored this season. Every player in the lineup scored at least one run and eight players drove in runs.

Tommy John, who had not lost since June 20, gave up seven runs in 2 innings and his record fell to 10-4.

The Indians had two five-run innings and built a 13-0 lead before the Yankees scored. They made it easy for Ken Schrom (5-7) to win for the first time since May 24.

“It doesn’t really make up for all the frustration we’ve had this season,” Tabler said, “but there’s a certain amount of satisfaction in doing this to the team leading the division.”

The Yankees ended a scoreless string at 16 innings when Dave Winfield hit a two-run home run with two out in the sixth inning. By that time, John was long gone and the game was out of hand.

“I gave up a lot of topped hits and choppers,” John said. “And when that happens, somewhere along the line, somebody’s going to get a solid hit or two.”

Toronto 4, Chicago 1--Rookie Fred McGriff hit a pair of tape- measure home runs into the wind at Chicago, and John Cerutti won his sixth in a row.

An 18 m.p.h. wind was blowing in when McGriff hit a drive into the upper deck in right in the fourth. It was still blowing in the sixth when McGriff belted a Neil Allen pitch against the back wall of the center-field bullpen, 450 feet from home plate.

The awesome power doesn’t surprise McGriff. “I’m not going to steal 30 or 40 bases, so I have to hit home runs to contribute,” he said. “When I make good contact, the ball really jumps. I hit the one to center very well. I work hard to hit home runs and when I do, I feel good.”

Cerutti gave up six hits and an unearned run in 7 innings. Tom Henke finished up to gain his 24th save.

Oakland 9, Seattle 3--The home runs aren’t jumping off the bats of the Athletics’ sluggers the way they were, but timely hits are.

Jose Canseco and Terry Steinbach each hit two-run singles in a five-run fifth that allowed Steve Ontiveros to snap his four-game losing streak. Mark McGwire, who hasn’t hit a home run since tying the rookie record last Wednesday, delivered another run with a 400-foot out.

Ontiveros, who was 5-0 in June, was 0-4 in July. He gave up eight hits but only two earned runs in seven innings.

The victory kept the Athletics in second place in the West.

Kansas City 8, Detroit 4--Kevin Seitzer had four more hits, and Steve Balboni and Lonnie Smith hit home runs at Detroit as the Royals handed the Tigers their fifth loss in the last six games.

Seitzer, who was 6 for 6 Sunday, has 12 hits in the last three games.

The Royals jumped on Dan Petry for seven runs in 4 innings. Petry (6-5) is 0-7 against the Royals in Tiger Stadium.

Danny Jackson (5-13) pitched his sixth complete game and ended a three-game losing streak.

Boston 8, Texas 6--Dwight Evans hit his second home run of the game at Arlington, Tex., in the ninth inning with a man on to give the Red Sox the victory.

Evans has hit five home runs in the last three games and has 25 this season. In the sixth, he hit a three-run shot, more than 420 feet to center.

Gene Petralli singled home two runs in the eighth to give the Rangers a 6-5 lead. But Don Baylor’s pinch single preceded Evans’ game-winning homer.

Milwaukee 9, Baltimore 8--Pinch-hitter B. J. Surhoff singled with the bases loaded and one out in the 12th inning at Milwaukee to give the Brewers the victory.

Ray Knight hit a three-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth off reliever Dan Plesac to send the game into extra innings.