Ryan Seeks 300th Victory in Milwaukee : Baseball: Ranger pitcher tries for the second time to join club that has only 19 members.

Nolan Ryan’s first attempt for career victory No. 300 produced more than personal disappointment.

Not only did Ryan give up three homers, seven runs and 10 hits to the New York Yankees before leaving after eight innings, but he let down the fans who were eager to share in another piece of history.

The Texas Rangers rallied to win that game last Wednesday, but Ryan, 43, failed to get the victory that would have made him the 20th major-league pitcher to win 300 games.

Now, in another stadium 1,000 miles away in Milwaukee tonight, Ryan will try again.

“I’d like to get it over with as soon as possible. I don’t want to disappoint people. I have a lot of people coming to this game. It’s an inconvenience for them, but they want to be a part of it. They’ve shared in my career,” Ryan said.

He admits there is some pressure to get the 300th victory, especially after his poor outing last week.

“The only one I had to blame was myself. I made bad pitches. I hope that doesn’t happen again. Because of that you probably do put more pressure on yourself,” he said.

Of the last nine pitchers to get 300 victories, five accomplished it on their first try. Don Sutton, the most recent member of the 300 club in June 1986, needed two starts. Phil Niekro, who made it in October 1985, needed five.

Ryan, 11-9 lifetime against the Brewers with a 3-5 career record at County Stadium, hasn’t pitched in Milwaukee since April 12, 1989.

That night he was overpowering. He lost a no-hitter in the eighth inning but won the game and struck out 15. That was victory No. 274. Ryan was 2-1 last season against the Brewers but has not faced them in 1990.

“I think the local fans will be there with some interest in the ball game from my standpoint,” he said. “But I think they will be pulling for the Brewers. But as in Oakland with the no-hitter, the fans were very supportive of me toward the end of the game. Their allegiance changed in that they were pulling for the no-hitter . . . I wouldn’t anticipate any difference from the fans here.”

The Rangers considered delaying Ryan’s next start two days so he could go back to Texas and try for No. 300, but Manager Bobby Valentine decided to stay with his regular rotation. Ryan, with a 10-4 record, has been bothered by a stress fracture in his back and will be pitching with an extra day’s rest after throwing 141 pitches against the Yankees.

“It’s more of a nagging than a threatening injury,” said Ryan, who has a record 5,211 strikeouts and six no-hitters.

“I feel about like I have the last three days. I don’t anticipate the back being a problem.”

Throughout his career, Ryan, 43, has been gracious and pleasant, often using the word “fortunate” to describe what he’s accomplished. And at age 43, he’s still throwing pitches more than 90 m.p.h.

“I think what has lent to my longevity is probably genetics, what I received from my parents,” he said. “I think the aging process affects all of us differently. . . . I’ve been fortunate.”