The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 27

3 www.tennessean.com THE TENNESSEAN Thursday, August 3, 2000 5C SPUR IS: BASEBALL chilling shuts out Braves 2-0 days and 242 of them have been opposed to the plan. Mitchell punches team own-en Former San Francisco star Kevin Mitchell punched the owner Win puts Arizona into tie for West By BOB BAUM Associated Press PHOENIX In his home debut for Arizona, Curt Schilling shut out Atlanta for the second time this Schilling, 7-2 with a 1.69 ERA in his last 10 starts, allowed six hits and retired the final 13 batters. He struck out four and walked one in his fifth complete game of the season and 15th shutout of his career. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed one run in 17 innings for the Diamondbacks, and is 3-0 against the Braves this season. Schilling shut out Atlanta 6-0 with Phialdelphia on May 6.

Jay Bell's two-out RBI double in the third inning provided Schilling with the only run he needed. Matt Williams drove in Bell with a single for the second run. Maddux (12-6) lost his third straight decision. He gave up two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two, one intentionally.

With just their third victory in 10 games, Arizona climbed back into a virtual tie with San Francisco for first place in the NL West. The Diamondbacks, batting just .220 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season, scored both of their runs with two outs in the third. Tony Womack had perhaps the biggest at-bat of the night. With two outs, after fouling off several pitches, Womack walked on Maddux's 3-2 pitch, then stole second, his 22nd steal of the seasoa Bell, hitless in his previous four games and batting just .173 since July 1, doubled to right-center to drive in Womack Williams followed with an RBI single to left. Atlanta had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth and fifth inning, but both threats were wiped out by double plays.

Paul Bako grounded to first to start the first one, Chipper Jones grounded one to shortstop to start the second. Schilling and Maddux have opposed each other as starters seven times. Schilling has won the last four, Maddux won the first three. The two had not squared off since April 10, 1998. season last night as the Diamondbacks beat Greg Maddux and the Braves 2-0.

Schilling (8-6), who graduated from high school in Phoenix, is 2-0 since the trade that brought him back to Arizona. Minor league tripieheader The Charleston (S.C.) Alley Cats and Capital City (Columbia, S.C.) Bombers will attempt to play a tripieheader today after a third straight day of rain forced postponement of yesterday's makeup doubleheader. At 11 :05 a.m. today, the teams will try to resume Monday's Class A South Atlantic League game, which was suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Alley Cats leading After a 20-minute break, the teams will try to play a seven-inning game which had been postponed from Tuesday. At 6:05 p.m., they will try to get in yesterday's regularly scheduled game.

Reds pitcher passes out Cincinnati right-hander Elmer Dessens passed out while walking to the team bus yesterday and was treated for dehydration after he pitched seven innings of the Reds' 2-1 loss to the Mets. Dessens (5-1) received fluids at the hospital and flew home to Cincinnati, Reds media relations director Rob Butcher said. The game, which began at 11:10 CDT was played in humid conditions with a gametime temperature of 78 degrees. New Fenway update: The Boston City Council held off taking any action yesterday on a new stadium for the Red Sox. It instead decided to hold more public hearings on the issue.

The state Legislature on Saturday had given final approval to a $665 million financing plan that includes $312 million in taxpayer money. Of that, $212 million would come from the city to be repaid over the next few decades through parking and ticket surcharges. Council President James Kelly said his office has received about 250 calls from constituents on the stadium issue during the past 10 of a minor league baseball team in the face after an on-field brawl. Mitchell, the 1989 NL MVP, plays for the Sonoma County Crushers of the Western Baseball League. He struck Bruce Portner, the owner of the Solano Steel- heads, with his fist Tuesday shortly after a fight between the teams had been broken up.

Portner was left with a black eye and said he plans to press assault charges against the 38-year-old player. The fight started when Solano's Jim Converse threw a pitch behind Mitchell in retaliation for a brush- back pitch. Mitchell charged the mound and punched Converse in the mouth. Portner said he asked Sonoma players if they would help prevent a fight involving the two Crushers and the fans. Then, he said, Mitchell hit him.

Poionia to sign with Yankees: Luis Poionia is joining the New York Vankees again, agreeing to sign with the World Series champi- ons yesterday following his release from the Detroit Tigers. Poionia, 35, hit .273 with six homers in 80 games this year and is expected to play some in left field. That will allow manager Joe Torre to use David Justice as a DH. Sosa wins distance award: Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs is July's winner of the Smirnoff Long Ball Race, which each month measures the cumulative distance for home runs. Sosa's 11 July homers traveled a major league-best 4,574 feet, edging Houston's Jeff Bagwell, who hit 10 homers a total of 3,921 feet.

