AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Ryan’s 299th Victory Comes With Relief

His thumb is sore and his back aches, but 43-year-old Nolan Ryan is still too much for American League hitters.

Ryan gave up one hit in six innings Friday night at Arlington, Tex., and gained credit for his 299th victory in the Texas Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Ryan, who will try to become the 20th pitcher in major league history to win 300 games Wednesday night at Arlington against the New York Yankees. Don Sutton was the last to reach 300 when he was with the Angels in 1986.

A sellout crowd of 41,719 watched Ryan (12-4) baffle the Tigers. Ryan, who pitched his sixth no-hitter June 11 at Oakland, gave up a fourth-inning single to Lou Whitaker. Otherwise, he was in command, striking out four.

When he walked Tony Phillips on four pitches to open the seventh inning, he left the game, saying his back tightened.

The Tigers rallied for three runs, but Kenny Rogers came on in the eighth inning to restore preserve Ryan’s victory.

Rogers was the fourth reliever used by Manager Bobby Valentine. Watching the Rangers pull it out was the toughest part for Ryan.

“It looked like it was going to get rough out there,” Ryan said. “Bobby did everything he could to find the sharp reliever.

“I was going pretty good early, but on the pitches to Phillips, my back stiffened and I couldn’t throw right. I had OK stuff, but I couldn’t get my fastball over. Earlier I was getting ahead with the fastball.

“I see no reason why I won’t be ready to pitch again by Wednesday. I’d like to go after it at home. I’ll start preparing for No. 300 in the morning.”

Kansas City 5-1, Boston 0-3--Kevin Appier outpitched Roger Clemens in the opener at Kansas City, but Mike Greenwell found his home run swing to give the Red Sox a split.

Appier, who pitched a one-hitter two weeks ago, held the leaders of the East to three hits, and Clemens gave up seven hits and two runs in seven innings.

“I think I had better stuff, at least, better control, this time,” Appier said. “My fastball and slider were excellent.”

Appier retired the first 14 batters and pitched his second shutout.

The Red Sox had not scored in 25 innings when Greenwell unloaded his fourth home run with a man on in the seventh to break a scoreless tie in the second game. Dana Kiecker, with help from Jeff Reardon, was the winning pitcher.

Minnesota 2, New York 1--The Twins’ Junior Ortiz and Allan Anderson combined to beat the Yankees at Minneapolis.

Steve Balboni took some of the luster off a fine performance by Anderson when he homered to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.

But Ortiz, the backup catcher, singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give Anderson his second victory in a row and improve his record to 4-12.

“Andy threw a beautiful game,” Twin Manager Tom Kelly said. “Maybe, we got the old Allan Anderson back.”

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 4--Omar Vizquel and Harold Reynolds had run-scoring singles in the ninth inning at Milwaukee to lead the Mariners. Mike Schooler pitched the bottom of the ninth to get his 25th save.

Dave Parker hit his 13th home run and had his 61st run batted in, both club records for Brewer designated hitters. Henry Aaron set the records of 12 homers and 60 RBIs in 1975.

The Mariners trailed, 3-2, in the fourth when Alvin Davis led off with his eighth homer, barely inside the right-field foul pole. Three batters later, Phil Bradley singled in Edgar Martinez, who had doubled.

The Brewers failed once again to put together a three-game winning streak, something they haven’t accomplished since May 15-18.

Toronto 8, Oakland 6--Kelly Gruber hit a three-run home run and Pat Borders broke a 4-4 tie at Oakland with a bases-loaded double.

Jose Canseco, starting to close in on home run leader Cecil Fielder, hit two home runs. He has 28, Fielder has 30.

Dave Henderson and Canseco hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the third inning.

The victory pulled the Blue Jays within half a game of Boston.