The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 10

Q) 2 THE COURIER-JOURNAL, SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1994 Battle's hit in 10th lifts Redbirds 2- -J r- Hartsock gives tired staff boost with 7 innings Redbirds 2, Bisons 1 Buffalo it) ft bt Loulsvtlls ab ft bl Warmer 3b 4 0 10 Young cf 5 0 10 Womack 2b 4 0 0 0 Battle If 5 0 1 Reed if 4 0 0 0 Pagnozzi 1)11 Aude lb 4 110 Ronan 10 0 0 Varsho If 4 0 0 0 Stpbnsn 1b 4 0 A 0 Oa 1 0 0 0 Codbaugh 3b 3 0 0 0 Pennyfeather Cf 3 0 0 0 Deak 2b 3 0 0 0 Rohde as 4 0 0 0 Dixon 0 0 0 0 Dyerp 0 0 0 0 Prager ph 10 0 0 beberpti 0 0 0 0 Wishnevski 0 0 0 0 Tubbe ph 0 0 0 0 Thomas rt 4 2 3 0 Wilds 0 0 0 0 Cromer as 2 0 10 Shouse 0 0 0 0 Hartsock 2 0 0 0 Bohck 3b 0 0 0 0 Richardson 2b 1 0 0 0 Totals Mill Totals 34 2 7 1 V7 pitcher Steve Wilson, and since then his career has been spotty. The Red-birds signed him as a minor-league free agent last winter. "A lot of things happened since then," Hartsock said. "When you get traded for a player with big-league experience, you think you're going to get to make the next move, but it never materialized. You expect more, and you get a little down." Hartsock was pleased that he could follow Thursday night's 14-5 loss at Nashville with a lengthy effort.

"Our bullpen has been used to the ragged point," he said. "It was nice to be one of those who throws seven or eight innings. They pick us up sometimes, and sometimes it helps when we can pick them up." In less than a month, Wishnevski has been the Redbirds' long reliever, a starter, a setup man, and last night he was the closer. He has a 1-0 record and an 0.99 earned run average. "You can't expect more than we've asked of him," Pettini said.

Thomas continued to emerge from his batting slump with a 3-for-4 night that lifted his average to .218. His third-inning double led to the first Redbird run, which he scored as Hartsock grounded into a BUFFALO BISONS 010 000 0000-1 LOUISVILLE REDBIRDS 001 000 0001-2 E-Wehnar, Deak. Dp-Buffalo 1, Louisville 1. LOB-6uffalo 4, LouBvit 7. 2B-Thomas.

SB-Young (3). S-Pennyfealnar, Cromer 2. IP ft ER BB SO Buffalo Lieber Willis Shouse L.0-1 Dyer 7 1 1V4 Loulsvtlls Hartsock 7 2 1 0 2 3 Dixon 114 0 0 0 1 1 Wishnevski W.1-0 1 0 0 0 0 2 HBP-Os (by Wohnevski). T-2 49. How they scored Buffalo second (1) Aude singled.

Auds went to second on Desk's error. Osik walked, Aude to third. Pennyfeather grounded into a doubled play, Aude scored. Bisons 1, (ted-birds 0. Louisville third (1) Thomas doubled.

Cromer singled, Thomas to third. Hartsock grounded into a double play, Thomas scored. Redbirds 1, Bisons 1. Louisville 10th (1) Shouse pitching. Thomas singled.

Thomas went to second on Cromer's sacrHtea bunt. Dyer pitcrang. Richardson walked. Young forced Richardson. Thomas to third.

Thomas scored on Battle's single. Oedbtrda 2, Bisons 1. double play. His second single started the winning rally. Left-hander Kerry Knox (3-0) will pitch tonight's 7:15 game for Louisville.

He'll be opposed by righty John Hope (1-1). joev-v. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Battle called his flirtation with a big-league job with the White Sox, "a great experience. I got to see what big-league pitching is about, and I got to see how far away I might be. When I came back, it was to a good situation.

I'm playing every day. It's a great opportunity." Louisville manager Joe Pettini praised Battle and saluted other stars. His favorite was starting pitcher Jeff Hartsock, who gave a weary staff a boost with 7Vi innings of two-hit work. Hartsock walked only two, and the Bisons' run was unearned. Buffalo didn't have a hit after the second inning against Hartsock and relievers Steve Dixon and Rob Wishnevski.

Hartsock retired 17 straight Bisons during one stretch. "That was a heck of a game Hartsock pitched for only his third time out," Pettini said. In 1991 Hartsock seemed to be on the fast track after a 12-6 record for Albuquerque, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs for ASIAN SPA Oriental Massage 964-7359 3103 Fern Valley Rd. Between 1-65 Preston Hwy.

