American League Roundup : John Wins 10th, With Some Help From Royals

Tommy John didn’t think he had much, but thanks to a little help from the Kansas City Royals, it was enough.

“Tonight my fastball was so-so and nothing was down,� said John (10-3), who allowed three runs in six innings Thursday as the New York Yankees defeated the Royals, 6-3, to send Kansas City to its 21st loss in its last 24 games at Yankee Stadium.

Kansas City has now lost 17 of 21 and scored only four runs in the three-game sweep by the Yankees.

“When I warmed up, I felt good and the ball was sinking, but when I went to the mound, it was totally different,� said John, who recorded his 274th career victory and moved into sole possession of 24th place on the all-time victory list. The 44-year-old left-hander now has more wins in a season than in any year since 1983 when he was 11-13 with the Angels.

John got the help he needed when the Yankees scored three times in the fifth off Bud Black (4-6), due partly to two defensive lapses by the Royals.

Bo Jackson misjudged a fly ball by Henry Cotto and then slipped as the ball fell for a single. Catcher Mike Macfarlane misplayed a rundown, allowing Cotto to score from third on Dave Winfield’s ground ball.

“They were both on third, and I tagged Cotto,� said Macfarlane, who took a throw from shortstop Angel Salazar and ran Cotto back to third, where Don Mattingly was already standing.

“I didn’t hear ‘safe’ or ‘out’ or anything, I just assumed. Obviously, I assumed wrong,� said Macfarlane, who chased Mattingly back toward second while Cotto scored. Juan Bonilla later singled to drive in Mattingly.

Cleveland 6, Baltimore 4--Cory Snyder ended an 0-for-20 slump with a two-run homer in the 10th inning, giving the Indians a victory over the Orioles at Cleveland.

The loss was only the third in the last 15 games for Baltimore.

Carmen Castillo hit a one-out single off Mark Williamson (5-7) before Snyder hit his 22nd home run.

The Orioles had runners at first and third in the top of the 10th when Indians reliever Sammy Stewart (4-1) struck out Baltimore’s Mike Young on a 3-2 pitch.

The Indians trailed 4-2 entering the eighth, but Joe Carter led off with a bunt single. Brook Jacoby then tied the game with his career-high 21st home run, his third hit of the night.

Eddie Murray lined a two-run homer to left, his 23rd, off Cleveland starter Steve Carlton to put Baltimore ahead 3-2 in the sixth. Ray Knight then hit his ninth homer of the season to make it 4-2.

Floyd Rayford gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth with another bases-empty home run, his second. Both of Rayford’s home runs have come off Carlton, and the homer was the 400th Carlton has allowed in his career.

Cleveland scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth off Baltimore starter Mike Flanagan on a sacrifice fly by Andy Allanson and a run-scoring single by Pat Tabler.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 1--Glenn Braggs hit a triple, double and single to lead the Brewers over the White Sox at Milwaukee.

Braggs, Paul Molitor, who had two hits, and Bill Schroeder each drove in two runs.

The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the sixth against Neil Allen (0-5). Molitor doubled, Robin Yount walked, the runners executed a double steal and Braggs hit a two-run single.

Molitor hit a two-run double in the seventh after singles by Schroeder and Ernest Riles. Schroeder hit a two-run double in the eighth.

Mark Knudson (1-2) earned his first American League and second major league victory, giving up one run on six hits over six innings. Chuck Crim pitched hitless relief for the final 2 innings for his first major league save.