American League Roundup : Flanagan in Fine Form for Blue Jays, 3-0

When the Toronto Blue Jays obtained Mike Flanagan from the Baltimore Orioles six days ago, they knew the 35-year-old left-hander could still be effective.

So they weren’t surprised when Flanagan held the Seattle Mariners to 4 hits in 7 innings Saturday at Toronto in the Blue Jays’ 3-0 victory.

Although it was Flanagan’s first victory for the Blue Jays, it was his fourth win in five decisions since spending three months on the disabled list with an elbow injury. Flanagan struck out eight and walked only one before giving way to Tom Henke, who retired the last four batters for his 31st save.

Tony Fernandez singled in a run in the first and drove in another with a sacrifice fly in the third to give Flanagan all the help he needed. Since being moved from leadoff to No. 3 in the order 10 games ago, Fernandez is batting .459 (17 for 37).

Before going out with the injury early in the season, Flanagan--a 1979 Cy Young Award winner who has been plagued by arm problems for the better part of three seasons--was 0-5 with an earned-run average of 6.23.

Since returning July 18, he has done a complete about-face. He is 4-1 and has a 2.96 ERA.

“I felt like in recent years I’ve had some bad breaks,” Flanagan said. “There was never a doubt in my mind I could still pitch, only in other people’s minds.”

Flanagan spent 11 seasons with the Orioles, winning 23 games in 1979. The Blue Jays sent two minor-league pitchers to the Orioles for him.

“I’m in a good groove,”Flanagan said. “The velocity on the radar is as good as it was in ’79. Coming to a first-place club, or one challenging for first, for me, is perfect timing. The scenario, the script, is just perfect.”

Flanagan, who threw 67 of his 105 pitches for strikes, worried about his control because he had not pitched in more than a week. He had been scheduled to start last Tuesday for the Orioles before being traded.

He mixed a fastball with a changeup and a curve to retire 14 Mariners in a row between Phil Bradley’s first-inning double and a leadoff single in the fifth by Rey Quinones.

“I was surprised at the speed on his fastball,” his new catcher, Ernie Whitt, said. “He’s throwing the ball better now than he has in the last three, four years.”

Minnesota 2, Milwaukee 1--The Brewers continued to get brilliant pitching at Minneapolis but lost again.

Juan Nieves had a 1-0 lead and a five-hitter until one out in the eighth when Al Newman singled and, with two out, scored the tying run on Kirby Puckett’s triple.

Tom Brunansky homered on the first pitch in the ninth by Chuck Crim and the Twins remained on top in the West by three games.

“He (Crim) got ahead of me in Milwaukee (last Sunday) with a fastball, then struck me out with breaking balls,” Brunansky said. “So, I was looking for a fastball and I wasn’t going to let him get ahead of me again.”

Brunansky’s 28th home run was just the eighth run Milwaukee pitchers have given up in the last five games, but the Brewers have lost two of them.

Although he didn’t win the game, Mike Smithson, just back from the minors, held the Brewers to just three hits in eight innings.

Paul Molitor went hitless for the fifth time in the 10 games since his hitting streak ended.

Kansas City 4, Chicago 2--Carlton Fisk hit his 300th home run and reached a milestone achieved by only two other catchers, but Danny Tartabull ruined the celebration.

Tartabull hit two home runs at Kansas City to beat the White Sox. Kevin Seitzer and George Brett hit consecutive home runs for the Royals in the first inning.

Fisk joined Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra as the only catchers to hit 300 home runs, score a thousand runs and drive in a thousand.

The two home runs gave Tartabull 26, one more than he hit as a rookie last season.

Fisk hit his 300th off Danny Jackson (8-16) who finished with a flourish, striking out the last five White Sox.

“Hitting No. 300 has been in the back of my mind for a long time,” Fisk said. “I’m just sorry it didn’t come when we won.

“I would also be happier if I knew when I was going to play. Not knowing until the lineup is posted is difficult.”

Texas 8, Detroit 7--The Rangers spotted the Tigers a 6-3 lead at Arlington, Tex., then fought back to win and cut the Tigers’ lead in the East to a half-game over Toronto.

Oddibe McDowell, in a 6 for 63 slump, singled with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth off Willie Hernandez to give the Rangers the victory.

A grand slam by Darrell Evans enabled the Tigers to build a 6-3 lead, but Frank Tanana and the bullpen couldn’t hold it.

Three different times the Tigers had the bases loaded and couldn’t score.

Ex-Dodger Steve Howe pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for his second win against two losses.

Oakland 7, Baltimore 2--Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run home run, and Mark McGwire also drove in two runs at Baltimore to help Curt Young improve his record to 12-7.

The only damage off Young in a sharp eight-inning performace was Mike Young’s 14th home run, a two-run blast.

McGwire now has 99 runs batted in.

The Orioles’ Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 900th consective game. He went hitless.