AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : White Sox and Perez Slow Ryan in 5-1 Win

Melido Perez of the Chicago White Sox is too young to be in awe of Nolan Ryan.

The 23-year-old right-hander did to Ryan and his Texas Ranger teammates Tuesday night at Chicago what the 43-year-old Ryan has been doing to other teams for more than two decades.

Perez (2-2) had a no-hitter until the sixth inning and reached double figures in strikeouts in Chicago’s 5-1 victory.

The younger brother of Pascual Perez must have learned something from the last time he saw Ryan. That was Thursday in Texas when Ryan (4-1) pitched a one-hitter and struck out 16 in a 1-0 victory.

“This time I get him,” Perez said.

Perez gave up two hits in 7 1/3 innings and struck out 10 before giving way to Scott Radinsky. Jeff Huson, the Rangers’ No. 9 hitter, spoiled the no-hitter with a single in the sixth and chased Perez with a run-scoring double in the eighth.

Ryan, going for his fifth consecutive victory, gave up three hits, three walks and five runs in the first inning.

Ryan settled down, giving up only one more hit and striking out eight in six innings.

“For some reason, it took me an inning to get it together,” Ryan said. “I didn’t have command in the first. In the second inning I had time to think and I went to my fastball and got ahead of the hitters.

“But give Perez the credit. I would have had to be almost perfect to beat him. He really pitched well.”

It was the fifth win in a row for the White Sox, who are 9-2 at home.

Oakland 4, New York 2--Mike Gallego, buried in a one-for-31 slump, picked the ideal time to snap out of it at New York.

Gallego hit a double to drive in two runs and break a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning.

It marked a continuation of the A’s domination of the Yankees. They have won the last three and 11 of 14.

Mike Moore (2-1) gave up four hits in seven innings. Dennis Eckersley came in to get the last four outs, three of them on strikes, and earn his eighth save.

Felix Jose, playing center field in place of slumping Dave Henderson, had two hits and started the winning rally against Andy Hawkins.

Jose singled and, with one out Walt Weiss singled. Gallego hit his double to give Oakland its 3-1 lead. In the eighth, Gallego tripled and scored on Carney Lansford’s hit. Lansford has hit safely in his past 12 games at Yankee Stadium.

“Although Andy is 0-3, I thought he pitched his best game,” Yankee Manager Bucky Dent said. “They have a lot of big guns, but their little guns can hurt you, too.”

Milwaukee 6, Kansas City 4--Ted Higuera continued to weave his magic over the Royals at Kansas City.

Home runs by Greg Vaughn and Gary Sheffield made the task easier. Higuera (3-0) ran his lifetime record against the Royals to 6-0. He gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Bret Saberhagen (1-3) gave up 13 hits in six innings.

Toronto 4, Cleveland 3--Glenallen Hill had a home run and double and scored twice at Cleveland to lead the Blue Jays.

Dave Stieb (4-1) gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings. Duane Ward relieved, but needed help from Tom Henke, who got out of a bases-loaded situation in the eighth.

Henke got Cory Snyder on a smash to short that Tony Fernandez turned into a double play.

Hill, batting .435 in the past six games, hit a two-run homer in the fourth, then doubled and scored the final run in the eighth.

Minnesota 9, Detroit 5--Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek hit consecutive home runs at Detroit to help the Twins end a four-game losing streak.

John Candelaria (2-0) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four, to earn the victory in relief.

Boston 8, Seattle 2--The Red Sox are feasting at Fenway Park.

Eric Hetzel pitched seven strong innings and Ellis Burks had three hits to lead the Red Sox to their fifth win in six games.

Burks and Randy Kutcher each drove in two runs for the Red Sox.