The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 19

3 www.lennessean.com THE TENNESSEAN Tuesday, August 1 2000 5C SPORTS: BASEBALL Willi amson, Reds Mets rumble past Wr- SV- I AP Associated Press NEW YORK Scott Williamson is still getting used to starting games. Williamson, a reliever for Cincinnati last season, pitched six strong innings and Dante Bichette drove in three runs as the Reds snapped the New York Mets' six-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory last night. Williamson (4-7) allowed six hits, struck out three and walked two before leaving with a left hamstring spasm in his fifth major league start. He injured himself while running the bases in the seventh, but doesn't expect to miss his next start Sunday against Florida "It started to cramp up, and they told me I had pitched a good game and didn't want me to take any chances," Williamson said. "I promise I'll be able to get past the sixth inning one day.

"Right now, I think my body is just trying to adapt to the starting role." Williamson improved to 3-0 with an 0.51 ERA in eight appearances against the Mets, including 2-0 and no earned runs in BV innings at New York. Larry Luebbers pitched three innings for his first career save. "We never got anything going he was on," Mets Manager Bobby Valentine said. "The few times we got him deep (in the count), he seemed to throw a nice 3-2 breaking ball or 2-1 breaking ball. He spotted it where he wanted to." to the dugout after sliding in hard OK and stayed in the game.

gle in the ninth. Giants 4, Brewers 3 (11) MILWAUKEE Ellis Burks hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning, lifting San Francisco over Milwaukee. Cubs 2, Rockies 0 CHICAGO Kevin Tapani pitched 6Vs shutout innings and Mark Grace homered as the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 for their ninth victory in 10 games. Cardinals 4, Expos 0 MONTREAL Darryl Kile pitched his first shutout in more than two years, and J.D. Drew and Fernando Tatis homered to lead St.

Louis to a win over Montreal. Vander Wal: re-signsThe Pittsburgh Pirates signed utilityman John Vander Wal to a $3.7 million, two-year contract extension yesterday following several days of speculation he would be traded. General Manager Cam Bonifay fielded numerous calls regarding Vander Wal, who was a role player for Montreal, San Diego and Colorado but is enjoying a big year with increased playing time. Vander Wal, 34, already has set career highs for homers (15) and RBIs (55) and is hitting .292 in only 233 at-bats. Previously, he never had more than six homers or 41 RBIs in a season, both with San Diego last year.

Vander Wal, who has played first base, left field and right field, could have become a free agent after this season. Bonifay fielded calls from the Mets, Cardinals, Giants and Mariners about him. Strawberry tests: Darryl Strawberry, who learned last week that his cancer was no longer in remission, began a battery of tests to determine if the disease has spread. The suspended New York Yankees outfielder was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 1998 and underwent surgery. He revealed last week that there was a recurrence, this time in his lymph nodes.

Season oven Cincinnati Reds third baseman Aaron Boone learned last night that he will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Boone, placed on the disabled list on July 13, will have surgery Aug. 8 in Birmingham, Ala. Dr. James Andrews will operate, assisted by Reds medical director Dr.

Tim Kremchek. Yankees TV deal barred: Winners on the field, the New York Yankees were losers in court Monday in their fight with Madison Square Garden. The World Series champions were barred from forming a new cable television company with a division of the International Management Group to broadcast the team's games starting next season. New York Supreme Court Justice Barry A. Cozier granted MSG'S request for a preliminary injunction agreeing with MSG'S claim that the Yankees' agreement with IMG's Trans Wortd International division violated the MSG right of last refusal.

That clause was contained in a $486 million, 12-year contract to broadcast Yankees games, a deal that expires after this season. Larkin at Shea: Barry Larkin, in his first game at Shea Stadium since rejecting a trade to the Mets on July 23, went 1-for-4 with an RBI and walk. Larkin was booed heartily when his name was called during pregame introductions and before each at-bat. "It was loud," Larkin said. "But I think that's one of the reasons I've always liked playing here.

There always seems to be a lot of energy here and I feed off that." Taubensee leaves game: Cincinnati Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee left last night's game against the New York Mets in the second inning due to back spasms. Gullett to hospital: Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Don Gullett, 49, was hospitalized due to tightness in his chest. A Reds spokesman said it did not appear to be serious. NEWS SERVICES Belle's blast aids Orioles Associated Press BALTIMORE Albert Belle ended the longest homerless drought of his career and Sidney Ponson pitched seven strong innings as the revamped Baltimore Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 last night. Carlos Casimiro doubled in two runs in his first major league at-bat for the Orioles, whose new-kxtk lineup has produced three straight wins.

Casimiro's hit put Bidtimore up 4-1 in the third, and newcomer Melvin Mora scored two runs and stole a base. Athletics 6, Blue Jays 1 OAKLAND, Calif. David Wells lost on the road for the first time this season as Tim Hudson pitched the Oakland Athletics over the Toronto Blue Jays. Wells (16-4), who leads the majors in victories, had been 10-0 on the road this year. Overall, he had won 13 in a row away from Sky-Dome since Sept.

