The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 24

MU BASEBALL C-6-7 DIGEST C-7 FOOTBALL C-8-15 GOLF C-5 HORSES C-2 MclNALLY C-3 PREPS C-16 SCOREBOARD C-2 EDITOR: GREG NOBLE, 369-1917 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1985 Astros Deflate Blundering Reds Tim Sullivan IS. On The Inside Dodgers bounce back to rout San Francisco, 11-2, Page C-7. Buchanan, a rookie left-hander, entered the game. He retired pinch-hitter Jim Pankovits on a pop fly in the infield but then Bert Pena, batting for Astros starter Jeff Heathcock, singled to center to drive in the go-ahead run. Franco, 12-3 but bothered lately by a tender left elbow, followed with a scoreless seventh, and In the eighth the Reds tied the game, 5-5.

Dave Parker, who homered in the fourth-his 29th of the seasonto give the Reds their first run, singled to left with one out. Franco kept the Reds from maintaining that distance. In San Francisco the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 11-2, enlarging their lead over the second-place Reds to 5'2 games and dropping the "Magic Number" to 10. Beyond the impact on the pennant race, the loss was difficult to take. The Reds had rallied from a 3- 1 deficit in the fifth to take a 4- 3 lead in the sixth on a home run by Eddie Milner, his second of the season, and a two-run, two-out homer by Buddy Bell.

BUT IN the sixth starter Andy BY GREG HOARD The Cincinnati Enquirer HOUSTON-Shouldering most of the blame for the Reds' 9-5 loss to the Astros Saturday, John Franco looked into his locker and confronted the facts. "We are in the thick of It," he said, "and this Is no time to screw up." The Reds entered the game in second place and 414 games behind the Western Division-leading Dodgers, but a base-running blunder by Nick Esasky, a fielding error by Dave Concepcion and a four-run eighth permitted by McGaffigan was in trouble quickly and reliever Bob Buchanan did little to help. Left fielder Jose Cruz singled to start the inning and stole second base. One out later, first baseman Glenn Davis singled up the middle to score Cruz and tie the game, 4-4. A walk to Kevin Bass ended McGaffigan's outing and Esasky drew a walk off left-hander Jeff Calhoun.

Dave Smith, the Astros' top reliever with a 9-5 record and 26 saves, entered the game and stopped the Reds rally-with some help from Esasky. BELL DOUBLED down the left-field line to score Parker. Esasky, running from first to third, ignored a stop sign from third base coach Billy DeMars and was out in a rundown. The inning ended when Dave Concepcion flied out to deep right. (Please see REDS, Page C-17) Spinks Stuns Holmes Decision Stops Streak At 48 i -i 1 j''t0o Y- 7 i- -V -I- Jt Pennant Race Buoys Bell HOUSTON-You would think Buddy Bell has waited too long to wait till next year now.

You would think he has played too well for too little to not find another gear for a stretch drive of substance. You would think the taste of a pennant race would Intoxicate him. You would not know Buddy Bell very well. "It gets your heart started," the Reds third baseman said Saturday of the contentment of contending. "You sweat a little bit easier, get loose a little bit quicker.

It's a lot of fun, I enjoy it. "But every game Is Important to me. I don't care if my team is 25 games out, there's no more important game than today's game. Everybody's making a big deal about: 'He's here and he's five games I play just as hard now as when we wer-j completely out of It. I'm just enjoying it a ltttl bit more." As much as his Gold Gloves and his All-Star appearances, what distinguished Buddy Bell during all his years in the American League wilderness was the meaning he found in meaningless games.

He has never played in a post-season game, but he has always conducted himself as if he were in one. GIVEN BELL'S salary-last placed at upwards of would not seem like too much to ask. It is a sad state in baseball affairs when we must celebrate an honest effort as something wonderful, even noble. Yet because It is the current state the dozen dedicated seasons Buddy Bell spent in Cleveland and Texas are remembered reverently in those outposts for outcasts. Still, no Indian or Ranger fan would fall to forgive Buddy Bell If he happened to be savoring this particular September more than any of Its predecessors.

