American League Roundup : A Fast Start by Boyd Helps Red Sox Win, 4-0

When Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd was held out of his scheduled start Thursday night because of the cold weather in Boston the rumors started that all was not well with the Red Sox pitcher.

But Boyd said there was no problem. He was fully recovered from shoulder surgery and was going after 20 victories this season.

The temperamental right-hander appeared to be in fine fettle Friday night at Arlington, Tex., pitching six strong innings of a 4-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in a game marred by a fight.

Wade Boggs went 3 for 3, scored two runs and drove in another and was indirectly responsible for the fight. Not long after Texas pitcher Mitch Williams brushed back Boggs with a pitch, Marty Barrett of the Red Sox, who had just scored a run, went to the mound, and he and Williams started throwing punches.

Both benches emptied, and Williams and Dwight Evans, who rushed to Barrett’s rescue, were ejected.

All last season, Boyd won only one game. He underwent surgery Aug. 20.

He followed up a good spring by holding the Rangers to seven hits in six innings. When he walked a batter and gave up a hit in the seventh, Wes Gardner and Lee Smith finished up to preserve the shutout.

Boggs is 9 for 16 in opening his bid for a fourth consecutive batting title.

Everything started to go wrong for Boyd, 28, after he won 16 games in 1986. He became upset when a rainout deprived him of the chance to pitch the seventh game of the World Series. He never really recovered from this misfortune. Then, he had to have surgery.

He quietly went through his best spring training and appears to be ready to give the Red Sox some strong pitching once again.

“My goal is 20 victories,” he said. “Nothing has happened that makes me doubt that I can do it. I feel fine. I was tiring a little, but that’s to be expected.”

New York 6, Milwaukee 4--All Dave Winfield asked was to be left alone so he could play baseball. Finally, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner is doing just that.

Winfield, still getting a standing ovation every time he comes to the plate, hit two home runs in New York to spark the Yankees to their third consecutive victory.

It was the second time in the young season that Winfield, a target of Steinbrenner’s wrath all spring, had the game-winning run batted in.

Mike Pagliarulo hit a two-run home run, and struggling Richard Dotson won his Yankee debut. Dotson pitched 5 innings, giving up 3 runs, 4 hits and 5 walks.

Dave Righetti retired the last five batters to earn his second save.

Cleveland 3, Baltimore 0--Poor pitching sent the Indians reeling into the cellar in the American League East last season.

Their 5.28 earned-run average was the worst in the majors, so improvement was expected. But it’s gone beyond that.

Scott Bailes, before a home opening crowd of 53,738, pitched a three-hitter for the Indians’ third victory in a row. Greg Swindell and John Farrell also pitched well this week, giving up only one run apiece.

The Indians lost their opener in Texas, 4-3, but the loser of that game, Tom Candiotti gave up only one earned run in 6 innings. In four games, the staff has yielded four earned runs.

Kansas City 3, Detroit 2--Floyd Bannister held the Tigers to two hits through seven innings in his debut for the Royals at Kansas City, and veteran Gene Garber saved the victory.

Danny Tartabull doubled in the tying run for the Royals in the sixth and scored the winning run later in the inning on Frank White’s sacrifice fly.

Minnesota 6, Toronto 3--All the Twins needed was to get home. A Metrodome crowd of 53,067 saw Dan Gladden hit two home runs and go 4 for 5 to lead the World Series champions to their first win after two road losses.

Bert Blyleven pitched a strong six innings to record the Twins’ first victory.

Gladden, who has had consecutive four-hit games, is 8 for 14 this season.

Chicago 3, Seattle 2--Dan Pasqua singled with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning at Chicago to give the White Sox their third win in four games.

An error, a walk and a late throw on an attempted force play loaded the bases with nobody out. But Carlton Fisk bounced into a force-out at the plate before Pasqua came through.