American League Roundup : Odell Jones Loses His No-Hitter in the Ninth but Wins for Brewers, 2-0

Odell Jones was living a dream. In his first major league start in seven years, the 35-year-old right-hander from Tulare, Calif., went into the ninth inning Saturday night pitching a no-hitter.

With one out, Ron Washington got a pinch-hit single to spoil the no-hitter, but Jones still got in the win in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians

Washington, who was 10 for 36, hit a hanging curveball, Jones’ 101st pitch. It was also Jones’ last pitch. Dan Plesac came in to get the final two outs and gave up one other hit.

Jones struck out seven and had a perfect game until he walked Mel Hall on a 3-and-2 fastball with one out in the eighth.

Jones, who began his major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1975 and has spent most of his career in the minors, barely made the Brewers. He was the 10th man on a 10-man staff.

Injuries have hurt the pitching staff and Jones, who figured to do mostly mop-up work, has become a valuable member of the staff with his 3-0 record.

Last Monday, Jones was summoned from the bullpen when Teddy Higuera reinjured his back in a game with the Toronto Blue Jays and couldn’t come out for the second inning.

Jones, throwing a 90 m.p.h. fastball, gave up just two hits and a run in five innings to get the victory.

With Higuera, Juan Nieves and Bill Wegman injured, Manager Tom Trebelhorn decided to give Jones his first start since Sept. 13, 1981.

“I kind of looked up at the board tonight and thought, ‘What in the world am I doing?’ ” Jones told the Associated Press. “After the fifth or sixth inning I was really bearing down trying to get it.

“And then, they sent up a guy (Washington) I never could figure out how to get out. He’s hit me well for a long time. I faced him many times in the minors last year.

“After the hit, it really hit me hard. I was totally exhausted. I was overextending myself. I had been too nervous to get tired.”

Jones has not thrown a shutout. In 44 starts in the majors, he has four complete games. But his earned-run average for 27 innings as a Brewer is 2.25.

Oakland 7, Boston 5--The Athletics have so much ability, they aren’t fazed when someone such as Dave Stewart goes into a slump.

Stewart, who opened the season by winning his first eight starts, failed for the fourth time to win his ninth. In this game at Oakland, the Athletics gave Stewart a 3-1 lead in the first, but by the sixth he needed help.

Rick Honeycutt (1-0) and Dennis Eckersley shut down the Red Sox the final 3 innings. Eckersley picked up his 16th save in 17th opportunities.

Jose Canseco emerged from a 2-for-33 slump with a double and two singles, scoring twice and driving in a run.

Seattle 6, New York 1--Mickey Brantley hit a grand slam in the first inning at Seattle and the Mariners breezed as Bill Swift (5-1) had the Yankees hitting the ball into the artificial turf.

Swift set a major league record by getting the Yankees to hit 22 ground balls for outs. With two double plays, he got 24 of 27 outs on ground balls.

Swift had a no-hitter through four innings. There was only one fly-ball out, and the only other ball hit into the air was Dave Winfield’s double off the left-field wall in the fifth to set up the only Yankee run.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 2--Gary Gaetti hit a two-run homer in a three-run eighth inning at Minneapolis to lead the Twins to their seventh victory in a row.

Keith Atherton (3-1) got the win with 1 innings of relief. Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth for his 11th save. He has five saves in the winning streak.

Kirby Puckett hit a two-run home run in the third. The Tigers scored in the seventh, and Pat Sheridan’s third homer tied it in the eighth.

Chicago 3, Toronto 2--Melido Perez gave up just three hits in six innings at Toronto and, with help from Jerry Reuss and Bobby Thigpen, improved his record to 5-1.

Reuss, in a rare relief appearance, gave up just 1 hit in 2 innings, but Thigpen got the last out for his eighth save.

Kansas City 8, Texas 6--Charlie Hough had a 6-4 lead going into the seventh inning at Kansas City, but two errors contributed to four unearned runs and the Royals ended a seven-game losing streak--all at home.

George Brett had three hits and drove in three runs for the Royals.