7, 1999, when he lost at Seattle. Angels 5, Tigers 4 ANAHEIM, Calif. Pinch-hitter Scott Spiezio hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, and Tim Salmon also homered in the ninth as the Anaheim Angels stunned the Detroit Tigers and closer Todd Jones. Sounds today Memphis at Sounds, 7 p.m., 560-AM. RHP Jose Parra (3-2, 6.19 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Sounds against Memphis LHP Bud Smith (1-0, 4.32).

Oklahoma two weeks ago, whittled his earned run average down one run, to 5.26. "Cory had some tough breaks. As a starter, your main thing is to keep your team in the game, and I was able to do that," said McConnell, who started the Double-A All-Star Game after going 9-2, 1.61 at Altoona. Injury report: Nashville outfielder Chad Hermansen, who was hit in the head by a pitch from Omaha's Brett Laxton last Wednesday, was held out yesterday for the fifth straight game. He is expected to be in the lineup tonight, however, as he reported no ill effects after taking batting practice yesterday.

Reliever Jeff Wallace underwent testing after aggravating a knee injury initially suffered in the same game at Omaha. Wallace did throw in the bullpen last night. Bullpen is costly for McConnell, Sounds Expansion a goal for Sounds owner Ml Last year's NL rookie of the year was a starter in his first two professional seasons, but was converted to a reliever last year when he made the big league club. He made 38 appearances as a reliever this season before moving into the ro-tatioa "The guy did well," said New York's Bubba Trammell, a former Tennessee star who went 0-for-3. "It's the first time I've seen him, but he threw his slider well, and hit his spots with the fastball.

It's unusual to have just two (pitches), but he threw both of them pretty good." Ken Griffey who also turned down a trade to the Mets in December, had a scary collision with Mike Piazza in the first inning, but remained in the game. Griffey gave the Reds a scare when he slid in ahead of Mike Bor-dick's relay throw to Piazza at home and came up limping. He was checked out by the team trainer and t(Kik the field in the bottom half. Padres 4, Phillies 1 SAN DIEGO Woody Williams came within one out of his second career shutout and Phil Nevin hit a two-run homer to lift mm who worked with Moncrief when both were involved with the now-defunct Opryland theme park during the mid-1990s. "Al recognizes strengths and capitalizes on them.

Tommy's strength is in operations; I love doing the other stuff." Burns said one of the key factors in her decision to join the Sounds was a commitment from Gordon to be more involved locally something he admits should have already been the case. "I love being down here, I love the people of Nashville, and I love baseball," Gordon said. "I pkin to be here more often, and shame on me for not being here more to start with." The addition of Burns to the front-office mix and Gordon's increased presence should relieve some of the staff's uncertainty; at least, that's one of the immediate goals for Burns. "I've been brought aboard to stabilize sales and marketing," she said. "Everybody is safe here.

Nobody's going to get fired; nobody's head is on the chopping block." Herlihy resigns: In a move unrelated to the media gathering, Jim Herlihy resigned his position as assistant general manager to return to Florida, where his wife is from. "Al has offered me a chance to stay in the AmeriSports umbrella," said Herlihy, who had been with the Texas Rangers' Class A team in Port Charlotte, before coming to Nashville last fall. "But I promised my wife that when our kids got ready to start school, we'd be somewhere we were ready to put down roots for a while." Ken Griffey of Cincinnati is helped at home vs. New York. Griffey was San Diego past Philadelplaa.

Williams (6-3), making his fifth start since coming off the DL with an aneurysm under his right armpit, allowed four hits and lost the shutout when Pat Burrell homered with two outs in the ninth. Williams struck out four to go 3-1 in his last four starts. Astros 4, Marlins 2 MIAMI Jose Lima won his third straight decision and helped himself with a double as Houston beat Florida. Craig Biggio homered and drove in three runs as the Astros stopped a three-game losing streak. He drove in Lima with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and hit an RBI sin- Amerkan Conference Central Division I Albuquerque (Dodgers) 63 46 Col.Sprirtgs (Rocluei) 52 54 Omoha (Royali) 50 57 Iowa (Cub!) 42 67 Eastern Division Memphis (Cardinals) 65 45 Oklahoma (Rangers) 55 52 New Orleans (Astros) 53 55 Nashville (Pirates) 51 58 Pacific Conference Southern Division I Sacramento (Athletics) 67 42 Las Vegas (Padres) 54 52 Tucson (Diamondbacks) 53 54 Fresno (Giants) 41 67 Northern Division Salt Lake (Twins) 67 42 Tocoma (Mariners 57 51 Edmonton (Angels) 50 55 Calgary (Marlins) 43 66 Sunday's results Calgary 6, Oklahoma 1 Iowa 23, Fresno 2 Tocoma 2, Las Vegas 1.12 innings Memphis 18, Nashville 1 Albuquerque 5, New Orleans 0 Omaha 1 0, Colorado Springs 5 Sacramento 8, Edmonton 5 Tucson 5, Salt Lake 4 Yesterday's results Calgary at Oklahomo Iowa at Fresno Las Veqas at Tocoma Memphis 5, Nashville 3 New Orleans at Albuquerque Omaha at Colorado Springs Sacramento at Edmonton Sah Lake at Tucson Today's games Calgary at Oklahoma Pet.