It certainly seemed as if he were Friday night, when confirmation-of the Dodgers' defeat in San Francisco sent him clutching his throat In a comical chokeignal. It still seemed that way Saturday after the Reds' 9-5 loss to the Astros helped widen the Western Division gap back to games. The clubhouse had nearly cleared out half an hour after the game, but Bell seemed content to sit on his stool and cling to the taste of a game and a season that had tested his passion as well as his pride. One of his best National League afternoons-a two-run homer and an RBI double-had gone up in smoke, but that didn't seem to spoil the taste of his cigarette. He sat there, still wearing his soiled uniform Jersey after all his teammates had hit the showers.

He has not been through this sort of thing very often and he is inclined to linger even after losses. "IT'S A different attitude," he said, reflecting on his two months with the Reds. "It's a very nice attitude. That's not to say that the teams I was with In the past weren't confident and didn't have the ambition to win. There's just (Please see SULLIVAN, Page C-17) BY ED SCHUYLER JR.

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS, Spinks made boxing history Saturday night by outpointing previously unbeaten Larry Holmes to become the first light-heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title. Spinks' unanimous 15-round decision ruined the 35-year-old Holmes' attempt to tie Rocky Marclano's record of 49 victories without a loss. Spinks, who weighed 200 pounds, 25 over the light-heavyweight class limit, threw punches in flurries and never let Holmes get him in serious trouble throughout the fight. In doing so, he did what nine previous light-heavyweight champions or former champions couldn't do In the heavyweight division. A FULL HOUSE in an 11,192 seat outdoor arena at the Rlveria Hotel and Casino let out a wild roar as the decision was announced making Spinks the International Boxing Federation champion.

Diane Holmes sat quietly weeping beneath her husband's corner. Judges Dave Moretti and Harold Lederman each scored it 143-142 for the 29-year-old Spinks. Judge Lawrence Wallace scored It 145-142 for Spinks. The AP favored Holmes 144-141. Immediately after bout, Holmes, saying he "had nothing to prove," said he wouldn't fight again.

Spinks, 6-foot-24, seemed to waste a lot of time moving back and forth in several rounds, but the judges obviously thought he did enough. When he did elect to fight, Spinks threw more punches than Holmes and did land several of them. Holmes, looking every bit" his 35 years, never really got into his rhythm, but he did score well with jabs and was effective to the body. Following the major upset The Cincinnati EnquirerEd Reinke AAOELLER QUARTERBACK Tom Nicholson was forced to leave the game after hits like this from J.O. Johnson linebacker Chris Horn.

Moeller Gets Taste Of Its Own Medicine cheering in a crowd of about 7,000. Johnson, Alabama's No. 2-ranked big-school team, dominated the game from start to finish. Controlling both lines of scrimmage with a combination of power, finesse, and speed, Johnson took a 13-0 half time lead and built the margin to 23-0 before Moeller scored late in the third quarter. Flashy Johnson quarterback Dale Curry, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, completed 10 of 17 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 126 yards, and kicked two field goals.

"That may be the best quarterback we've ever seen," said Klonne. Said Curry, "They said no one could beat Moeller, but we knew in our heart we could be the ones to do it." Youngstown Mooney in 1973. The loss snapped a 71-game regular-season winning streak for Moeller. "It's by far the biggest win we've ever had," Johnson coach Paul Parvln said in his team's noisy dressing room. "This should put us and Alabama football on the map." "We just put a whuppin' on them," said offensive tackle Tracy Christa, who was one of the key players on the visitors' line.

"They're a good team, but we just didn't play well," said Vada Murray, Moeller's standout senior safety. JOHNSON, NOW 4-0, was not ranked na-" tionally while Moeller, now 3-1, was rated No. 8 in the country by USA Today. The Jaguars bused 415 miles to play Moeller, and about 40 Johnson fans were the only people BY TOM GROESCHEN The Cincinnati Enquirer KINGS ISLAND, Ohio-For the first time since 1973, a Moeller football team has been bruised, battered, bewildered, and blown out. The shocking scenario was played out Saturday afternoon at Galbreath Field, where a school from Huntsville, named J.O.

Johnson destroyed America's prep football team, 33-14. "Physically, we just got our butts beat," said Moeller coach Steve Klonne. Klonne was composed In defeat, and offered no alibis. "They were just flat better than we were," he said. Moeller, the five-time mythical national champion and six-time state titlist, absorbed its worst beating since a 34-7 playoff loss to (Please see MOELLER, Page C-17) (Please see SPINKS, Page C-17) Bama Overwhelms Bearcats "I rr I (1 KnCsW 1 At A Glance 7 1 WHO: San Diego (1 -1 vs.

