American League Roundup : Kilgus Settles for 1-Hitter After Double in 8th

A few years ago, the Texas Rangers built their hopes on three strong young arms----Bobby Witt, Ed Correa and Jose Guzman.

Correa is hurt and Witt never learned control. But once again, the Rangers are building around three strong young arms----Guzman, Brian Hayward and Paul Kilgus.

It was Kilgus’ turn Saturday night at Arlington, Tex., and the 26-year-old left-hander was almost perfect.

He retired the first 21 Minnesota Twins he faced before Gary Gaetti spoiled his dream with a lead-off double in the eighth. Kilgus settled for a one-hitter and a 3-0 victory.

Kilgus, in his second season, is 6-3; Hayward, obtained from the Chicago Cubs before the season opened, is 3-0; while Guzman, now a veteran of 25, is 4-2. And, the Rangers have quietly moved into second place in the West, seven games behind Oakland.

The Rangers gave Kilgus all the support he needed in the first inning, getting two runs. In the seventh, Pete Incaviglia hit a 414-foot home run off Bert Blyleven (3-3), his 10th home run of the season.

It was the second shutout and fourth victory this month for Kilgus, who has suddenly blossomed into a winner.

After an undistinguished career at the University of Kentucky, Kilgus was chosen on the 43rd round of the 1984 June draft. There followed three mediocre minor league seasons.

Last year at Oklahoma City in the American Assn., he won two games in relief, then was brought up to the Rangers on June 25. Once again he wasn’t impressive. He was 2-7 with an ERA of 4.13.

Kilgus could find no fault with the hit that foiled his dream.

“I was thinking perfect game the whole way--I was aware of it all the time,” Kilgus said.

“Gaetti is a good hitter, but I got the pitch basically where I wanted it. Maybe, it was just a little high. He tagged it.

“I walked the next guy, but I still felt fine. I was glad to get the chance to finish.”

New York 3, Oakland 2--When he went on the disabled list April 29 with a lower back problem, Rick Rhoden was 1-3 with an ERA of 6.04.

In good health, he was a much more effective pitcher upon his return in this game at New York. Rhoden, given a three-run cushion in the first inning, went five innings, giving up a run and five hits.

The leaders of the two divisions are 1-1 in their first two meetings of the year. The Athletics have to feel fortunate, because their two big guns, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, are 0 for 16 in the two games.

Curt Young (3-2), who had walked only eight batters in 38 innings, walked three batters in the first inning, one of them forcing in a run. He gave up one hit in the inning. The other two runs scored on a balk and a sacrifice fly.

Cleveland 9, Kansas City 5--A big reason why the Indians are hanging close to the Yankees is their ability to beat left-handers.

In this game at Kansas City, Julio Franco, Ron Kittle and Cory Snyder hit home runs as the Indians pounded Floyd Bannister for eight runs in seven innings and improved their record against left-handers to 10-1.

Snyder has homered in three consecutive games and has 10. Danny Tartabull hit two home runs for the Royals and has nine.

Toronto 4, Milwaukee 0--Dave Stieb has apparently recovered from the elbow problems that plagued him much of the last two seasons.

The veteran right-hander gave up six hits in seven innings at Milwaukee to win his fifth in a row. It was the first time Stieb (6-3) had beaten the Brewers since September, 1985.

Although reached for 11 hits, including Lloyd Moseby’s 400-foot home run, Chris Bosio (6-4) pitched his league-leading seventh complete game.

Detroit 3, Chicago 1--Without much help from either slugger Darrell Evans or hard-throwing right-hander Jack Morris, the Tigers have been hanging tough in the East.

Evans and Morris were factors in this game at Chicago to lead the Tigers to their fourth win in a row. It was the sixth loss in a row for the White Sox.

Evans, who hit 104 home runs in the last three years, hit only his second of this season to help Morris win for only the second time in his seven decisions. Before tiring, Morris (4-5), went seven innings, giving up just five hits.

Baltimore 3, Seattle 1--Keith Hughes tripled home Billy Ripken in the eighth inning at Baltimore to assure the Orioles of just their 7th victory in 41 games. Former Dodger Tom Niedenfuer retired the last two Mariners to save the win for Jeff Ballard (1-0).