The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 25

3 wwwtennesseanoom THE TENNESSEAN Wednesday, August 2. 2000 5C SPORTS: BASEBALL ets call on oiieos ios Franco to stop vusJUSResjjSf istrai ght eds' threat 3 AL Wild Cant Turning two -Miguel Tejada of the Oakland Athletics throws over Carlos Delgado of the Toronto Blue Jays to complete a double play during the fourth inning of their game yesterday in Oakland. Brosius' home run sparks Yankees win Assmiuleil Press NEW YORK John Franco was given a chance to save a game a little earlier than he's used to. Franco, second on baseball's career saves list, stranded runners on second and third in the eighth inning last night to protect a 3-2 victory for Mike Hampton and the New York Mets. The Cincinnati Reds already scored twice in the inning when Franco, the former Mets and Reds closer, entered.

Me got Sean Casey to ground out with a runner on third before walking Alex Ochoa. Franco struck out Benito Santiago looking at an inside fastball to end the threat and set up Armando Benitez's career-best 26th save. "1 knew it was a good pitch, I was just waiting to see his hand," said Franco, who jumped after home plate umpire Ed Rapuano slowly called Santiago out on a 3-2 fastball. "I consider the eighth inning to be my save situation and get it to the big guy." Giants 13, Brewers 8 MILWAUKEE Hobby F.s-talella's bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning scored the go-ahead run as the San Francisco Giants stayed in first place with a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Estalella drew a five-pitch walk from Ray King (0-1) that scored J.T.

Snow, who had four hits and doubled to start the Giants' five-run eighth. The rally was extended by two Milwaukee errors which led to three unearned runs. Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent homered for the Giants, who shook their offensive slump by pounding out 17 hits. San Francisco hit just .180 in the first 10 games of its 12-game road trip, but the Giants had few problems against Milwaukee starter John Snyder and the Brewers' bullpea Pirates 6-3, Dodgers 0-5 PITTSBURGH Alex Cora hit a go-ahead two-run triple in Los Angeles' three-run eighth inning and the Dodgers avoided losing a doubleheader to Pittsburgh rookie pitchers, beating the Pirates in the second game. Adrian Beltre homered and drove in three runs as the Dodgers stopped a three-game losing streak against teams.

They dropped the final two games of a three-game weekend series in Philadelphia. Left-hander Jimmy Anderson, dominating since returning from the minors, pitched five-hit ball GB Oakland 59 47 Anaheim 57 51 3 Boston 54 48 3 Toronto 55 53 5 Cleveland 52 51 712 Sounds today Vs. Memphis, Noon: Nashville will host Memphis at noon at Greer Stadium. The Sounds will send LHP Paul Ah Yat (2-5, 3.63 ERA) against Clint Weibl (6-3, 2.65) of the Redbirds. Radio: 560-AM.

curveball up. I've seen Brown make some pretty gotd plays in center field. I don't know if it was knuckling or what. 1 thought he caught it when he dove." Parra had a second straight solid start, working seven innings and allowing just a pair of runs on five hits. Off the fieW: Infielder Enrique Wilson returned to Pittsburgh and came off the disabled list following Monday's 5-3 loss to Memphis.

Wilson, acquired from Cleveland over the weekend, was rehabbing a sprained wrist with Nashville. Also, infielder Eddie Zosky will report to Bradenton, to begin rehabilitating a foot injury. Zosky went on the DL for the Sounds on July 13. Outfielder Chad Hermansen, who had planned to resume play-last night following last Wednesday's beaning at Omaha, experienced a reaction to some headache medication and was not in the lineup. Hermansen will miss today's game as well.

Altoona infielder Luis Figueroa (.284, 1 1 IR, 28 RBI, 45 runs) is expected to join the Sounds today. His addition will get the team up to the 23-player limit. Exhibit set "Negro League Celebration The African-American Baseball Experience," a touring display, will make a stop at Greer Stadium tomorrow and Friday as the Sounds host Colorado Springs. The exhibit is designed to inform, entertain and celebrate the contributions of the African American to the history of baseball. It will include a look at the origin of African-American baseball, barnstorming, the birth of the Negro Leagues and some of the era's great teams.

