American League Roundup : Allen Comes Back to Haunt Piniella and Yankees, 8-0

The New York Yankees are trying to make a run at the division championship in the American League East with a pitching staff in disarray. The ace, Ron Guidry, is ailing and most of the others are ineffective or also hurt.

It was like rubbing salt in a wound as Manager Lou Piniella watched Neil Allen, a pitcher he discarded last winter, mow down his Yankees Sunday at New York.

The newest ace of the Chicago White Sox held the Yankees to two hits and, with Ron Kittle hitting two home runs, breezed to an 8-0 victory.

It was Allen’s second consecutive shutout and improved his record to 7-1. Until he blanked Baltimore last Sunday, Allen had not pitched a complete game since 1983.

Several years ago, Allen was a good relief pitcher for the New York Mets. His career has gone steadily downhill in recent years. Early this season with the White Sox it appeared about over. In four relief appearances he had an earned-run average of 13.50. The White Sox needed another starter and, in desperation, turned to Allen, 28, on May 4.

In two outings against Cleveland, he pitched 14 innings, giving up only two runs. He continued to pitch well, and lately, has been superb.

Allen gives credit to new Manager Jim Fregosi and pitching coach Dick Bosman. “They have been working with me on changing speeds and getting the breaking ball over,” Allen said. “They also want me to have a purpose for every pitch.”

The White Sox jumped on the beleaguered Yankee staff for 15 hits. Bob Shirley (0-4), a last-minute starter because Bob Tewksbury has a sore arm, was the loser. Shirley served up a pitch that Kittle hit more than 430 feet in the second inning. It was his first extra base hit this month.

Rickey Henderson, who had one of the two Yankee hits, said he was surprised that Shirley was the starter.

“We’ve got to develop a pitching rotation,” he said. “Right now no one knows who’s pitching.”

Seattle 9, Boston 5--Scott Bradley, who had only 10 runs batted in this season going into this game at Seattle, lashed a three-run pinch home run and added a two-run single for his biggest game in a brief major league career.

It was the fourth loss in five games for the slumping Red Sox, but they remained six games in front in the East. They jumped off to a 3-0 lead, but the Mariners scored four in the second and five in the sixth.

Detroit 4, Texas 0--”Who was that kid?” Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine asked after his slumping team lost its fourth in a row at Detroit. That kid was Eric King and he blanked the Rangers on six hits to improve his record to 6-2.

Kirk Gibson set a major league record when he drove in the winning run for the fifth game in a row. He did it with a grounder in the third inning.

Milwaukee 7-2, Oakland 2-4--Jose Rijo pitched a gem in the second game of a doubleheader at Oakland to get the A’s a split. Rijo (4-8) struck out 12 and gave up seven hits in pitching his second complete game. One of the hits was Gorman Thomas’ first homer since rejoining the Brewers.

In the opener Ted Higuera pitched a strong seven innings to improve his record to 11-7. Ernest Riles hit a three-run homer in the fourth to give Higuera the offense he needed.

Baltimore 8, Minnesota 3--Jim Traber, in only his second game as replacement for injured first baseman Eddie Murray, endeared himself to Manager Earl Weaver of the Orioles in this game at Baltimore. He used Weaver’s favorite weapon, a three-run homer, to lead the Orioles to victory.

Kansas City 3, Cleveland 2--Instead of taking the offered day off at Kansas City, Royals’ second baseman Frank White stayed around to beat the Indians. He doubled and scored the tying run in the seventh and hit the first pitch delivered by Dickie Noles in the bottom of the ninth for his 12th home run to win it.