LA Russa Says Hitting Batters Has Consequences

OAKLAND - The Chicago White Sox were taking batting practice yesterday morning. Near the cage, Oakland manager Tony La Russa and Ozzie Guillen were engaged in serious conversation, La Russa apparently explaining to Guillen that the pitch aimed at his head Saturday wasn't aimed at his head.

Apparently - because both sides of the conversation were in Spanish and neither side would offer a translation.

``It was a mistake,'' La Russa would say later of the Mike Moore pitch, an intended message - but not a head-high one - after White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell had hit both Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire earlier.

``That's been his style since the minor leagues,'' Ron Kittle said of La Russa, for whom he played in the minors and the White Sox. ``Their two home-run hitters, Canseco and McGwire, got hit yesterday. If you hit their best man, he's going to go after your best man.''

``There's nothing wrong with pitching in,'' La Russa said. ``We do it. But if you pitch inside and you hit people, it's not something that goes without consequences.

``McDowell's out there having a lot of fun. He's standing there with a smirk on his face like, `I don't give a (darn).'''

McDowell, who hit Canseco on the wrist and McGwire on the elbow, claimed innocence.

La Russa didn't buy that at all.

``Bull,'' said La Russa. ``That's an excuse.

BAD LUCK PLAGUES PEREZ

NEW YORK - New York Yankees pitcher Pascual Perez escaped unhurt but his 1990 BMW sustained about $5,000 worth of damage when a man attacked the car as Perez waited at a traffic light, police said.

One police officer was quoted by New York Newsday as saying Perez was the victim of ``some lulu who just went wild on his car. That kind of thing happens.''

CANSECO'S WRIST NOW SORE

OAKLAND - First it was his back.

Now it's the right wrist that's bothering Oakland A's slugger Jose Canseco.

Canseco was scratched from the A's lineup yesterday, the result of being hit by a pitch from Chicago White Sox starter Jack McDowell Saturday.