It will also be highlighted by photographs, artifacts and equip ment dating back to the existence of the leagues. American Conference Central Division Pet. GB .582 .486 IO'i .472 12 .382 22 .591 .509 9 .486 ll'-i .468 131'! Albuquerque (Dodgers) 64 46 Col.Spnngs (Rockies) 52 55 Omaha (Royals) 51 57 Iowa (Cubs) 42 68 Eastern Division Memphis (Cardinals) 65 45 Oklahoma (Rangers) 55 53 New Orleans (Astros) 53 56 Nashville (Pirates) 51 58 Pacific Conference Southern Division I Sacramento (Athletics) 68 42 Las Vegas (Padres) 55 52 Tucson (Diamondbacks) 53 55 Fresno (Giants) 42 67 Northern Division Salt Lake (Twins) 68 42 Tocoma (Mariners) 57 52 Edmonton (Angels) 50 56 Colgory (Marlins) 44 66 Tuesday's results Calgary at Oklahoma Iowa at Fresno Las Vegas at Tocoma Memphis at Nashville New Orleans at Albuquerque Omaha at Colorado Springs Sacramento at Edmonton Soft Lake at Tucson Today's games Calgary at Oklahorno Iowa at Fresno las Vegas at Tocoma Memphis at Nashville New Orleans at Albuquerque Omaha at Colorado Spnngs Sacramento at Edmonton Salt Lake at Tucson Tomorrow's games Colorado Spnngs at Nashville Edmonton at Las Vegas New Orleans ot Memphis Oklahoma at Iowa Omaha at Albuquerque Soft Lake at Fresno Tocoma at Calgary Tucson at Socramento Pet. GB .618 .514 11 .491 14 .385 25 .618 .523 lOh .472 16 .400 24 It a 4.... Ifk 9th inning error allows Memphis to win by a run By MAURICE PATTON Jwrlv HWiiT Nashville ran its losing streak to a season's worst six games last night, and did so in jaw-dropping fashion at Greer Stadium.

Center fielder Adrian Brown misplayed Larry Sutton's potential game-ending tlyball into a ninth-inning, two-out, two-run double, as PCL East Division leader Memphis rallied for a 4-3 victory. "It just died," said Brown, who had to go to his left and slightly back for the ball into right-center before making a late and unsuccessful dive. 'You can't do anything about that but just hang with it. I got a good read. I tixik my eye off it for a split-second." Brown, on a rehabilitation assignment from Pittsburgh for a hamstring injury, said that was not a factor on the play.

Nashville jumped to a 2-0 lead with runs in the first and fourth innings before Sutton's two-run homer off starter Jose Parra in the sixth tied it 2-2. The Sounds went back ahead in the eighth when Jason Wood reached on a walk, moved up on a sacrifice and an infield groundout and scored on a throwing error. Relieving Rich Loiselle with a one-run lead, Travis Baptist (4-9) gave up a pair of hits to open the ninth but answered with back-to-back strikeouts before facing Sutton in search of the save. "He just lost it in the lights," Baptist said of Brown. "There's nothing you can do about it.

That's kinda what's been happening for us," he said. 'We've just got to get the good mojo working." Of Nashville's last 10 losses, six have come in the opponent's final at-bat. had a chance to win, and we didn't win," Sounds Manager Richie Hebner said. "It's the same thing almost every night. "It looked like (Baptist) hung a Ik.

Redbirds 4, Sounds 3 MEMPHIS lithe cf Clapp 2b Sutton lb Young If McDonald Garcia ss Eckelmon 3b Sckelman 3b Heiserman Stechschuhe Bieser rf Smith Lucca 3b Totals Memphis NASHVIUf ab cm ab bi 4020 2110 3100 401 1 3000 3100 5124 5010 3010 3010 4010 4010 0000 0000 4110 2000 1110 33 4 8 4 Redman cf Nunez Brown cf Laker lb Montgomery If Wilson Wehner2b Wood 3b Parra Loiselle Brede pn Baptist 401 1 3000 4000 2100 2000 0000 0000 0000 Totals 28 3 52 000 002 002 4 Nashville isnvnio Garcia (20), Nunei (10 OP Nashville 2. 100 100 010 3 LOB Memphis 9, Nashville 4. 2B Sutton 13). McDonald (12), Laker (25). 3B-Redmon HR-Sutton (9).

HBP Garcia. SH McDonald, Nunez, Brede. SB Little (18), Brown (1). CS Montgomery (5)- 'P bb Memphis Heiserman W.4-3 Stechschulte Nashville Parra Loiselle Baptist 149 2:48. A 4,800.

Sounds schedule Aug. 3 Colorado Spm, 7 p.m. Aug. 4 Colorado Spm, 7 p.m. Aug.

5 Colorado Sprn, 6 p.m. Aug. 6 Colorado Sprn, 4 p.m. Aug. 7 at New Orleans, 7 05 p.m.

Aug. 8 at New Orleans, 7:05 p.m. Aug. 9 at New Orleans, 7:05 p.m. Aug.

10 -at New Orleans, 7:05 p.m. Aug. 1 1 at Oklahoma, 7:05 p.m. Aug. 12-at Oklahoma, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 1 3 at Oklahoma, 7:05 p.m. Aug. 14 at Oklahoma, 7:05 p.m. 1 WALT fe Ht :37 NL Wild Card race GB Newark Arizona Los Angeles Cincinnati Colorado 60 45 58 48 3 56 50 412 54 52 612 51 54 9 Yesterday's Games Colorado 2, Chicago 1 Pittsburgh 6, Los Angeles 0, 1 st Los Angeles 5, Pittsburgh 3, 2nd New brk 3, Cincinnati 2 Atlanta 4, Arizona 2 Today's Games Cincinnati at NY Mets, 11:10 a.m.

L.A. at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m. Colorado at Chicago, 1 :20 p.m. Atlanta at Arizona, 9:05 p.m. over eight shutout innings as the Pirates won the opener.

