American League Roundup : Candelaria Dazzles A’s by Allowing Two Hits

Before the weekend series began, Manager Billy Martin of the New York Yankees decided the way to beat the sizzling Oakland Athletics was to do it with speed.

He was counting on Rickey Henderson, the major league’s leading base stealer, to lead a baserunning bonanza.

As it turned out, the Yankees won two out of three in the battle of the division leaders at New York, but they didn’t do it the way Martin envisioned.

Henderson didn’t steal a base, but the Yankees held the Athletics’ powerful one-two punch of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire without a hit in the series.

John Candelaria did the job Sunday. The veteran left-hander held the heavy-hitting Athletics to two hits and Jack Clark’s two-run home run in the fourth gave the Yankees a 2-0 victory.

For the three games, Canseco and McGwire, who have led the Athletics to a runaway lead in the West, went a combined 0 for 22. Even when the Athletics pounded out an 11-3 victory Friday, they did it without any help from the two young sluggers.

Candelaria (6-2) retired the first 14 batters, striking out half of them. Dave Henderson broke the string when he lined a double to left-center with two out in the fifth. Candelaria finished with 13 strikeouts. The only other Oakland baserunner was Carney Lansford, who singled in the sixth.

Despite his sensational performance, Candelaria was happier about something else. With the Yankees beginning a trip against the Angels at Anaheim, he’ll be at home in Laguna Hills.

“It will be nice to sleep on my own pillow,” said Candelaria, who was traded by the Angels to the Yankees late last September and is 8-2 as a Yankee.

It was the fourth complete game this season for Candelaria, the most since 1980 when he had seven for Pittsburgh. He lowered his earned-run average to 2.20 with his first shutout since Aug. 9, 1986.

Candelaria added to the misery of Canseco and McGwire by striking them out twice apiece. He fanned Don Baylor three times.

Cleveland 8, Kansas City 7--The Yankees are unable to shake their closest pursuers in the East. After Julio Franco’s three-run home run in the ninth tied the score at Kansas City, the Indians won in the 10th to remain one-half game behind New York.

The Indians beat the Royals’ new bullpen ace, Gene Garber, who missed a save when he threw the home run ball to Franco. With two out in the 10th, Mel Hall doubled on an 0 and 2 pitch and Brook Jacoby was given an intentional walk before Ron Washington bounced a single up the middle to drive in the winning run.

The finish spoiled a big game for George Brett. Brett drove in five runs, four of them on three two-out doubles.

Detroit 3, Chicago 1--The Tigers also are definitely a contender in the East. The comeback of Walt Terrell is a major factor.

Terrell, who suffered an ankle injury in training camp and missed the first month of the season, pitched a five-hitter at Chicago as the Tigers won their fifth in a row.

It was the second complete game in five starts for Terrell (2-1), who gives the Tigers a strong starting staff.

The Tigers, in handing the White Sox their seventh consecutive defeat, gave Terrell all the support he needed with two runs in the second inning. Pat Sheridan singled home one run and Lou Whitaker walked with the bases loaded to force in the other.

Baltimore 7, Seattle 2--They’re not exactly dancing in the streets in Baltimore, but the Orioles have finally won two games in a row.

Rookie Juan Bautista and Mike Morgan combined on a five-hitter and Cal Ripken and Larry Sheets each hit two-run home runs. The Orioles are 8-34.

Milwaukee 7, Toronto 1--The sharp pitching of Mike Birkbeck at Milwaukee enabled the Brewers to end a four-game losing streak.

Birkbeck, replacing ailing Juan Nieves, gave up just three hits in 6 innings to improve his record to 2-3. Glenn Braggs and Robin Yount hit home runs for the Brewers.

Minnesota 15-4, Texas 5-2--After pounding out 16 hits--including Tim Laudner’s home run--to romp in the opening game of a doubleheader, the Twins found themselves in a scoreless game until the ninth inning of the nightcap at Arlington, Tex.

But Gary Gaetti broke up a duel between Twins’ ace Frank Viola and the Rangers’ Jose Guzman, when he hit a grand slam with two out in the ninth.