AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Saberhagen, Davis Add Aura to Royal Win

Perhaps Bret Saberhagen doesn’t know this is a year ending in an even number. Or maybe, with Mark Davis around, it won’t make any difference.

With Saberhagen starting and Davis finishing Saturday at Kansas City in the Royals’ 3-1 victory over Toronto, major league history was made. It was the first time a team had both reigning Cy Young Award winners figure in the victory.

Saberhagen, the American League winner for the second time with a 23-6 record last season, gave up six hits in 7 1/3 innings to win it. Davis, who had 44 saves at San Diego to win the National League award, pitched a perfect ninth to save it. In three appearances after signing as a free agent with the Royals, Davis has retired all seven batters he has faced.

Saberhagen, who has had problems in even years and pitched brilliantly in odd-numbered years, is off to a 1-0 start.

As a rookie in 1984, Saberhagen was 10-11. In 1985, he was 20-6 and won the award for the first time. The next year he was 7-12. But, in 1987, he bounced back to 18-10. In 1988, he fell to 14-16.

With that record, it would figure he might be in store for a below-.500 season in 1990.

“Wrong,” Saberhagen said. “This year, things are going to be different. I really worked hard over the winter. I am in great shape and having Mark, the best reliever in the game, can’t hurt.

“He should get plenty of opportunities like this. With Monty (Jeff Montgomery) setting him up, Mark will get the chances.”

Montgomery was the finisher last season, getting 18 saves. When Saberhagen faltered in the eighth, Montgomery came in to get the last two outs.

Bo Jackson scored two runs and had three hits, two of them doubles. In the second inning, he singled off Todd Stottlemyre (0-2), stole second and scored on Willie Wilson’s double.

In the fourth, Jackson hit what appeared to be a routine single in front of Toronto center fielder Mookie Wilson and legged it into a double, then scored on Jim Eisenreich’s single.

Texas 8, New York 4--Throughout his career, Nolan Ryan has probably lost more well-pitched games than just about anyone. So, the 43-year-old power pitcher wasn’t about to turn down his 291st victory just because of a mediocre performance.

Ryan, who pitched five hitless innings to win on opening day, gave up 10 hits and four runs in seven innings at New York. He is 6-0 against the Yankees since losing to them in Anaheim for the Angels in May, 1977.

“I didn’t have my good stuff today,” Ryan said. “But some days you get the breaks. My fastball wasn’t as good as it was the other day, but my control was better.”

Don Mattingly, usually a slow starter, had three hits off Ryan and is six for 12 this season.

Boston 4, Milwaukee 3--Roger Clemens is throwing hard again and so is Lee Smith. That means the Red Sox are off to a good start.

Clemens struck out 10 batters for the 39th time in his career in this game at Boston. He gave up eight hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings and the Red Sox won for the 7,000th time.

Rob Murphy bailed out Clemens in the seventh and Smith got the last four outs for his third save.

Chris Bosio blanked the Red Sox with two hits in five innings. He left with a 2-0 lead. The Red Sox jumped on Don August for all their runs in the sixth inning. A suicide squeeze by Luis Rivera drove in the go-ahead run and Wade Boggs singled home the fourth.

Baltimore 7, Detroit 4--Two years ago, the Orioles were the doormat of the American League. Last year they were the big surprise.

In this game at Detroit, the Tigers, who lost 103 games last season, most resembled a doormat. They made five errors to present the Orioles with three unearned runs.

Dave Johnson gave up eight hits but only two runs in 5 1/3 innings to win it, and Gregg Olson, the rookie bullpen sensation of last season, pitched two scoreless innings to save it.

Oakland 5, Seattle 2--Dave Stewart continued to be nearly perfect in April. He held the Mariners to two hits in 6 2/3 innings at Seattle to win his second in a row. He is 16-0 in April the last three years.

Dave Henderson and Mike Gallego homered for the Athletics (4-1).

Stewart, going after his fourth consecutive 20-victory season, is 12-0 against the Mariners.

Chicago 9, Cleveland 4--Sammy Sosa led an extra-base barrage at Chicago with two triples in a romp over the Indians.

The White Sox pounded out 15 hits, six of them for extra bases.

Melido Perez needed help in the seventh, but posted his first win. Greg Swindell was the loser.