Expos 4, Cardinals 0 MONTREAL Vladimir Guerrero hit a three-run homer and Trey M(xre pitched five shutout innings in his first appearance in more than two years as the Montreal F.xpos snapped a seven-game skid with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Guerrero hit his 26th home run and first since July 16 off Rick Ankiel (7-7) with runners on first and second in the fifth inning as Montreal won for just the sixth time in its last 21 games. Moore (1-0), his first appearance since June 6, ll98, allowed two hits and three walks, and struck out eight. Moore missed the entire 199 season after having arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Aug.

5, 1W8. Astros 4, Marlins 3 MIAMI Scott Flarton came within two outs of his first career shutout and the Houston Astros held on to beat the Florida Marlins. Flarton (11-4) allowed three runs, five hits, struck out seven and walked two in 8 1-3 innings to win his seventh game in eight starts, and his eighth since June 5. Florida's Chuck Smith (1-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth The man who caught Jones' homer was eventually moved to another section of the stadium by security guards because he was being hassled by other tans. Chipper Jones then singled off reliever Greg Swindell (2-4) and Jordan hit a more conventional homer, his 14th, six rows into the left-field stands off Johnny Ruffin to give the Braves a 4-2 lead.

Kevin Millw(xd (7-8), who retired the first 13 batters he faced and faced the minimum through six innings, allowed two runs and two hits in seven innings. John Rocker walked two batters in the ninth before being replaced by Mike Remlinger with one out. Remlinger got two outs for his 10th save in 12 chances. Reynoso was nearly as sharp as Millwood, allowing two runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. He retired 12 straight hitters between the fourth and seventh innings.

spend yswr day. i Pair of home runs gives Braves a win NEW YORK Scott Brosius was able to walk away satisfied. Brosius, having a tough time at the plate, homered to lead off the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 last night. Brosius, back in the lineup after missing two games because of tightness in his right calf, hit the second pitch from reliever Ricky Bottalico (7-3) far over the left-field wall for his 10th homer. In his previous at-bat, Brosius struck out with the bases loaded.

Earlier, he flied out to leave runners at second and third, and struck out with a runner on. "I had a lot of chances to get a hit with two outs, and I didn't," he said. "It was a nice way to end it." Manager Joe Torre liked what he saw. "I was happy for him. It was nice to see him smile when he got back to the dugout.

He's been struggling lately," he said. Athletics 3, Blue Jays 1 OAKLAND, Cali Randy Velarde hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning off Toronto closer Billy Koch as the Oakland Athletics beat the Blue Jays in 10 innings. Velarde, who had three hits, connected on a 3-1 pitch from Koch (5-2) for his career hit as the As won their fourth straight game. The Blue Jays have lost a season-high five straight games. Jason Isringhausen (5-3) struck out the side in the 10th for the victory.

White Sox 4, Rangers 3 ARLINGTON, Texas Charles Johnson made quite a first impression on his new teammates. Johnson hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning of his first game with the White Sox, propelling Chicago to a victory over the Texas Rangers. Johnson, acquired Saturday along with Harold Baines from Baltimore, hit a 400-fixt blast to left off John Wetteland (4-4) with one out in the ninth. Bobby Howry (2-2), who allowed a game-tying, two-run single to Gabe Kapler in the eighth, pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win. Orioles 10, Twins 0 BALTIMORE Mike Mussina held the Minnesota Twins hitless through six innings settled for I Auto Yesterday's Games Oakland 3, Toronto 1 (10) Tampa Bay 6, Cleveland 5 Boston at Seattle (n) Detroit 6 Anaheim 3 Today's games Toronto at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

Detroit at Anaheim, 3:05 p.m. Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 6:05 p.m. Boston at Seattle, 9:05 p.m. his third career one-hitter, striking out a dub-record 15, as the Baltimore Orioles cruised to a victory Tuesday night. Ron Coomer ended Mussina's no-hit bid with an opposite-field single with two outs in the seventh.

Mussina walked two batters, and two Twins reached on errors in the ninth inning. Tigers 6, Angels 3 ANAHEIM, Calif. Juan Gonzalez and Juan Encarnacion each homered for the second consecutive game, and Dean Palmer's two run double capped a four-run seventh inning as the Detroit Tigers beat the Anaheim Angels. Nelson Cruz (4-0) allowed a run and three hits in two relief innings. He replaced Adam Bernero, who allowed two runs and five hits over 5 1-3 innings in his major league debut.

Devil Rays 6, Indians 5 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Gerald Williams hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to spoil Bob Wick-man's Cleveland debut and give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays their club-record tying sixth straight win. Doug Creek (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. lit 1 50 laps .1 v.wiriitfn Press PHOENIX Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer into the glove of a fan reaching over the left-field fence and Brian Jordan also homered as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 last night.

Arizona's seventh loss in 10 games dropped the Diamondbacks out of at least a share of the NL West lead for the first time since the April 5. San Francisco beat Milwaukee 13-8 to take a one-game lead. With one out in the eighth and the Braves down 2-0, Jones lifted a fly ball to left field off Armando Reynoso. Luis Gonzalez tracked the ball to the wall and leaped to make the catch. But the ball landed in the glove of a fan reaching just over the fence, giving Jones his 26th homer and allowing the Braves to tie it.

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