American League Roundup : Blue Jays’ Key Pitches Two-Hitter

Left-hander Jimmy Key has been rather unfortunate. He pitches on the same team as Dave Stieb, a hard-throwing right-hander who gets the headlines whether he’s winning or losing.

Statistically, over the last four seasons, Key has been the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching staff with a 57-30 record, but he is not well known.

Last season, despite missing 2 1/2 months, he was 12-5. Stieb, bouncing back from elbow trouble, was 16-8, rating raves for his comeback. He is 50-42 over the last four seasons.

But Key’s performance has not gone unnoticed by Toronto management. He was selected to start the home opener for the third consecutive year. On the final opening day, at Exhibition Stadium, Key was nearly perfect.

He gave up two hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter as the Blue Jays beat Kansas City, 3-0, Friday.

Key had a no-hitter until Kevin Seitzer broke it up with a clean single leading off the seventh inning. Despite his brilliance, he was only even with Charlie Leibrandt (0-1) until Nelson Liriano hit a two-run single in the seventh.

“I have to win as much as I can before we move into the domed stadium in June,” Key said. “I’ve never been too good pitching indoors. This is a hitter’s park, but I’ve pitched well here.”

Still, Key failed to match Stieb’s most recent effort. Stieb, who closed out last season with consecutive one-hitters, had another one-hitter in his second start this season, last Monday in New York.

“If we both pitch this way,” Key said, “we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

Oakland 7, Chicago 4--The Athletics didn’t bring their power to Chicago, and Comiskey Park, nearing the end of its existence, had a power failure in the White Sox opener.

The power outage in the eighth inning disabled scoreboards, elevators, lights in the clubhouse and pumps, causing the dugouts to flood.

Oakland’s 1-2 punch of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco was missing because of injuries, but Carney Lansford provided all the punch that Dave Stewart needed to win his third game in a row.

Lansford had two doubles and two singles, scoring three runs. Stewart, who has won nine in a row in April over the last three seasons, went 6 1/3 innings. He gave up seven hits and three runs, but only one of them was earned. His only problem was Harold Baines, who drove in three Chicago runs.

New York 8, Minnesota 5--Steve Balboni, booed earlier at Yankee Stadium, hit a grand slam in the fifth inning off Frank Viola to put the Yankees in front.

After the Twins took their star left-hander off the hook, New York catcher Don Slaught broke the 5-5 tie with a two-run single in the seventh, and the Yankees won their second in a row.

Al Leiter, the winner, threw 161 pitches before leaving with nobody out in the ninth.

Texas 4, Detroit 2--Rick Leach hit a pinch single in the eighth inning at Detroit to drive in two runs, break a 2-2 tie and give the Rangers their sixth victory in a row.

It seems that the off-season trade helped both the Rangers and the Cubs. While Mitch Williams is saving games for the Cubs, Jamie Moyer is 2-0 with the Rangers.

Matt Nokes hit a two-run home run in the second inning for the Tigers. Doyle Alexander gave up six hits and two runs in seven innings.

Boston 7, Baltimore 4--As a youngster, John Dopson dreamed of playing for the Orioles. Now, in his first American League start, he beat the Orioles at Boston.

Dopson gave up only three hits and struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings. He was removed after throwing 129 pitches in 35-degree weather.

Milwaukee 8, Cleveland 4--Paul Molitor, activated earlier in the day, hit a two-run home run at Milwaukee to help the Brewers end a three-game losing streak.

Backup catcher Charlie O’Brien had a pair of doubles as the Brewers scored more runs than they did in the three games they lost.