Between The Lines

Number 3's a Charmer.
The third Perez brother to pitch in the majors, Expo lefthander Carlos, 24, made his first big league start last Thursday, held the Phillies to one run in five innings and picked up the win. He also homered and walked in the 13-1 rout. "I never even get the ball out of the cage in batting practice," said Carlos (right), whose older brothers Pascual and Melido preceded him. Carlos's antics on the mound, especially after a strikeout, are reminiscent of those of the eccentric Pascual, who left the game in 1992. "Watching Carlos, it's hard not to laugh," says Montreal third baseman Sean Berry. "But you can't laugh too hard or the other team will think you're showing them up." Also like Pascual, Carlos never stops talking. "We're taking two buses to New York after the game," said Berry. "Carlos will be on one, everyone else on the other. No one will want to listen to him after he hit a home run."

He Wanted His Son to See It.
It took him 77 games over parts of four seasons, but Tiger lefthander Buddy Groom finally got his first major league victory. Last Friday, one day after the birth of his son, Evan, Groom pitched 5? scoreless innings in a 6-1 win over the Rangers. He thereby avoided breaking the dubious record held by Ed Olwine, who went winless (0-1) in 80 appearances for the Braves from 1986 to '88.

Puttin' It on the Ritz.
Rocky pitcher Kevin Ritz was hit by a pitch as many times (two) in the first three weeks of this season as John Kruk had been in his 3,738 career at bats before signing with the White Sox last Friday.