-NEWSSERVICES Clark provides offensive relief for Cardinals 1 wSvv Associated Press MONTREAL Will Clark is definitely up for a pennant race. Clark hit a home run in his first start for St. Louis and Jim Edmonds homered twice and drove in five runs as the Cardinals beat the Montreal Expos 10-7 last night. Clark, acquired from Baltimore on Monday to play A rirst base in Mark WW 4 if- McGwire's absence, went 3-for-4 with two RBI. "There's a lot more atmosphere here, a lot more camaraderie pulling for each other on the bench, and stuff like that," Clark said.

"You can definitely sense that sitting on the bench." Clark, who doubled in his first Wild Card race Chavez helosA's 61 57 54 45 50 53 GB 412 712 Newbrk Los Angeles Cincinnati FREEMAN RAMSEYSTAFF Nashville second baseman John Wehner makes the force out at second base on Stubby Clapp, but can't complete the double sweep jsiue jays i PCI glance American Conference Central Division I Pel. GB Albuquerque (Dodgers) 65 46 .585 Col.Springs(Rockes) 54 55 .496 10 Omaha IRoyals) 51 59 .464 13'! Iowa (Cubs) 42 69 .378 23 Eastern Division Memphis (Cardinals) 67 45 .598 Oklahoma (Rangers) 55 54 .505 10'A New Orleans (Astros) 53 57 .482 13 Nashville (Pirates) 51 60 .460 15 Pacific Conference Southern Division I Pet. GB Sacramento (Athletics) 69 42 .622 las Vegas (Padres) 56 53 .514 12 Tucson (Diamondbacks) 53 56 .486 15 Fresno (Giants) 43 67 .391 25'l Northern Division Sounds extend losing streak to seven games By LAKISHA LANGSTER Sports Writer The Memphis Redbirds extended the Nashville Sounds' losing streak to seven with a 7-2 victory' yesterday at Greer Stadium. The Redbirds (67-45) scored six runs in the sec AL Wild Card GB Oakland 60 47 Boston 55 49 212 Anaheim 57 52 3 Cleveland 53 51 512 Toronto 55 54 6 ond inning off Paul Ah Yat on their way to the four- Sort Lake (Twins) 69 42 .622 Tocomo (Mariners) 58 53 .523 II Edmonton (Angels) 50 57 .467 17 Colgary (Marlins) 45 66 .405 24 Tuesday's Games Calgary 4, Oklahoma I Fresno 5, Iowa 3 Tacoma 7, Los Vegas 5 Memphis 4, Nashville 3 Albuquerque 6, New Orleans 5 Colorado Springs 8, Omaha 6 Sacramento 8, Edmonton 7 Salt Lake 16, Tucson 2 Wednesday's Games Calgary at Oklahoma Iowa at Fresno las Vegas 9, Tacoma 3 Memphis 7, Nashville 2 New Orleans at Albuquerque Colorado Springs 7, Omaha 6 Sacramento at Edmonton Salt Lake at Tucson Thursday's Games Colorado Springs at Nashville Edmonton at Las Vegas New Orleans at Memphis Oklahoma at Iowa Omaha at Albuquerque Salt Lake at Fresno Tacoma at Calgary Tucson at Sacramento Sounds today Colorado Springs, 7 p.m.: Nashville will send LHP Dan Serafinl (6-7 4.87 ERA) against Colorado Springs LHP Rigo Beltran (5-7 5.80). Radio: 560-AM.

game series sweep. Ernie Young of Memphis singled twice in the inning. The Sounds (51-60) now find themselves 1412 games behind the Pacific Coast League Eastern Division-leading Redbirds. Sounds Manager Richie Hebner was quick to point out that Ah Yat Cardinals at-bat Tuesday night, hit his first NL home run in seven years leading oft' the second inning. He reached safely in each of his first five plate appearances for St.

Louis before popping up in the ninth. The NL Central-leading Cardinals are 9-14 since McGwire currently on the 15-day disabled list with right knee tendinitis has been out of the lineup. St. Louis moved five games ahead of second-place Cincinnati, which lost 2-1 in New York. "I went to the playoffs in and "98, so I've been in a few races," Clark said.

"It's fun to be back in one. We got a chance to pick up a game tonight, and we did." Edmonds, who returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a sore right hip, matched his career high for RBI in a game. Edmonds hit a three-run homer in the third off Mike Johnson (5-6). He hit his 32nd homer a two-run shot in the fifth for his 11th career two-homer game, and third this seasoa Marlins 5, Astros 4 MIAMI Pinch-hitter Henry Rodriguez doubled in his first at-bat for Florida, setting up Luis Castillo's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning that lifted the Marlins over Houston. Mets 2, Reds 1 NEW YORK Robin Ventura hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Al Leiter retired 18 of the last 19 batters he faced as the New York Mets completed an 8-1 homestand with a victory over Cincinnati.

