The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 41

THE COURIER-JOURNAL LOUISVILLE, KY. SUNDAY. OCTOBER 15, 1989 Stewart quiets Giant bats as A's roll 5-0 A's, best in baseball, also 1st in Arrogants St. SPORTS 3 RICK BOZICH SPORTS COLUMNIST OAKLAND, Calif. Rickey Henderson steals bases the way Mel Gibson steals hearts, but that is not what satisfies the frisky Oakland left fielder.

He prefers to steal your dignity, talking trash and tiptoeing into bases. Take a look at Dave Parker, Henderson's beefy teammate. The way he lingers outside the batter's box and admires his home runs you'd think they were painted by Van Gogh. When he drove a Scott Garrelts' cut fastball over the right-field wall last night, Parker took his wide, wide body on a wide, wide trip down the first-base line. Elapsed time: Less than 10 minutes.

I think. And then there is Mr. Biceps himself right fielder Jose Canseco, a player consumed by a personal marketing strategy as well as three-run homers. Admirers wanting to talk to Jose can call him direct. The number? Try 1-900-CONCEIT.

They are the Oakland A's. By MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service OAKLAND The Battle of the Bay began last night with a thrashing. And echoing in the aftermath of Oakland's easy 5-0 victory against San Francisco in Game 1 were two crucial pre-World Series questions. Could Oakland's fine starters stop the Giants' big hitters? Game 1 suggested that they can. At least Dave Stewart can.

He was masterful, mowing down the Giants on five hits. "He's risen to the occasion so many times we expect it," Oakland manager Tony La Russa said. Do the Giants have the starting pitching to stay in this? Game 1 suggested they might not. Scott Garrelts was gone after four innings, having given up five runs and seven hits. Rick Reuschel, the only Giants starter See STEWART PAGE 3, col.

2, this section As in Arrogants. As in America's finest collection of baseball talent, an assessment the A's began proving last night by thumping the San Francisco Giants 5-0 in Game 1 of the 1989 World Series at Oakland Coliseum. The A's represent the best in major-league baseball, a team that can beat you with bats, arms, legs, gloves and soul. The Giants discovered that. Shortstop Walt Weiss also homered.

Seven A's stroked 11 hits. Nine reached base. And Dave Stewart allowed only four singles and a double. See ATHLETICS PAGE 3, col. 1, this section SERJES AT A GLANCE i Last night Oakland 5, San Francisco 0 (Oakland leads best-of-7 series 1-0).

San Francisco at Oakland, 8:20 p.m. Pitchers: Rick fleuschel (17-8) vs. Mike Moore (19-11). TV: ABC-32, 8 p.m. Announcers: Al Michaels, Tim McCarver, Jim Palmer.

Game 3: 8:35 p.m. Tuesday at San Francisco. (TV: 8 p.m.) ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland's Dave Stewart shut out San Francisco on five hits in Game 1 of the World Series. The A's won 5-0. Hail Mary fling on last play shoots down of By RUSS BROWN Staff Writer Southern Mississippi quarterback Brett Favre's play-calling was easy when he stepped into the huddle yesterday with six seconds left against the University of Louisville.

His choices were: Hail Mary left or Hail Mary right. He directed his prayerful pass left and it was answered by Darryl Tillman as the Golden Eagles handed of a crushing 16-10 defeat in front of 38,484 stunned fans in Cardinal Stadium and two representatives from the All American Bowl. "Amazing," of quarterback Browning Nagle said softly. "Amazing." Yes, it was. After a 43-yard field-goal attempt by of L's Ron Bell was blocked by Ver-nard Collins with 13 seconds left, it looked as if the protagonists would settle for a 10-10 tie.

But Favre's 79-yard touchdown pass to Tillman, who caught the ball on the dead run after it was tipped by teammate Mirhapl enahlpd South "n'milMHw niipimm1 ii nullum ii I mimmmmamimm i mmmmm i ii iiim ISlllfttJilSlllSliSSSilll v-f- ern Miss (3-4) to beat the Cardinals (3- 2) on the last play of the game. "It was an absolute fluke," of cornerback John Gainey said. "Things like that aren't supposed to happen." After the blocked field goal, Southern Miss took over on its own 26-yard line, and Favre was sacked for a 5-yard loss by of defensive end Mike Flores. The Golden Eagles called time out at 0:06, then lined up with three wide receivers on the left side and one on the right side. Everyone knew what vwas coming.

i "The only thing you can do is drop back and throw it as far as you can," Favre said. "The object is to just throw See HAIL MARY PAGE 9, col. 1, this section STAFF PHOTOS BY KEITH WILLIAMS Southern Miss's Darryl Tillman, left, was hugged by teammate Michael Jackson after his game-winning catch on the final play of the game yesterday a play that left Louisville defensive back John Gainey heading dejectedly to the bench after the 16-10 loss. i Blazing Bayakoa zips by IIV2 in Spinster Late Knight scare can't ruin UK's homecoming ble earned it" Count among the other beneficiaries of that decision the racing fans at Gulfstream Park for the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup, along with those who will be watching on television.

