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AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Royals’ Pichardo Is a Pitch From Perfect

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If the Kansas City Royals could erase that terrible 1-16 start, they might be in position to challenge for the pennant in the American League West.

But then again, if they had been off to a good start, they might not have given 22-year-old right-hander Hipolito Pichardo his chance this season.

The rookie, another hard thrower from the Dominican Republic, flirted with a perfect game Tuesday night at Kansas City, but settled for a one-hitter and an 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

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Pichardo, who has profited by getting a chance in the regular rotation, retired the first 17 Red Sox. He missed by an umpire’s call of getting 18 in a row. With the count 2-2 on Luis Rivera, umpire Terry Cooney called a close pitch a ball. Rivera pulled the next pitch for a double down the left-field line.

That was the only Boston baserunner.

Until the 1-16 start, Pichardo figured to spend another season in the minors. The Royals rated him a prospect, but in parts of four seasons in the minors, he was only 9-21 when they brought him up.

“I was very, very happy to get my first complete game and shutout,” he said through an interpreter. “I wanted to challenge the hitters and came right at them.

“I wish the umpire had called a strike, but I’m not complaining. I never got down on myself for losing the no-hitter. I just wanted to finish the game.”

Pichardo impressed Boston Manager Butch Hobson.

“He was throwing the heck out of the ball,” Hobson said. “He has one of those fastballs that moves all over the place. He had a hell of a game.”

The Royals broke the game open in the fifth, scoring six times with the help of three Red Sox errors. Wally Joyner singled in a run in the fourth for the only run Pichardo (5-4) needed.

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Cleveland 5, Minnesota 2--Jose Mesa (4-9) provided the Indians with a second consecutive well-pitched game at Minneapolis. Mesa, getting his first victory since coming over from Baltimore last week, gave up five hits and one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.

The Indians jumped on Kevin Tapani (10-6) for four runs in the first inning to get Mesa the lead. Tapani, who was 9-1 in his previous 13 starts, served up a home run to Jim Thome in the fourth inning.

It is the first time the Western Division leaders have lost two in a row since June 14.

Texas 6, Milwaukee 3--Shortly after a bench-clearing melee in the 10th inning at Milwaukee, Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run home run and the Rangers ended a four-game losing streak.

The brawl broke out when the Rangers’ Dickie Thon slid hard into Brewer second baseman Scott Fletcher.

Both players came up swinging and the benches emptied. After the field was cleared, the Rangers had two runners on base and Dan Plesac replaced Darren Holmes. Palmeiro greeted him with his 11th home run and second of the game.

Terry Mathews pitched 2 1/3 innings for the victory, but only after he failed to save it for Nolan Ryan. For the third time this season against the Brewers, Ryan departed late with a lead and the Ranger bullpen failed to hold it.

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Ryan, seeking his fifth victory in a row, gave up seven hits and struck out four in 6 2/3 innings. Darryl Hamilton’s single drove in the tying run in the eighth.

Chicago 10, Baltimore 7--Rick Sutcliffe appeared to be on his way to his 11th victory. He had a 7-2 lead and had given up only six hits in seven innings.

But Sutcliffe didn’t retire a batter in the eighth, the White Sox scored eight runs and pulled out the victory.

An error by shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. on Frank Thomas’ grounder started the rally. The next three batters singled and Sutcliffe was gone. Steve Sax’s two-run single climaxed the big inning and ended the White Sox’s four-game losing streak.

Sax, who started the night batting only .229, likened his personal frustration to that of the team.

“I’ve been real down personally,” he said. “I haven’t had a lot of good nights this year.”

New York 5, Oakland 1--Danny Tartabull hit a two-run home run in the first inning at Oakland and Melido Perez (9-8) pitched a four-hitter for the Yankees’ third victory in a row over the Athletics.

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Detroit 6, Seattle 2--Mickey Tettleton hit his 21st home run and Frank Tanana (9-6) won for the fifth time in his last eight starts.

Randy Johnson (5-11) took the loss despite striking out a career-high 13 batters in only six innings at Seattle.

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