Ventura hit his 17th home run and first since June 24 for the Mets, against Elmer Dessens as New York took two of three from the Reds. Leiter (12-4) did not allow a baserunner after the second inning and was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh after yielding one run on four hits. Dodgers 11, Pirates 5 PITTSBURGH Shawn Green hit a three-run homer before Pittsburgh starter Jose Silva got an out and Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh. The Dodgers scored 11 runs by the fourth inning against Silva and reliever Steve Sparks, or two more runs than they had in their previous five games. The Pirates' defense was shaky again, committing three errors and misplaying several other balls.

Pittsburgh's pitchers didn't help out much, walking eight as the Dodgers had 18 base runners in the first four innings. Cubs 3, Rockies 2 CHICAGO Sammy Sosa led off the eighth inning with his 33rd home rua carrying the Chicago Cubs to a victory over Colorado. Sosa, named NL player of the month for July, hit a 2-2 pitch from John Wasdin (0-1) over the left field bleachers to give the Cubs their 15th win in 20 games since the All-Star break. Brewers 6, Giants 4 MILWAUKEE Raul Casanova's two-run double highlighted a three-run rally in the eighth inning and Milwaukee avoided being swept by San Francisco. MEMPHIS Litrlerf Cbpp 2b Sutton lb Young If Lucca 3b Johnson Gorcio ss Bieser rf Weibl Dougherty Redbirds 7, Sounds 2 NASHVIUE ab bi ab bi 5111 Redman If 4010 5010 Nunez is 4010 5022 Browncf 4000 5121 laker 4121 5130 Hernandeirf 4111 5220 Wehner2b 3010 3111 Bredelb 4000 4111 Patterson 3b 2000 4000 AhYatp 1000 0000 Woodph 1000 Anduiarp 0000 Figueroa ph 1000 Bnilevo 0000 Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif.

Eric Chavez snapped out of a batting slump in a big way. Chavez had three hits and drove in four runs, including the game winner in the eighth inning, as the Oakland Athletics beat Toronto 5-4 yesterday, completing a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays. "I wasn't feeling too good lately, so I was happy just making contact," said Chavez, who was 14-for-76 in his last 29 games before yesterday. "I had struck out four times in a row before that home run." Chavez, who had a three-run homer earlier, blooped a 1-1 pitch that fell at the feet of the charging Jose Cruz in center field to score Miguel Tejada, who had singled and was sacrificed to second by Jeremy Giambi. Mike Guthrie (1-2) took the loss in his Blue Jays debut.

"I thought when the ball was hit, we had a chance to catch it," said Toronto Manager Jim Fregosi. Tony Batista tied the game for Toronto in the eighth inning with his 32nd home run of the season, a two-run shot off Jim Mecir (8-2). The homer tied Batista with teammate Carlos Delgado for the AL lead. It also broke the Blue Jays record for most home runs by a third baseman. Jason Isringhausen recorded the final three outs for his 24th save in 29 opportunities.

Oakland (60-47) has now won five in a row, and has its best record after 107 games since 1992, the last time the As won their division. Toronto has lost a season-high six in a row. Rangers 7, White Sox 2 ARLINGTON, Texas Rick Helling pitched 6 2-3 innings to win his sixth straight decision for Texas as the Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox. I Idling (13-7) allowed two runs on four hits with five walks and six strikeouts. Tim Crabtree completed the four-hitter for his first save.

Rusty Greer broke a scoreless tie with a third-inning single that scored Frank Catalanotto. Gabe Kapler then doubled, scoring Greer and extending his major league-leading hitting streak to 16. Red Sox 5, Mariners 2 SEATTLE Pedro Martinez improved to 9-0 on the road this season, pitching a five-hitter as Boston beat Seattle. Martinez (13-3) struck out seven and walked two in his fifth complete game of the seasoa Nomar Garciaparra went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs, improving his major league-leading average to .393. Indians 5, Devil Rays 3 ST.

PETERSBURG, Fla. Wil Cordero had an RBI single and pinch-runner Jolbert Cabrera scored the go-ahead run on catcher Mike DiFelice's passed ball during a two-run eighth for Cleveland as the Indians beat Tampa Bay. Cordero singled off Roberto got little help from his defense. "I can't blame it all on the pitcher," I lebner said. "There were some balls that should've been caught.

I'm not taking up for Paul, but there was a missed ball in center field and a couple of balls missed in right field. Those balls should've been caught. Paul's numbers could have been different." Alex Hernandez hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot in the second, when the Sounds (51-60) finally got to bat. It was one of the few highlights for Nashville. "Memphis is a pretty good club," Hebner said.

