AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees’ Pascual Perez, After Short Spring, Already in Groove

Right-hander Pascual Perez, after a controversial spring training, had the real stuff when the real season began.

Perez, signed as a free agent by the Yankees, gave up only one single in five innings at New York and was the winner in a 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers Friday night.

Perez quickly began paying dividends on his three-year, $5.7-million contract. He struck out five. The hit off him was by Ruben Sierra.

Perez, a week late reporting from the Dominican Republic for the delayed spring training, pitched only three innings before the start of the regular season. He stayed in Florida after the season started to get into shape.

It earlier had been decided that he would come out after 75 pitches. He just made it through five innings.

It was a new city for Perez to put on his same old show. He ran on and off the field, he jumped up and down and he pitched in and out.

“I was the same Pascual Perez,” he said. “That’s the way I am.

“While I was in Tampa, I saw the Rangers play Toronto and I saw some things that helped me.”

Yankee Manager Bucky Dent was impressed. “He’s like Mark Fidrych,” he said. “But he may be even more emotional. I didn’t know his ritual. This is only the second time I’ve seen him.”

Lee Guetterman relieved Perez and Dave Righetti got the save as the three pitchers allowed only one runner to get past first base.

Cleveland 6, Chicago 2--Candy Maldonado believes his decision to sign as a free agent with the Indians was the best decision he ever made.

The Indians tend to agree with the former Dodger and Giant. Maldonado drove in four runs at Chicago with a home run and a double to lead the Indians to their first victory. In the American League, Maldonado is four for eight and has driven in six runs in two games.

“It’s a new start,” said Maldonado, who hit only .217 for the Giants last year. “It also gets me back with my hitting coach, Jose Morales.”

Until Maldonado broke it open in the sixth with his two-run homer, both John Farrell (1-0) and Jack McDowell of the White Sox were sharp.

McDowell gave up two hits in five innings, striking out four.

Toronto 3, Kansas City 1--Left-hander Jimmy Key of the Blue Jays just put himself back on the healthy list.

In his first start since undergoing surgery on his shoulder last October, Key pitched a strong six innings at Kansas City. He gave up a run and five hits and struck out six.

“When it comes to strength, I’m not all the way back,” he said. “I’m still not where I want to be, but each time out this spring, I’ve done a little better, gotten a little stronger.”

George Bell homered again for the Blue Jays and had two other hits. Duane Ward replaced Key and struck out six Royals in the last three innings.

Detroit 10, Baltimore 6--Jack Morris struck out nine batters in seven innings at Detroit, but he won only because the Tigers were in a hitting mood.

Morris, who lost on opening day, gave up six runs, six hits and five walks, but left with a 7-6 lead.

Gary Ward hit a two-run home run and also drove in the winning run in the seventh on a grounder when he hustled to avoid an inning-ending double play.

Milwaukee 9, Boston 5--Billy Bates and Gary Sheffield made up for errors with consecutive doubles that scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning at Boston.

Bates made two errors that helped the Red Sox tie the score, 5-5, in the seventh.

But Bates greeted Rob Murphy (0-1) with a double to open the eighth and Sheffield followed suit.

There were seven errors in the loosely played game, four by the Brewers. Five of the runs were unearned.