American League Roundup : John Stops Tigers on Two-Hitter as Yankees Move Back Into First

Tommy John, a comeback kid at age 44, came to the rescue of a pitching staff in shambles Saturday at Detroit.

The left-hander with the restructured elbow pitched a two-hitter and put the New York Yankees back in first place with a 7-0 victory over the Tigers.

In the previous eight games, Yankee pitchers gave up 59 runs and 94 hits. But John completed his first shutout in more than three years with a flourish, retiring the last 14 Tigers.

Dan Pasqua hit a two-run home run off Eric King, a replacement for ailing Jack Morris, in the second inning to give John all the offense he needed. Rick Cerone, Gary Ward and Don Mattingly also hit home runs for the Yankees, who moved a half-game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays in the Eastern Division race. The Tigers are two games behind.

The Tigers, 12-20 against left-handers, clobbered New York pitching for 20 runs in the first two games of the series. Although John was pitching with just three days’ rest, the Tigers couldn’t touch him.

Angel fans may remember the 1982 American League Championship Series, when Manager Gene Mauch was criticized for pitching John, then a mere 39, with just three days’ rest. The Milwaukee Brewers beat John and went on to win the series.

John improved his 1987 record to 11-4. It is his highest victory total since ‘83, when he was 11-14. In the last three seasons, he won a total of 16. Almost everyone, except John, thought his career was over.

In ’85 and ‘86, he pitched in such places as Modesto, Madison and Fort Lauderdale, but he was the Yankee starter in the second game of the season and has been a consistent winner.

“I found a flaw in my mechanics with the help of some friends,” John said, “and now I feel I’m pitching as well as I have in a long time.

“I remember the first game I pitched here in 1964 (with Cleveland). Hank Aguirre beat us. The only difference in the park is that it has gone from a nice park-bench green to a pretty . . . (pizza franchise) blue.”

John hit leadoff man Lou Whitaker, then retired 11 in a row before the Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth on a walk and their only two hits--singles by Larry Herndon and Jim Morrison. Darrell Evans lined to first base, and Chet Lemon grounded into a double play to end the threat.

“It shows what you can do with control and knowing what to do, and, believe me, Tommy John knows what he’s doing,” Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson told the Associated Press. “There’s throwing and pitching. You don’t have to throw it through a wall to be a winner.”

It was John’s 275th career victory.

Cleveland 3, Toronto 1--What had been a dreadful season for Tom Candiotti is getting better.

Candiotti (5-11) beat the Blue Jays on a five-hitter at Cleveland, his second straight victory. Monday night, the knuckleball specialist pitched a one-hitter against the Yankees.

George Bell ruined Candiotti’s bid for a second consecutive shutout when he hit his 35th home run with two out in the sixth.

This game knocked the Blue Jays out of first place. The Yankees were leading the division when Candiotti pitched the one-hitter.

“Candiotti pitched a great ballgame,” Toronto Manager Jimy Williams said. “He used all his pitches, and I’m glad we don’t have to face him again. Not if he’s throwing like that.”

Minnesota 9, Oakland 2--With Joe Niekro beginning his 10-day suspension, the Twins needed a lift. They got it from 42-year-old Steve Carlton and beat the Athletics for the third time in a row.

Carlton had a three-hit shutout going into the ninth and was one out away from a complete game before he needed help from George Frazier to get the last out at Minneapolis.

Kirby Puckett provided all the offense Carlton needed. He went 4 for 4 and scored 4 runs to help Carlton win his 329th.

A crowd of 50,237 gave Carlton a standing ovation when he left.

He had only two strikeouts, but the victim each time was Mark McGwire, who is still trying to get another home run and tie the major league record for rookies.

Texas 11, Baltimore 5--Home runs by Tom O’Malley, Oddibe McDowell and Ruben Sierra overshadowed a poor relief performance by Steve Howe.

In his second appearance in two nights at Baltimore, Howe yielded two runs and five hits in a little more than an inning. He replaced Bobby Witt in the sixth and gave up a run. When the first two batters in the seventh got hits, Howe was removed.

Witt (6-5) gave up four hits, walked six and struck out seven in five innings before leaving because of the oppressive heat.

Boston 8, Kansas City 3--Rookie center fielder Ellis Burks hit his 17th home run and two doubles at Boston to help Bruce Hurst improve his record to 13-6.

Burks was 3 for 3, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. He also stole a base, his 19th, the most by a Red Sox rookie since Tris Speaker stole 35 in 1909.

“I’m a little surprised by how many home runs I’ve hit,” said Burks, who hit 14 last year in the Eastern League. “It seems that when I hit the ball right now, it just seems to carry.”

Milwaukee 5-6, Chicago 3-8--Ray Burris won for the first time in almost two years, and Paul Molitor extended his hitting streak to 23 games, but the Brewers managed only a split at Chicago.

Burris, in his first start since Oct. 4, 1985, went 5 innings in the first game. He started the season as an assistant to Brewer General Manager Harry Dalton but returned to the field to help an ailing pitching staff.

Molitor hit safely in each game, but the White Sox pounded Chris Bosio for 8 runs and 12 hits in 7 innings to win the nightcap.