AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : No Laughing Matter This Time as Johnson Pitch Hits Greenwell

Everyone laughed when John Kruk almost ran for cover after Randy Johnson’s fastball went sailing over his head during Tuesday’s All-Star game.

But few were amused--least of all the Boston Red Sox--when Johnson lost control of a pitch Sunday at Fenway Park. The sight and sound of Johnson’s fastball hitting Mike Greenwell in the helmet and knocking him down at home plate terrified players and fans during Boston’s 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

The sound of ball hitting helmet could be heard in much of Fenway Park. Luckily, Greenwell turned out to have nothing more than a bad headache.

Johnson, aware of the damage his fastballs can cause, rushed off the mound to check on Greenwell and later tried calling Greenwell in the clubhouse.

“I was very concerned,” Johnson said. “When you throw in the 90s and you hit somebody in the head, you can put him out for his career or maybe even kill him.”

Said Greenwell: “It sounded like someone shot a gun off in my ear. At the time, I was thinking, ‘Are all my parts moving OK?’ ”

The ball hit Greenwell on the ear flap, which slammed into his jaw. He never lost consciousness, although he was dizzy and nauseous for a while. Greenwell, who turned 30 on Sunday, was helped to his feet and walked off the field.

Johnson, a 6-foot-10 left-hander who leads the major leagues in strikeouts and hit batters, sailed a fastball several feet over the head of the Phillies’ Kruk during the All-Star game. Kruk struck out, bailing out on the last two pitches, and laughed as he walked away from the plate.

No one was laughing Sunday.

“It startled me. I’ve been hit in the head before myself,” Johnson said. “Obviously, it wasn’t on purpose. I had him 0-and-2.”

Johnson struck out eight, increasing his major league-leading total to 179. He gave up two runs and four hits in six-plus innings, struck out the side in the second and is three short of 1,000 for his career.

Toronto 4, Kansas City 3--When Devon White suffered a bruised elbow, Willie Canate got his chance. And the 21-year-old outfielder took advantage of the opportunity, tying the game with a run-scoring single in the fourth inning and winning it with a homer in the ninth at Toronto.

Canate, of Maracaibo, Venezuela, was with Cincinnati before Toronto purchased his contract on April 13. He had three hits and got his first major league run batted in with a single in the fourth.

Canate sent Hipolito Pichardo’s second pitch of the ninth over the left field fence, giving the Blue Jays a four-game split. Pichardo (4-6) gave up 10 hits, struck out two and walked two in his second career complete game.

Chicago 3, Milwaukee 1--Bo Jackson broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run single as the White Sox beat the Brewers at Milwaukee for their fifth consecutive victory.

Pinch-hitter Tim Raines singled against Doug Henry (2-3) leading off the ninth. Joey Cora sacrificed, Frank Thomas was walked intentionally and Ellis Burks bounced out to Henry. Robin Ventura was walked intentionally, loading the bases, and Jackson singled to right on Henry’s first pitch. Jackson had struck out three times against starter Angel Miranda.

Scott Radinsky (4-0), Chicago’s third pitcher, struck out the only batter he faced. Roberto Hernandez got three outs for his 19th save.

New York 13, Oakland 6--Don Mattingly had two run-scoring singles during a 10-run seventh inning and hit a two-run homer, powering the Yankees at New York.

Mike Stanley’s second grand slam of the season and fifth of his career highlighted the Yankees’ big inning.

Danny Tartabull also homered for New York, which had 32 runs and 49 hits in winning the last three games of the series. Oakland, which won the opener, has lost eight of 11.

Mattingly finished with four hits, making him 11 for 19 in the series with nine runs batted in. He has a 13-game hitting streak during which he has raised his average 29 points to .312.

Detroit 2, Texas 0--John Doherty broke out of a four-game slump with a three-hitter and his first career shutout, carrying the Tigers to victory at Texas.

Doherty (9-5) pitched the Tigers’ first complete-game shutout of the season. He was 1-3 with a 7.59 earned-run average in his previous four starts.

Doherty struck out four, matching a career high, and didn’t issue a walk while raising his career record at Arlington Stadium to 3-0.

Detroit scored the game’s only runs in the fourth inning off Charlie Liebrandt (9-5), who gave up eight hits in seven innings.