.578 .491 .467 .385 .591 .514 .491 .468 GB 9Vi 12 21 lOVi 13 Pet. .615 .509 .495 .380 .615 .528 .476 .394 GB 17 Vi 13 25'i 9'! 15 24 Las Vegas at Tacoma lowa at rresno Memphis at Nashville New Orleans at Albuquerque Omaha at Colorado Spnngs Sacramento at Edmonton Salt Lake at Tucson Redbints 5, Sounds 3 MEMPHIS Lrmecf NASHVILLE ab bi ab bi 501 2 3220 5010 4002 3000 3010 Redman cf 4020 4000 4120 4222 3020 402 1 0000 3000 4000 2000 0000 1000 Clapp 2b Sutton lb Young If Johnson Garcia 3b Eckelmon rfrf Stechschulte Martinez ss Thompson Kornutfi Lucca ph Rodriguez Wainhouse Nunez ss Brown rf C.Wilson Montgomery If E.Wilson 2b-ss Wallace Hernandez I Wood 3b McConnell Bailey Wehner 2b 4110 0000 4000 2020 0000 1000 0000 0000 0100 34 5 8 4 bieser plvrt Totals Totals 33 3 10 1O0 000 013 5 010 002 000 3 his 4, Nashville 1. LOB 3Memphis Nashville EWilson. OP Memi Memphis 8, Nashville 6. 31 Clapp.

HR Wilson (26). SF- Young. SB Little (17), Redman (16). er bb so Memphis Thompson Karnuth Rodriguez Wainhouse W.3-0 Stechschulte Nashville McConnell Bailey 1,24 tp 5 1 1 1 1 7'i 1 3 0 0 0 0 7 2 0 Wallace WP Bailey. HB Thompson, Karnuth.

PB- Wil- son. 2:42 A 2,287. OFFER ENDS 8-31-00 Authorized Agent ol BELLSOUTH Mobility' Services Company By MAURICE PATTON Sports Writer Nashville Sounds owner Al Gordon expressed hope yesterday that the franchise can become the cornerstone for a minor-league baseball empire. Addressing the Nashville media for the second time since taking majority ownership of the club last fall, Gordon chided himself for not being more visible in the city and acknowledged his intentions of doing so in the future. "We'd like for Nashville to be a platform from which we're going to be doing a number of other things," the Chicago-based Gordon said.

Gordon says his AmeriSports Companies is currently in discussions with "teams in each of the other minor leagues." "We're very focused on doing the best job we can do here, so we can point to this and show other cities what we've done here and say we can do this in their city as well," he said. Toward that end, Sharon Burns, the former vice president for administration and marketing of the Nashville Kats, made her first official appearance as a member of the Sounds' front office yesterday. Burns was named vice president for sales, marketing and communications for the team last week. She will split the duties of a traditional general manager with Tommy Moncrief, who was named vice president of business operations. There is no general manager position in the Sounds organization.

"This has all the elements I truly love, without all the responsibilities of operations," said Burns, iloll Que? Incredible FfE fffo fr0 7 jiV imISibJ By MAURICE PATTON Sports Writer For the second time since his July 14 callup from Double-A Al-toona, Sam McConnell lost a pitching decision because of the Nashville bullpea McConnell allowed two runs in 7 innings and was in line for the win thanks to Craig Wilson's two-run homer the 100th home run of his pro career in the sixth inning. But Memphis scored three times in the ninth and grabbed a 5-3 comeback victory. "I guess, lately, if anything can go wrong, it goes wrong," Sounds Manager Richie Hebner said after his team lost for the fifth consecutive time despite outhitting the Redbirds 10-8. Wilson was one of five Nashville batters who had a pair of hits. With Nashville leading 3-2 in the ninth, Enrique Wilson flubbed a potential double-play ball.An passed ball and wild pitch by reliever Cory Bailey tied the game, and Mark little's two-run single put the visiting Redbirds into the lead.

Little then caught the final two outs in center field to get the victory for the PCL Eastern Division leaders. McConnell, who was in position to win his Triple-A debut against QUIET PLEASE! Introducing The Honda 4-Stroke Trimmeri Powerful, quiet Honda 5hp mini 4- UMK431LNA stroke engine uses regular gas) Weighs less than 15lbs. Your Authorized Full Service Dealer! J' tnuioro 315 Donelson Pk. 615-883-3251 Lawn Garden Products That Work. For optimum performance and safety please read the owner's manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment CI 996 American Honda Motor Co Inc VV-- 1 Register Now Let one of the USGI Golf Professionals help you Improve your total game! Plus, when you pre-register, you will receive tie following three gifts Your Unused Rflinyfes! knHHtHBeWHi EVdcl Gap Wedge ($125 value) USGI Game Improvement System FREE Video Analysis uys All This Ericsson DH668 Digital Phone Car Charger Leather Case Wall Charger 95 34 VALUE tVikl (jap WfMif1, 1 ilami'nt Wound Gramme bh.ifl.

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