FAR EAST HEALTH SPA A good massage is relaxing and beneficial to mind. 7 Days 9 AM 2 AM 502-495-2000 5 4160 Bardstown Plaza ASSOCIATED PRESS St. Louis catcher Terry McGrlff got the worst of It as the Astros' Luis Gonzales tried unsuccessfully to score last night In Houston. Galarraga sets RBI mark as Cubs hit 0-9 at home Golf Clubs, Nike, Dexter Shoes Always Low Prices TENT I A Efl TENT SALE wSSudetmOxf J1 XMJMJ foo am 10:00 pm i COME SEE BUDDY DEMLING'S TRICK SHOT SHOW MAY 1 AT 2 PM PING m.L 66U Shepherdsville Road Louisville, KY 40218 (502) 964-4653 BfaaaBfc-fc "iiiiiiynrfflnmir n- -1 wsur imp By GEORGE RORRER Staff Writer This has been an enchanted spring for Allen Battle, the Louisville Redbirds left fielder. First Battle spent most of the spring in the bustling big-league camp of the Chicago White Sox, who plucked him from the St.

Louis Cardinals' Class AA Arkansas farm club in the minor-league draft. There the 25-year-old Battle was vying for the same job as Michael Jordan. Even though the White Sox sold Battle back to St. Louis for half of the $50,000 they paid for him, he is still riding high. After his first 20 Triple-A games he's batting .321.

And he has a 16-game hitting streak going after his lOth-inning single scored Skeets Thomas with the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Bisons last night at Cardinal Stadium. The hitting streak was in the back of his mind, Battle admitted. But far back. "You just try to see the ball and get a good hack at it every time," Battle said. "I take pride in myself that if I have two strikes on me, I can still get a good swing at the ball." AMERICAN LEAGUE Gibson's 2-run triple boosts Tigers, snaps Bere's streak Associated Press Kirk Gibson's two-run triple capped a three-run sixth inning as the host Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 last night.

White Sox starter Jason Bere (2- 1), who had won nine straight games dating to August, allowed just one hit over the first five in nings and was leading 2-0 when the ligers struck. Lou Whitaker singled with one out, and one out later, Cecil Fielder singled to put runners at first and third. Bere then uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Whitaker. Mickey Tettleton walked, and Gibson fol lowed with his triple to the gap in right-center to make it 3-2. Bill Gullickson (1-1) earned the victory, allowing two runs and eight hits in 7 innings.

He walked four and struck out five. Mike Henneman gave up an RBI single to Robin Ventura in the ninth but struck out Dan Pasqua with two on for his fourth save. Bere gave up three runs and five hits in 6K3 innings, striking out nine. Blue Jays 12, Twins 7: Mike Huff, subbing for Devon White, had three hits, including a two-run triple, and Dick Schofield, who came in batting .143, had four hits and two RBIs as visiting Toronto clubbed Minnesota. Juan Guzman (3-2) allowed four runs and six hits in 6ft innings.

Twins starter Kevin Tapani (1-2) was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings. Kirby Puckett and Jeff Reboulet each hit three-run homers for the Twins. Indians 5, Rangers 4: Kenny Lofton's one-out homer in the 12th lifted host Cleveland over Texas. Lofton stood at home plate and watched his drive off Jay Howell (2-1) sail into the right-field seats. The home run, his third, gave the Indians a 4-0 record in extra innings this year.

They were 2-12 in extra innings last season. It was the second time Lofton has won an extra-inning game with a homer this year. He beat California in the 10th on April 13. Jose Mesa (3-0) got the victory with 2Yi innings of one-hit relief. He fanned five.

Charles Nagy left with a 4-3 lead after limiting the Rangers to four hits through eight innings, but Steve Farr gave up an RBI single to Ivan Rodriguez in the ninth to tie it. Rodriguez, who was 2 for 4, was booed every time up because he put Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel on the disabled list with a hard slide last week in Texas. Nagy hit Rodriguez with a pitch in the seventh. Juan Gonzalez had a two-run homer for Texas, ending his eight-game home-run drought It was his fourth of the season. Cleveland's Albert Belle went 0 for 4 to end his 13-game hitting streak.

In games Thursday night: Orioles 4, Angels 2: Sid Fernandez (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits over 83 innings and Lee Smith set a major-league save record as Baltimore topped host California. Smith got the final two outs for his 11th save in as many opportunities to become the first in history to save 11 of his team's first 21 games. Of 4 Trebelhorn hits the streets to answer Cubs fans' questions Associated Press CHICAGO Cubs manager Tom Trebelhorn stood outside a firehouse near Wrigley Field and answered questions for 30 minutes from angry fans after Chicago lost to Colorado 6-5 yesterday and fell to 0-9 at home. "There were a lot of good questions, a lot of good thoughts," Trebelhorn said. "A lot of heart and emotion is with the Cubs.

But (the fans) weren't a very patient group." About 200 people were waiting for Trebelhorn outside Engine Co. No. 78 on the corner of Seminary and Wa-veland avenues behind the left-field wall. He stood on top of a green park bench, flanked by security guards, and fielded questions. "How do you motivate a guy who's making $7 million?" one fan asked.

