ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
Pat Hentgen and Andy Pettitte both were surprised Tuesday when Hentgen won the American League Cy Young Award.
``I feel honored that my name's next to that award forever,'' the Toronto right-hander said after his upset victory. ``To be honest, I definitely prepared myself to come in second. I was a little shocked. I think I'm overwhelmed right now.''
Hentgen went 20-10 with a 3.22 ERA, recording his 20th victory on the final day of the season. In matching the second-closest vote in the history of the AL Cy Young, he received 16 first-place votes, nine seconds and three thirds for 110 points.
Pettitte, 21-8 with a 3.87 ERA, had been considered the favorite. He drew 11 firsts, 16 seconds and one third for 104 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
``All the talk was that I would definitely win,'' Pettitte said. ``I'm like, these people know something I don't? I was a little surprised.''
Hentgen, who turns 28 today, led the major leagues in complete games (10) and innings (2652/3) and was second in ERA in the AL behind teammate Juan Guzman (2.93). Hentgen pitched three shutouts, tying Ken Hill of Texas and Kevin Brown of Florida for the major-league lead.
``When the season ended and I was talking to my wife, I told her Pat deserved it,'' Pettitte said. ``He was totally dominating. I didn't go out and dominate games. Of course, I didn't get complete games with the set-up we had.''
Yankees set-up man Mariano Rivera received the other first-place vote and finished third, with 18 points.
The closest vote came in 1969, when Mike Cuellar and Denny McLain tied for the award. In 1972, Gaylord Perry beat Wilbur Wood 64-58.
Hentgen, who became the first to win the award for a Canadian team, was 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA before the All-Star Game, then went 12-4 with a 2.58 ERA after the break.
``Things just snowballed for me in the second half,'' Hentgen said. ``There was just a point where I knew I could go out and pitch a good game.''
Hentgen got his 20th victory when he led Toronto past Baltimore 4-1 at the SkyDome. He had a chance to win his 20th against Baltimore on the final weekend three years ago, but Toronto lost to Rick Sutcliffe 8-4.
``I think when I look back at '93 in Camden Yards, going for my 20th win, I was a little nervous,'' Hentgen said.
Pettitte, 24, led the AL in victories and went 13-3 after Yankees losses. He pitched for much of the season despite a sore throwing arm.
``I didn't even think I'd make it through the season if you asked me in the middle of the season when my elbow was killing me,'' he said.
Charles Nagy (12 points) of Cleveland was fourth, followed by Mike Mussina (five) of Baltimore. Alex Fernandez and Roberto Hernandez of the White Sox were tied for sixth with one point, along with Hill.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Hentgen. Graphic: Chart by AP. color. KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB