AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McDowell Loses No-Hitter Early, but Wins With a One-Hitter, 15-1

There was no suspense at all in the one-hitter Jack McDowell pitched Sunday at Milwaukee in the Chicago White Sox’s 15-1 romp.

Paul Molitor hit the third pitch thrown by the big right-hander from Van Nuys for a home run. From then on McDowell (11-4) was in complete control. He struck out four and walked only one.

The Brewers held the lead until Robin Ventura’s two-run double triggered a five-run third inning that sent the White Sox to the easy victory.

More important than the one-hitter, though, is the emergence of McDowell, a 25-year-old in only his fourth major league season, as the ace of the staff.

McDowell won for the sixth time in his last eight starts and moved the White Sox to within 3 1/2 games of Minnesota in the American League West.

“One fastball that got away,” McDowell said. “It was really the only mistake I made. As soon as we started scoring, though, it became tougher to concentrate.”

Molitor, who has hit 31 home runs leading off a game, praised the 6-foot-5 former Stanford pitcher.

“He’s getting smart,” Molitor said. “He was aggressive today. In a close game, he tries to get more strikeouts. Today he threw a lot of ground balls and let the defense do the work. He wasn’t worried about strikeouts. It shows how far he’s come.”

The White Sox made it easy for McDowell. They hammered out 15 hits and drew nine walks. Rookie outfielder Warren Newson hit his first home run and drove in four runs.

Newson’s three-run home run climaxed the big third inning, and Tim Raines singled in two more in the fourth.

There were some people who felt the White Sox brought up McDowell too soon in 1987 after only six minor league games. He won three starts late in the season and a bright future was predicted.

But he struggled in 1988, going 5-10 with an earned-run average of 3.97 and spent the next season in the minors. He definitely was ready in 1990, winning 14 games and pitching 205 innings.

Now, Manager Jeff Torborg is counting on McDowell to lead the drive to the pennant.

Boston 5, Minnesota 3--It was so long since Joe Hesketh won as a starter, the veteran left-hander couldn’t remember it.

But he answered the desperate call of the Red Sox with seven strong innings at Minneapolis and ended Boston’s four-game losing streak.

Once a promising prospect with the Montreal Expos, Hesketh, 32, gave up seven hits and two runs, walked none and struck out four in winning as a starter for the first time in more than five years. It was only his fourth start since his last victory as a starter on June 28, 1986.

Hesketh was a 10-game winner for the Expos in 1985, his first season. But on July 4, 1986 he went on the disabled list with an arm injury that all but ended his career. He made it back as a reliever, but was 0-4 last season with the Red Sox.

“I prefer to start,” Hesketh (3-1) said. “It brings back old memories when I was successful as a starter. But, it doesn’t change anything. When they give me the ball, I just try to do the best I can.”

Luis Rivera sparked the Red Sox offense, getting three hits, scoring three runs and driving in another. In the last 16 games the shortstop is 21 for 54 (.389).

Jack Clark drove in two runs and may be emerging from a horrible slump. The Red Sox designated hitter drove in 15 runs in the first 45 games, has 23 in the last 27.

Kansas City 18, Detroit 4--Brian McRae helped make life a little easier for his father, Hal, the Royals’ manager.

The young center fielder hit two home runs, including his first grand slam, and drove in six runs at Detroit.

Mike Macfarlane also continued his hot hitting and added two home runs. George Brett and newcomer Todd Benzinger also homered to give the Royals a club-record six.

Oakland 3, Baltimore 2--Jose Canseco continues to do his part for the Athletics.

After the Orioles pushed over a run in the top of the 11th, Canseco delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the inning and the A’s moved to within 3 1/2 games of the top.

“It’s most satisfying to beat Gregg Olson on a day when he was tough,” A’s Manager Tony La Russa said. “He is some reliever.”

Seattle 14, Cleveland 3--After getting his single, triple and home run early at Seattle, Edgar Martinez thought sure he would be the first Mariner to hit for the cycle.

But in his last three efforts, he had a sacrifice fly, a single and a walk. But he did score four runs and raise his average to .309.

“I was trying,” he said. “I wanted it, but I couldn’t get one in the gap.”

Texas 8, Toronto 6--The Rangers ended their three-game losing streak at Toronto and moved to within two games of first place in the West, but it wasn’t easy.

Texas built an 8-3, but before Jeff Russell could straighten out the shaky bullpen, Joe Carter had hit his second home run of the game and the Blue Jays had the tying runs on base.

Russell retired the last four batters to end Toronto’s six-game winning streak.

Goose Gossage made two pitches in relief of John Barfield (4-3) and Kelly Gruber hit the second for a two-run home run to cut the lead to two runs.