American League Roundup : Stieb Concludes Hot May With a 1-Hitter

The Toronto Blue Jays opened the season with high hopes, but injuries, slumps and pitching problems have made for a terrible year.

It has gotten so bad that Juan Beniquez, after being released the other day, put all the blame on management. He said the organization played with the players minds all spring. He said that was the main reason for the terrible beginning.

So far, one of the few bright spots has been the pitching of Dave Stieb. Even he started poorly, with one win in his first four decisions.

Stieb climaxed a sensational May by pitching a one-hitter Tuesday at Toronto in beating the Milwaukee Brewers, 9-0.

In improving his record for the month to 6-0 with an earned-run average of 2.34, the hard-throwing right-hander did not walk a batter. The only blemish was a fourth-inning single by B.J. Surhoff.

“This was my best game ever,” Stieb said. “The numbers. No walks. One hit.”

Stieb’s first shutout since last July was his seventh victory. The Blue Jays’ record when Stieb doesn’t get a decision is 14-26.

The Blue Jays made it easy for the 30-year-old right-hander. They hammered Chris Bosio (6-6) for six hits and six runs in the second inning. Tony Fernandez had the big blow, a double with the bases loaded.

There is no doubt that Stieb has made a complete recovery from an elbow injury that almost ended his career in 1986.

“I feel great,” he said. “I’m moving the ball around and I have good control. It makes it easier. It also helps to be free of pain.”

Chicago 10, Detroit 1--In his other 200 victories, Jerry Reuss probably never had an easier time than he did in this win at Detroit.

Ivan Calderon hit a two-run homer in the first, Gary Redus hit a grand slam in the second and Ron Karkovice hit a three-run shot in the third and Reuss had a 10-0 cushion.

Reuss (3-2) gave up six hits and no runs in seven innings.

Frank Tanana (8-3) left after Redus hit the slam.

Kansas City 6, Cleveland 3--Bill Buckner broke a 10th-inning tie with a sacrifice fly at Cleveland and Scotti Madison and Jamie Quirk followed with run-scoring singles.

Willie Wilson, who drove in the first three Kansas City runs, two of them with a two-out single in the seventh, opened the extra inning with a bloop single. George Brett also singled. After Danny Tartabull singled to load the bases, Buckner delivered the flyball.

Julio Franco of the Indians beat out an infield hit in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. The Royals’ Bo Jackson had two hits and has hit in eight in a row.

However, Jackson pulled a muscle running out an infield single in the ninth and had to leave the game.

Minnesota 8, Texas 6--Paul Kilgus appeared on his way to his seventh victory until he blew his cool at Minneapolis.

Kilgus, leading 6-2, appeared to get a double play to help him out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. But when a balk was called, Kilgus protested and was ejected.

The Rangers didn’t score again and the Twins went on to win.

Dan Gladden had four hits to lead the Twins’ 13-hit attack.

Baltimore 12, Seattle 5--It was a night of delight at Seattle for the lowly Orioles.

Cal Ripkin, Fred Lynn and Rene Gonzales hit home runs and Larry Sheets had three doubles and a single. It was only the fourth road win in 27 games for the Orioles.

New York 5, Oakland 0--Neil Allen didn’t get a complete game at Oakland, but the Yankee right-hander held the heavy-hitting Athletics to three hits in nine innings.

Allen replaced starter Al Leiter, who was injured after throwing just one pitch. Carney Lansford hit a line drive back at Leiter that hit him in the pitching arm and the left-hander had to leave the game.

Allen retired the first 19 batters he faced.

Mike Pagliarulo and Dave Winfield both drove in two runs for the Yankees. Winfield leads the majors in runs batted in with 48.