They're in for a thrill if she approaches the performance she unleashed yesterday before a record Keeneland crowd of 28,788. Going in, Bayakoa's five rival jockeys and trainers knew the mare was essentially unbeatable if not pressured on the lead. Of course, the other side is that to hook Bayakoa early on means sacrificing any chance of winning. "You go with her, she'll kill you," said Eduardo Inda, McAnally's longtime assistant who saddled Bayakoa. "John Henry was the best horse I've been around; this is the best mare." Between the Hedges, winner of Arlington's Matron in her last start, went after Bayakoa.

But though they went the first quarter-mile in only See BAYAKOA PAGE 18, col. 1, this section By JENNIE REES Staff Writer LEXINGTON, Ky. Bayakoa is going on to the Breeders' Cup Dis- taff after her smashing 11 -length victory over old rival Goodbye Halo in yesterday's $265,250 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Because the 5-year-old bay mare and her sire, the Argentine stallion Consultant's Bid, were not nominated to the program at her birth, it requires a $200,000 supplementary fee to make her eligible to the Breeders' Cup. As a businessman, owner Frank Whitham knows that is not a good economic move when first-place money is $500,000, minus expenses and the 10-percent cuts due the trainer and jockey.

On top of that, Bayakoa has nothing to prove, having virtually locked up year-end honors as female handicap champion. But Whitham, in the agriculture and cattle business in Kansas, said, "I believe the filly (Bayakoa) earned it, and Ron McAnally's sta came alive late in the contest, scoring 16 points in the last 3:15. Willis, who was 7 for 7 kicking when you include his three extra points, set a school record for points by a kicker with 15. That eclipsed the mark of 14 by his immediate predecessor, Joey Worley. Willis' four field goals from 20, 19, 38 and 20 yards tied another school record held by Worley.

It also came a week after a nightmarish performance against Auburn, when Willis missed both of his field-goal attempts, had his only extra-point try blocked and knocked a crucial onside kick out-of-bounds. "I'm in a lot better mood tonight," Willis said with a laugh. "I had a lot of things to prove to myself and a lot of other people today. And I think I did." UK coach Jerry Claiborne said the senior place-kicker provided the winning edge. "Kenny Willis was the difference," he said.

"Any time a kicker scores 15 points in a game, he's doing something right" See LATE PAGE 8, col. 1, this section By SCOTT FOWLER Staff Writer LEXINGTON, Ky. If you wanted a snapshot to keep of the University of Kentucky's 33-26 victory over Rutgers last night, picture this: UK kicker Ken Willis watching a football sailing through the goal posts beneath a gorgeous full moon. That was the prettiest thing about the Wildcats' victory, which brought them to 3-2 on the season and ended a two-game losing streak. The reasons why Willis tied a school record with four field goals were sometimes ugly: Kentucky bogged down inside the Scarlet Knights' 5-yard line on three different possessions.

But for the most part this was a night of celebration for a homecoming crowd of 54,771 and a UK offense that had scored 17, 13, three and 12 points in four previous games. Touchdowns by Al Baker (a 20-yard screen pass), Andy Murray (a 1-yard run) and Alfred Rawls (an electrifying 69-yard run) offset a Rutgers offense that frantically STAFF PHOTO BY STEWART BOWMAN UK tailback Alfred Rawls found a hole during the first half. Rawls later had a 69-yard TD run. INSIDE The Walker deal: Who wins? HOCKEY Wayne Gretzky is one point away from Gordie Howe's NHL record for points, 1,850, and plays tonight at Edmonton. Here are their totals: Seasons Goals Asts Pts Howe 26 801 1,049 1,850 Gretzky 11 640 1,209 1,849 'Madness' still reigns at UK See Page 2 Scorecard College football Pro football Sports Etc.

Outdoors 6-12 14 15 17 See Page 14 19 19 Thoroughbred racing 18, Harness racing.