American League Roundup : The Metrodome Is So Quiet, You Can Hear the Twins Drop, 10-0

The silence was deafening.

During last season’s American League playoffs and World Series, fans nearly blew the roof off the Metrodome with their noisy support of the Minnesota Twins.

But the pitching of Jimmy Key and the thundering bats of his teammates made it a quiet arena Saturday as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Twins, 10-0.

George Bell, still not happy about his new role as a designated hitter, hit his fourth home run and a double to help lead a 14-hit assault that also included home runs by Jesse Barfield, Fred McGriff and Nelson Liriano. Key, runner-up to Roger Clemens for the American League Cy Young Award last year, gave up three hits in six innings to win his second game.

The Blue Jays spoiled the comeback effort of Charlie Lea. Lea, a top pitcher until shoulder problems almost ended his career, had pitched only one inning in three years.

He had trouble controlling his breaking ball Saturday, and gave up 8 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings.

“I made two or three mistake pitches and they capitalized on them,” said Lea, who started and won the 1984 All-Star game as a member of the Montreal Expos. “They were run-scoring pitches. But then we didn’t score any runs. We will, though, and I’ll pitch better.”

Cleveland 12, Baltimore 1--There are a number of clubs contending for the dubious honor of getting off to the worst start. The Orioles have a decided edge.

The crackdown on balks gave the Indians two runs off Mike Boddicker at Cleveland, but they also had 20 hits to hand the Orioles their fourth straight loss. In four games, the Orioles have been outscored, 30-2.

Tom Candiotti pitched an eight-hitter for the 4-1 Indians, who are getting fine pitching. The Indian staff, which had an earned-run average of 5.23 last year, has a 1.02 mark this season.

Cory Snyder had three hits, including his third homer, and drove in three runs.

Boddicker, who gave up 8 hits in 1 innings, was upset by the balk calls.

“I didn’t balk,” he said. “On the first one I stopped at my chest instead of my belt. On the second, well, it was unbelievable. I stopped and counted to two. I guess I’ll have to pause for 10 seconds.”

New York 4, Milwaukee 1--Things couldn’t be much better for the Yankees. Owner George Steinbrenner hasn’t threatened to trade anyone all week.

And even though their best hitter, Don Mattingly, is in a slump, the Yankees have won four in a row for their best start since 1974.

In this game at New York, rookie Al Leiter lived up to expectations by pitching four-hit ball for seven innings to win his debut. Dave Righetti pitched the ninth to get his third save.

Leiter was tough after working out of a jam in the third when he struck out Robin Yount with the bases loaded and got B.J. Surhoff on a grounder.

Rickey Henderson hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Yankees breathing room. Rob Deer’s home run in the sixth accounted for the Brewers’ run.

Detroit 11, Kansas City 4--Ray Knight delivered a pinch two-run double to highlight a seven-run seventh inning that brought the Tigers from behind at Kansas City.

The Royals are counting on a comeback by former bullpen ace Dan Quisenberry to help them get back into the pennant race. But Bud Black and Quisenberry failed to hold Bret Saberhagen’s 4-1 lead. Knight’s hit came against Quisenberry, who faced four batters, giving up three hits and a walk.

The uprising enabled Jack Morris to improve his record to 2-0.

Boston 2, Texas 1--Sam Horn hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning at Arlington, Tex., to break up a duel between Roger Clemens and Charlie Hough.

Clemens yielded five hits in eight innings to gain his first victory. Hough gave up a home run to Rich Gedman, but only one other hit until Wade Boggs started the winning rally in the ninth with a single.

Seattle 3, Chicago 2--Henry Cotto singled home Rey Quinones with two out in the 10th inning at Chicago to give the Mariners the victory.

Starter Rick Horton (1-1) gave up a one-out double to Quinones. After getting Harold Reynolds on an infield out, Horton failed to escape because Cotto’s looper landed in short center.