Perez, Expos Win Series at Camden

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June 19, 1997 12 AM PT

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From Associated Press

The Montreal Expos did what no American League team had done this season--win a series at Camden Yards.

Carlos Perez threw an eight-hitter and Sherman Obando broke up Jimmy Key’s perfect game with a sixth-inning homer Wednesday as Montreal defeated the Orioles, 1-0, at Baltimore.

The Expos, who have won 11 of 12, took the three-game series, 2-1, and became only the third team to win a series from the Orioles this season. The Angels won two consecutive May 14-15 and Cleveland took two of three May 23-25.

“What it means to us is that we win our share of games and we want people to know why--our team plays hard,” Montreal Manager Felipe Alou said.

Key (11-2) retired the first 16 batters before Obando, a former Oriole who entered the game batting .086, drove a 2-and-2 pitch into the left-field seats.

“One pitch decided the game,” Key said. “I got a pitch up to Obando and he hit it out.”

That was enough offense for Perez (8-4), who earned his third shutout in his last four starts. The left-hander has given up only two earned runs this month in 34 1/3 innings.

Perez walked none and struck out two in his fourth career shutout and fourth complete game this season.

“I’m not a power pitcher. I rely on location,” Perez said. “I throw a fastball away, a changeup and split-finger. I had a great combination today and great defense right behind me.”

Detroit 6, Florida 2--Omar Olivares pitched a four-hitter and Joe Hall, making his first major league start in nearly two years, drove in three runs at Detroit as the Tigers became the last team with an interleague victory.

Hall, 31, had a two-run single in the first inning and added a run-scoring double in the third. Olivares (5-5), who had lost his last two starts, walked three and struck out two.

The Tigers, who had averaged only two runs in their first five interleague games, scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second and two in the third.

Minnesota 8, Pittsburgh 2--Ron Coomer hit a three-run double and Brad Radke scattered seven hits in 6 2/3 innings at Minneapolis as the Twins won their second consecutive interleague series.

Coomer’s double highlighted a five-run third inning that helped Radke (7-5) to his third consecutive victory. Radke retired 10 straight in one stretch and 13 of 15 before Kevin Young’s run-scoring double in the sixth.

Pittsburgh starter Francisco Cordova (5-5) gave up six runs and six hits in four innings, only the fourth time in 14 starts he has given up more than two earned runs. Cordova’s earned-run average, third-best in the National League at 2.15 coming in, rose to 2.64.

Kansas City 6, Houston 2--Jeff King hit his fourth interleague homer, a grand slam in the first inning that sent the Royals to the victory at Kansas City, Mo.

Houston’s Luis Gonzalez singled in the second inning, extending his hitting streak to 22 games, one short of Art Howe’s 16-year-old club record. Gonzalez’s streak is the longest in the NL this season.

The Royals turned three double plays to back Jim Pittsley (2-4), who picked up his second victory in three starts. The 6-foot-7 right-hander gave up two runs and eight hits in a career-high eight innings.

Cincinnati 5, Cleveland 2--Journeyman Mike Remlinger shut out the Indians on two hits through six innings for the Reds at Cleveland.

Remlinger, acquired on outright release waivers in April, further befuddled an already struggling Indian lineup. Cleanup hitter Matt Williams was 0 for 3, extending his slump to 13 for 96, and the Indians were four for 32 in the series with runners in scoring position.

Cleveland, which has one of the AL’s most potent lineups, managed six baserunners against Remlinger, who was waived by Kansas City this spring. One was caught stealing, one was picked off, one was forced out and three were stranded.

Boston 4, Philadelphia 2--Shane Mack, reviving a once-stagnant season, hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning that gave the Red Sox the victory at Boston.

Mack appeared in only 22 of Boston’s first 61 games. But he has played in all eight since then, starting seven, after left fielder Wilfredo Cordero was arrested for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill his wife.

Mack’s hit spoiled Curt Schilling’s attempt to get back at the team that gave up on him, and made Jeff Suppan (2-0) a winner.

Milwaukee 8, St. Louis 4--Jeromy Burnitz hit a bases-loaded triple and the Brewers defeated the Cardinals for a three-game sweep at Milwaukee.

Burnitz, who hit a homer off Alan Benes in the ninth in Monday’s 1-0 victory and laid down a perfect bunt to key a four-run rally in a 4-3 victory Tuesday, tripled off Andy Benes in the second. The hit put the Brewers ahead, 4-3, and they never trailed.

Toronto 5, Atlanta 3--Carlos Delgado hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep by the Braves at Toronto.

John Smoltz (6-6) was tagged for five runs in seven innings. Woody Williams (2-6) held Atlanta hitless until Rafael Belliard singled with one out in the sixth.

The Blue Jays led, 1-0, when Smoltz walked Orlando Merced and Ed Sprague in the third. Delgado hammered a 3-and-2 pitch into the right-field seats.

Chicago White Sox 3, Chicago Cubs 0--Wilson Alvarez pitched a four-hitter for his first shutout in more than three years and the White Sox defeated the Cubs at Comiskey Park to win the first regular-season, cross-town series in Chicago history.

Dave Martinez, playing first base for injured All-Star Frank Thomas, homered for the second game in a row and Lyle Mouton doubled in two first-inning runs for the White Sox.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Dante Bichette

Team: Colorado

Performance: 3 for 5, 3 RBIs, double, homer

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Jeff King

Team: Kansas City

Performance: 10 for 21, four homers in six interleague games

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING