American League Roundup : Orioles Can’t Win for Losing and Are Now 0-12

The Baltimore Orioles, only one defeat away from equaling the worst start in major league history, can take some hope--for next year, that is.

The Cleveland Indians, who handed the Orioles a 4-1 loss Sunday at Baltimore for their 12th consecutive defeat to open their worst season, were almost as bad last season.

With John Farrell (2-0) pitching a strong eight innings and Mel Hall leading the attack with two doubles and a single, the Indians improved their record to 11-2 and increased their lead in the American League East to 1 1/2 games.

The Indians, highly regarded at the time, opened the 1987 season with one win in their first 11 games. It can’t be of much consolation to the Orioles, who have tried a managerial change but don’t figure to start winning at least until their two big guns, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Eddie Murray, start hitting.

The Orioles have scored only 17 runs. Ripken is hitless in his last 29 at-bats, while Murray has only one home run. The Orioles are hitless the last 26 times with runners in scoring position.

The Washington Senators in 1904 and the Detroit Tigers in 1920 both opened with 13 consecutive defeats. The Orioles can tie the record by losing at Milwaukee Tuesday night.

The Indians’ turnaround can be attributed to pitching. In a season in which, at the start at least, the league is down a run a game, the Indians are largely responsible.

Last season, the Indians’ pitching was the absolute worst in baseball. They had a 5.28 earned-run average, giving up almost 1,000 runs. With youngsters Greg Swindell and Farrell leading the way, the ERA is now below 2.00.

Farrell, who has won seven of his eight decisions since joining the Indians late last season, gave up 4 hits in 8 innings. Dan Schatzeder got the last two outs.

After losing the first six, the Orioles fired Manager Cal Ripken, Sr. The new manager, Frank Robinson, has now also lost six.

“Losing 12 or 13 is one thing but what makes it doubly tough is that we haven’t won a game,” Robinson said. “It’s that we’re 0-and whatever.”

Boston 15, Texas 2--The sun broke through in Boston, the temperature climbed into the 50s and the Red Sox were finally able to take pregame batting practice.

They continued the batting practice assault on five Ranger pitchers, pounding out 20 hits and making it easy for Bruce Hurst (2-0) to win, as usual, at Fenway Park.

Mike Greenwell led the Red Sox attack. He hit his first home run and two singles and drove in a career-high six runs.

Rick Cerone, signed Thursday after being released by the Yankees, had four hits, including a double, in his first start behind the plate for the Red Sox.

Hurst, staked to a 10-0 lead in the first two innings, pitched a four-hitter to improve his record at home to 19-5.

Toronto 2, Minnesota 0--It took a long time for management to see it his way, but George Bell is officially the Blue Jays’ left fielder again. Rick Leach and Juan Beniquez will divide the designated hitter duties assigned to Bell in the spring.

“We feel we need to make changes,” Manager Jimy Williams said. “I’m not averse to change.”

The Blue Jays ended a four-game losing streak at Toronto, but it was the pitching of Mike Flanagan, not hitting that was responsible. The veteran left-hander gave up five hits in seven innings for his second victory. Tom Henke pitched the last two innings for his second save.

The world champion Twins, off to a 4-6 start, are just 2-5 on the road. Last season they had the worst road record.

The Blue Jays had to put Jimmy Key, last year’s ERA leader on the disabled list because of a tender elbow. He was hammered by the Yankees last Thursday.

Milwaukee 6, New York 3--A little back problem wasn’t about to prevent Teddy Higuera from facing his favorite team in this game at Milwaukee.

Higuera almost made it all the way but needed help with one out in the ninth to improve his record to 2-0 for the season and 8-1 lifetime against the Yankees He gave up seven hits, but only two earned runs before Dan Plesac rescued him in the ninth.

Although Greg Brock hit a three-run home run Saturday to help win the game, Manager Tom Trebelhorn was dying to get a look at his big man.

So, he put 6-3, 260-pound Joey Meyer on first base. With the score tied, 1-1, in the fourth inning, Meyer lined a home run just inside the right-field foul pole to hand John Candelaria (1-1) his first loss. Robin Yount and Rob Deer also homered for the Brewers.

Since Manager Billy Martin benched shortstop Rafael Santana after blaming him for a defeat, the Yankees are 3-2.

Detroit 8, Kansas City 6--George Brett joined a select group when he hit a home run that cleared the roof at Tiger Stadium, but his two home runs left the Royals still short.

The first batter to hit one out of Tiger Stadium was Ted Williams, a Boston rookie in 1939. Mickey Mantle did it three times.

Chet Lemon extended his streak to all 10 games and drove in two runs as the Tigers barely overcame Brett’s slugging. Brett, who will be 35 next month, has four home runs already.

Chicago 7, Oakland 6--Lance Johnson drove in two runs with a double to spark a five-run fourth inning at Oakland, and the White Sox staggered to a win in a wild game.

There was a near brawl in the first inning when Oakland slugger Mark McGwire became angry when hit by a pitch by rookie Jack McDowell. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown.

Bobby Thigpen worked out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the ninth, giving up one run on a fly. He struck out Ron Hassey for the second out and got Don Baylor on a pop to end it.

OH-FOR-THE-SEASON

Year Team Record 1904 Washington Senators 0-13 1920 Detroit Tigers 0-13 1988 Baltimore Orioles 0-12 1968 Chicago White Sox 0-10 1988 Atlanta Braves 0-10 1918 Brooklyn Dodgers 0-9 1919 Boston Braves 0-9 1983 Houston Astros 0-9 1962 New York Mets 0-9 1914 Cleveland Indians 0-8 1945 Boston Red Sox 0-8 1952 Detroit Tigers 0-8 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates 0-8 1963 New York Mets 0-8