"If they're allowed four-out innings, they will eat you alive. It's tough playing catch up. You have to pick away and try to get one or two runs at a time." The only other run the Sounds produced was on another solo homer, by Tim Laker in the sixth. Ah Yat (2-6) left in the sixth inning after allowing seven runs on 10 hits. Transactions: Infielder Luis Figueroa was added to the Sounds' roster yesterday.

The 26-year-old Puerto Wean has spent the entire season with Dou-ble-A Altoona, where he hit .284 with one home run and 28 RBI in 94 games. I le led Eastern League shortstops in errors with 26 in 499 total chances. AP Totals 41 713 6 Totals 32 2 62 Memphis 060 010 000 7 Nashville 010 001 0002 Nunez. DP Memphis I. LOB Memphis 8, Nashville 5.

2B Johnson, Garcia. HR Laker (16), Hernandez (5). ip er bb so Memphis WeiblW, 7-3 8 5 2 2 1 6 Dougherty I 1 0 0 0 1 Nashville AhYatl, 2-6 5 10 7 3 1 3 Anduiar 3 1 0 0 0 2 Bailey 1 2 0 0 0 1 PB Johnson. HBP Patterson (by Weibl). 2:18.

A 2,279. Sounds 2000 schedule Aug. 4 Colorado Sprn, 7 p.m. Aug. 5 Colorado Sprn, 6 p.m.

Aug. 6 Colorado Sprn, 4 p.m. Aug. 7 at New Orleans, 7:05 m. ariners hungry after 19-inning win Boston's Pedro Martinez pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and striking out five to beat Seattle 5-2.

Hernandez, the fourth Tampa Bay pitcher of the inning, to tie the game 3-3. Cabrera pinch-ran after Jim Thome drew a two-out walk off Doug Creek (1-2). Royals 4, Yankees 1 NEW YORK Blake Stein allowed just two hits in eight innings as Kansas City beat the Yankees to stop a five-game losing streak. Stein (2-3) gave up only a third-inning single up the middle by Chuck Knoblauch and an eighth-inning single to Derek Jeter. Denny Neagle (2-1) lost for the first time in four starts since New York acquired him on July 12.

Tigers 5, Angels 3 ANAHEIM, Calif. Brian Moehler held Anaheim scoreless on six hits through the first seven innings and Bobby Higgiason hit a two-run homer as Detroit defeated the Angels. Twins 10, Orioles 6 BALTIMORE David Ortiz matched his career high with four RBI and Torii Hunter had a career-high four hits as Minnesota beat Baltimore to avert a three-game sweep. By JIM COUR Associated Press SEATTLE Four days after the longest game in the short liistory of Safeco Field, the Mariners played their longest home game ever. Oops, make that five days.

This one didn't end until 18 minutes before 3 am CDT yesterday, leaving Seattle Manager Ixm Piniella with a craving for a big dinner. Or a big breakfast "Now, I'm going to eat some prime rib," a hungry Piniella said after the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Mike Cameron's home run off Jeff Fassero in the bottom of the 19th inning. "I gave us eight good innings," said knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, "I gave us eight good innings. Unfortunately, it ended up going 19." -Tim Wakefield. Boston pitcher Boston's starter.

"Unfortunately, it ended up going 19." The Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 last Saturday in a game that lasted 13 innings and took 5 hours, 4 minutes. Tuesday's game topped that by six innings and 30 minutes. It started at 9:08 p.m. CDT and took 5:34 to play. What was left of the Safeco capped a four-run third for Boston, Mariners starter John I lalama and the Seattle bullpen shut out the Red Sox for the final 16 innings.

The Mariners' previous longest game by innings at home was a 17-inning game with Cleveland in the Kingdome on July 30, 1998. Their previous longest by time was 5:31 on May 5, 1991, against the Yankees in the Jungdome. On the road, the Mariners played 20-inning games on Aug. 3-4, 1981, at Boston, and April 13-14, 1982, at California. The Red Sox played their longest game since 1992, when they won 7-5 at Cleveland, also in 19 innings.

crowd of 37,391 watched Fassero enter the game in the 19th inning as Boston's seventh pitcher. Twelve pitches later it was over after Cameron's L3th home run of the season, a shot that went 351 feet down the right-field line into the first row of the bleachers. "It didn't seem like the ball was going to go out of here the later we played," Cameron said. "I was hoping they'd close the roof and help me out. It was time something had to happen good for us.

Cameron entered the game as a pinch-runner for John Olerud in the 11th. The key was Seattle's pitching. After Troy OTx-ary's RBI single.