Cincinnati (0-2). WHEN: 1 p.m. WHERE: Riverfront Stadium. TV: None. RADIO: WKRC (550-AM).

TICKETS: A few hundred, mostly singles, remain and will go on sale at 9 a.m. ODDS: Bengals favored by 412 points. PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS 1 1 I Jfttk I Bengals' Plan: Lower 'Boomer' On Chargers BY MIKE DODD The Cincinnati Enquirer Boomer Esiason wore the customary gray Bengals T-shirt for Saturday's walk-through practice at Spinney Field. But the number, written in magic marker under the front collar, had a variation. Not 7.

But 007. It was worth a chuckle, and inadvertently fitting. For unless the unmistakable signs are mistaken, Esiason is the super-secret agent the Bengals will employ as they try to break their two-game losing streak against the San Diego Chargers this afternoon (1 p.m., Riverfront Stadium). Coach Sam Wyche still insisted on keeping the name of his starting quarterback classified information, but Esiason took the large majority of the snaps in the final tune-up Saturday. The rationale behind the move apparently Is to exploit the Chargers' vulnerability to the long pass.

WYCHE'S MYSTERY game Intrigued the fans and media this week, but apparently not the opponent. Charger observers say the San Diego defensive coaches have been expecting Boomer. They figured Wyche would want the quarterback with the strongest arm throwing to the speedy guys. Esiason went along with Wyche's wishes and declined to confirm he will start. Or, beg your pardon, "take the first snap." (Please see BENGALS, Page C-17) -7 BY BOB HARIG The Cincinnati Enquirer TUSCALOOSA, 4:13 remaining in the third quarter, Alabama's Chris Mohr punted for the first time in Saturday's game against the University of Cincinnati.

The punt traveled only 29 yards, and it wasn't significant except that it marked the first time that the Bearcats stopped an Alabama drive. The powerful Crimson Tide had five previous drives and five touchdowns to show for them. Alabama, ranked 16th in the nation, went on to give UC its first defeat of the season, 45-10, before 58,714 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Bearcats may have lost their quarterback as well. Dan McCoin went out of the game with an ankle injury late in the first half and was taken to the hospital for X-rays.

Coach Dave Currey said there was a bending of the bone, but he didn't know McCoin's status for the rest of the season. Before the injury, McCoin had moved the Bearcat offense well. But it was the defense's Inability to stop Alabama which led to UC's first loss in four games. "ALABAMA DESERVES a lot of credit for wearing us down," said Currey. "We had a lot of guys limping off the field.

They took it right at us pretty good and did move the ball." (Please see BEARCATS, Page C-17) mi IT mm 1 I jr A CINCINNATI Offense 80 C. WR 78 Anthony Munoz LT 74 Brian Blados LG 52 Dave Rimington 65 Max Montoya RG 77 Mike Wilson RT 82 Rodney Holman TE 81 Eddie Brown WR 7 Boomer QB 21 James Brooks RB 28 Larry Defense 73 Eddie Edwards LE 69 TimKrumrie NT 79 Ross Browner RE 57 Reggie OLB 56 Ron Simpkins ILB 50 Glenn ILB 59 Jeff Schuh OLB 34 Louis Breeden LCB 20 RayHorton RCB 26 Bobby Kemp SS 37 Robert Jackson FS SAN DIEGO Offense 18 Charlie Joiner WR 74 Jim Lachey LT 67 Ed White LG 62 DonMacek 60 Dennis 77 SamClapham RT 85 EricSievers TE 89 Wes Chandler WR 14 DanFouts QB 42 Tim Spencer RB 88 PeteHolohan TE Defense 99 Lee Williams LE 78 Chuck Ehin NT 76 Keith Ferguson RE 57 Linden King OLB 58 Mike Green ILB 54 Billy Ray Smith ILB 51 Woodrow Lowe. 23 Danny LCB 20 Wayne Davis RCB 22 GillByrd SS 37 Jeff Dale FS -i-rrrr- The Associated Press UC QUARTERBACK Dan AAcCoin barely manages to get off a pass before being wrapped up by Alabama's Curt Jarvis..