"When are you going to get some pitching?" The key query was: "When are you going to win?" "Tomorrow," Trebelhorn said, and the crowd cheered. Trebelhorn is in his first year at the helm. Chicago is off to its worst start ever and has the worst mark in the National League at 6-15. "I don't have a question," one fan said, "but I've got to say, you have a lot of guts coming out here." The crowd applauded. 7 loss to Cincinnati.

Steve Cooke (1-3) withstood Fred McGriffs two-run homer in the fourth inning for his first victory since he beat Florida on Sept. 15. The left-hander lost his final two decisions in 1993 and failed to win in his first four starts this season. King had a run-scoring single in the first, a two-run double in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh after driving in only five runs in his first 69 at-bats. Phillies 6, Giants 3: Mariano Duncan hit a three-run homer and Ben Rivera pitched seven strong innings as host Philadelphia ended its five-game losing streak.

Rivera (2-1) retired 12 straight batters before Matt Williams walked and Barry Bonds followed with a homer to give San Francisco a 2-1 lead. But the Phillies moved ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Lenny Dykstra and Duncan doubled and John Kruk singled. Duncan's homer chased Brian Hickerson (l-l) in the sixth. Mets 6, Dodgers 4: Outfielder Cory Snyder, playing out of position at second base, had an error on Jose Vizcaino's eighth-inning grounder, allowing two runs to score as host New York rallied to beat Los Angeles. After David Segui drew a one-out walk off Darren Dreifort, manager Tommy Lasorda brought in Gary Wayne (1-3), inserting him in second baseman Jeff Treadway's spot in the lineup.

Snyder moved to second and was replaced by Mitch Webster in right field. Pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak was hit by a pitch, and Todd Hundley followed with an RBI single to tie the score 4-4. After John Cangelosi walked, Todd Worrell replaced Wayne. Vizcaino's grounder then went between Snyder's legs, allowing Orsulak and Hundley to score. At This Admire You ForYour Brains As Well As Associated Press Andres Galarraga set a National League record yesterday with his 30th run batted in for April in helping the Colorado Rockies to a 6-5 victory over Chicago that kept the Cubs winless at home.

David Nied (3-2) gave up four hits over five innings, and Steve Reed, Bruce Ruffin and Darren Holmes finished up. Holmes got his third NATIONAL LEAGUE save by escaping a bases-loaded, none-our jam in tne nintn to leave the Cubs 0-9 at Wigley Field, the "I don't think anyone's pressing," Cubs second baseman Ryne Sand-berg said. "In some of those situations, you want to come through with a big hit, and we haven't." Galarraga gave Colorado a 4-2 lead with a run-scoring double off Steve Trachsel (2-2) in the fifth. The 30th RBI broke the NL April record of 29 shared by Dale Murphy (1985) and Ron Cey (77). "I keep finding more and more guys on base," Galarraga said.

"I'm I going to try to break both records (National and major league)." His 30 RBIs matched the major-league April mark set Wednesday by Toronto's Joe Carter, who had none in the Blue Jays' 12-7 victory last night at Minnesota. The Cubs tied the score 4-4 on Sandberg's two-run homer in the I fifth. Roberto Mejia put the Rockies ahead 6-4 in the sixth with his sec-- ond homer in as many days. J' Chicago loaded the bases in the ninth on two walks and a bunt single. Holmes struck out Sandberg, and after Mark Grace singled to left to make it 6-5, Glenallen Hill grounded into a double play.

Back-to-back homers by Dante Bichette and Charlie Hayes in the fourth gave Colorado a 3-0 lead. Expos 3, Padres 1: Kirk Rueter became the first big leaguer since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to start his career with a 10-0 record as host Montreal beat San Diego. "As long as we win, I couldn't care less if I'm still undefeated," Reuter said. The 23-year-old left-hander, who raised his record this season to 2-0, struck out seven and didn't walk a batter over innings in outdueling Padres starter Andy Benes (1-5). Hooks Wiltse holds the major-league record of 12 wins to start a career, set with the New York Giants in 1904.

Rookie Cliff Floyd tripled home the tying run in the sixth, scored the go-ahead run on Larry Walker's groundout and scored in the eighth on Marquis Grissom's double. Reuter, 8-0 with six no-decisions last season after getting called up in Julv. had 8.04 FRA Pnintr intn lact night's game. He struggled to win his season opener, but was knocked out early in his next three outings, dodging losses as his teammates mounted late-inning rallies. Astros 4, Cardinals 3: Jeff Bagwell's lOth-inning RBI double carried host Houston past St.

Louis. Rich Rodriguez (1-1) walked Craig Biggio with two out, and Bagwell lined a shot over the head of left fielder Bernard Gilkev. Bizrio easily beat the throw home, making a winner of Mike Hampton (1-0). Todd Zeile hit his seventh homer of the season and drove in all three runs for the Cardinals. Pirates 8, Braves 5: Host Pittsburgh got four RBIs from Jeff King and beat Atlanta, which is 15-7 but has lost three of four to the Pirates, who were coming off Thursday's 19- i Jell, yes, it is wonderful to be admired for your sleek torso and sinuous lines.

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