AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : After 72-Day Layoff, Ryan Wins His 321st

Looking more like the Nolan Ryan of old than an old Nolan Ryan, baseball’s all-time strikeout leader returned from a 72-day layoff and led the Texas Rangers past the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-3, at Arlington, Tex., on Monday night.

With a fastball that averaged 94 m.p.h., Ryan, 46, trying to salvage his record 27th and final major league season, gave up three hits--all doubles--over 5 2/3 innings. He gave up two earned runs, struck out six and walked one, leaving with a 4-2 lead after throwing 91 pitches, 57 strikes.

Ryan (2-2) exited to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 40,676 and came out to doff his cap afterward.

“Tonight was a special night for me because three weeks ago I didn’t know if I would pitch again,” Ryan said.

Tom Henke, the fifth Texas pitcher, worked the ninth for his 20th save.

Ryan’s 321st career victory, coupled with Chicago’s 15-7 loss to Toronto, cut the White Sox lead in the American League West over the second-place Rangers to two games.

Ryan struck out four of the first nine he faced, including Darryl Hamilton leading off the game, in his first start since May 7. That is when he suffered a strained hip muscle in his first start back from arthroscopic knee surgery. His comeback was further delayed when he suffered a foot injury water skiing.

Just as important as giving the pitching-thin Rangers a solid start, Ryan reported no physical problems after taking himself out when Manager Kevin Kennedy visited the mound in the sixth.

“I was ready. I felt that if I had stayed out there much longer, I’d have gotten into a deficit, and that might have affected my next start (Sunday),” Ryan said. “Really, I had accomplished what I’d hoped to tonight.”

Ryan, who several times glared at home plate umpire Jim McKean on called balls, was aided by 20-m.p.h. winds that kept doubles by Robin Yount and Tom Lampkin in the ballpark in the first and second innings and pushed a would-be homer by Vaughn foul in the fourth.

Toronto 15, Chicago 7--Randy Knorr’s three-run homer capped a seven-run first inning and the Blue Jays had season-high totals of 21 hits and 15 runs as they defeated the White Sox at Chicago in a meeting of division leaders.

The seven runs were the most Toronto has scored in one inning this season. Two scored on a single by Turner Ward, and Joe Carter and Ed Sprague added run-scoring singles.

John Olerud, the major leagues’ leading hitter, had three hits--including his 17th homer in the sixth inning--to increase his average to .398.

New York 8, Seattle 2--Bernie Williams drove in four runs to lead the Yankees at New York.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for New York and kept the Yankees tied with the Blue Jays for first place in the American League East.

Scott Kamieniecki (4-3) had a career-high eight strikeouts in pitching his second complete game in nine starts this season.

Minnesota 4, Detroit 2--Dave Winfield had two hits and a run batted in to lift the Twins at Detroit, spoiling Sean Bergman’s first major league start.

Scott Erickson (6-10) held Detroit hitless through 4 1/3 innings and gave up four hits and four walks in eight innings. Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 25th save.

Both benches emptied briefly in the first inning after Erickson’s first pitch of the game was over and behind the head of Tony Phillips.

Cleveland 4, Oakland 2--Albert Belle homered against Todd Van Poppel--the second first-inning homer Van Poppel has given up in two starts this year--to lead the Indians at Cleveland.

The 21-year-old Van Poppel (0-2) gave up three runs on three first-inning hits, including Belle’s 25th home run, then held the Indians hitless over the next three innings before being replaced by Ron Darling in the fifth. It was Darling’s first relief appearance since 1990, ending a string of 84 consecutive starts.

Baltimore 6, Kansas City 5--Jamie Moyer pitched two-hit ball over six innings and the Orioles survived a shaky outing by stopper Gregg Olson to defeat the Royals at Baltimore.

Chris Hoiles hit a three-run homer and Jeffrey Hammonds hit a solo shot for the Orioles, who have won eight of 11.