The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 6

0 I tit I Monday, tun 23 IW SC SPORTS: BASEBALL '97 Braves, Jones limp away from sweep Mets 12, Pirates 9 fTH yiiiii-ini frfrwMi Sheffield: Expos aim for head Florida outfielder Gary Sheffield, who had to dive out of the way of a head-high fastball by Montreal's Jeff Juden In Saturday's game, was still seething yesterday. Sheffield has been pitched around and at all season. He leads the majors In walks (64) and is fifth in Intentional passes (10). Only three other players have been beaned more than Sheffield, who was hit by 1 a pitch for the 10th time this season when Ugueth Urbina got him in the ninth inning of yesterday's 2-0 Florida win. "I wouldn't throw at anybody's head.

That's what makes some guys feel good, like they're macho or something," Sheffield said of Juden's hlah Ditch. AP but that the ligaments, including the anterior cruciate ligament that was torn in 1994, appeared to be OK. The play put Braves Manager Bobby Cox in a sour mood despite his team's 17-hit output, which included the third inning when Jones, Fred McGriff, Michael Tucker and Jeff Blauser homered. "I just want to relax," said Cox, who only answered questions about Jones. The Phillies lost their eighth straight Jones went 4-for-5 and Jeff Blauser homered and hit two doubles as the Braves finished off a three-game sweep.

It was the eighth straight series Atlanta has taken from the Phillies. Greg Maddux (9-3) was not as sharp as usual, but didnt need to be after the Braves broke open the game after trailing 3-1. Maddux helped himself with a two-run double in the third. "I'd rather pitch bad and win than pitch good and lose," said Maddux, who gave up seven hits and five runs in five innings. "I threw strikes but not good strikes." The Braves tied a franchise record with four home runs in an inning.

It was Atlanta first baseman Mike Mordecai collides with third baseman Chipper Jones on an infield popup. Jones bruised his knee on the play. hit a two-run double. Blauser hit an RBI double and Tucker homered. Philadelphia pitcher Reggie Harris was ejected in the sixth inning after hitting lead-off hitter Andruw Jones with a pitch.

Maddux had hit Phillies rookie Scott Rolen the inning before. Atlanta catcher Javy Lopez missed his third straight game with a sore left knee. SHEFFIELD said Juden: "He hit one about 500 feet foul on my best fastball. I figured I had to shake him up a bit." MORE BEANBALLS: Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall was hit by a pitch in the second Inning yesterday for a team record 16th time this season, breaking his own record set last year. The Pirates have been hit by pitches 47 times, most in the majors.

HITTING HIGHLIGHTS: New York Mets outfielder Lance Johnson hit his first home run since Sept. 25 yesterday. Johnson also had the 17th four-hit game of his career. His career high is six hits on Sept. 23, 1995, while playing for the White Sox.

PHILLIES ALL RIGHT: When Philadelphia sent pitcher Erik Plantenberg to Class AAA ScrantonWilkes-Barre on Saturday, It left the team without a left-handed reliever. But Manager Terry Francona expressed no immediate concern over the vacancy. "It's nice to have a lefty," Francona said. "But you don't need a lefty just to have a lefty. It's no good If he Isn't helping you.

I Just didn't feel comfortable using him late in the game. Matt Beech is the only southpaw on the Phillies roster. SLOWING DOWN HENDERSON: San Diego outfielder Rickey Henderson didn't start for the first time since June 4 yesterday. In starting 16 straight games, he hit .350 (21-for-60) with a double, two homers, and eight RBI. He replaced Greg Vaughn in left field In the eighth.

PULSIPHER TO BULLPEN: If Mets pitcher Bill Pulsipher Is recalled from Class AAA Norfolk, he will almost certainly be used in relief, Mets Manager Bobby Valentine said yesterday. Valentine said that he had talked with Pulsipher last Thursday, and that the left-hander was agreeable to the plan. There Is no set time for Pulsipher's return, and the left-hander did not help himself yesterday. He was the losing pitcher In an 8-4 loss to Ottawa, allowing three runs In two-thirds of an Inning. He had two walks, two strikeouts, a wild pitch, a balk, a hit batsman and an error.

The 23-year-old Pulsipher had never pitched as a reliever in his 74 professional appearances before this year. But Pulsipher, trying to return to form after elbow surgery In February 1996, struggled with his control in his minor league starts In April and May. TENNESSEAN NEWS SERVICES I Associated Press PHILADELPHIA An infield collision nearly ruined an otherwise big day for Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves yesterday. Jones had to be helped from the field in the eighth inning with a bruised left knee after colliding with first baseman Mike Mordecai in Atlanta's 12-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Earlier, he had one of four Atlanta home runs in a nine-run third inning.

Jones missed the entire 1994 season after injuring the same knee. "I think it's just a strain," said Jones, who was chasing a pop-up by Rico Brogna when his knee smashed into Mordecai's right knee. "The pain has subsided a lot since I came off the field. Well just have to re-evaluate in the morning. Well ice it and I'll stay off of It" Jones said he wasnt sure if he'd be able to play today, when the Braves continue a six-game road trip in New York against the Mets.

"Obviously, I wont be able to go 100 percent," he said. Dr. Tom Monahan, the game-day physician at Veterans Stadium, said there was a bruise just below the knee UVJ This time, Benes wins close game Associated Press ST. LOUIS Alan Benes can be forgiven for getting anxious about some of his recent outings. He lost his last start 1-0 on a ninth-inning home run at Milwaukee and appeared to be on his way to another one-run loss yesterday.

He pitched a one-hitter earlier in the year against the Atlanta Braves and lost. "It's frustrating when I'm the reason the team doesnt win," Benes said after pitching the St. Louis Cardinals past the Cincinnati Reds 5-2. Benes (7-6) allowed two runs in eight innings before giving way to reliever Dennis Eckersley, who tied Jeff Reardon for second place on the career saves list when he pitched a perfect ninth. Benes struck out seven and walked four.

Eckersley got his 14th save this season to him with Reardon with 367. Lee Smith of Montreal has 478 saves. With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Ray Lank-ford doubled off reliever Scott Sullivan (1-2) to score Ron Gant, who singled with two outs. Gant, in a 3-for-31 slump, flied out with two outs and the bases loaded to end the Cardinals third. Giants 4, Dodgers 2 SAN FRANCISCO Barry Bonds hit his 16th homer and Kirk Rueter pitched seven strong innings as the San Francisco Giants defeated the error-prone Los Angeles Dodgers for a split of their four-game series.

Bonds, who led off the fourth with a shot into the left-center bleachers, had four homers in the series. Eight of his last 16 hits have been homers. The Giants scored two in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie. With runners at first and third with one out, first baseman Eric Karros bobbled a grounder by Mark Lewis. mmmrs-i-' 9 I AP Astros 3, Cubs 1 Chicago Glanville If McRae cf MaGract lb Sosa rf Sandberg 2b Orie 3b MHubbard Sanchez ss Foster e-Cairo ph Wendell b-JHernandez ph Totals Houston Biggio 2b Listach cf ab bi bb so ava 4 0 1 0 0 0 575 0 0 0 0 0 544 0 1 1 JOS 0 0 0 0 1 560 110 0 1 561 0 587 0 .182 1 535 0 0 0 0 I 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 .071 1 0 0 0 .000 0 .000 0 572 0 0 0 1 0 0 33 1 6 ab 4 3 2 4 2 3 0 3 3 3 0 27 bibb St avg.

1 1 0 0 0 J20 0 2 0 .178 Bagwell lb LGonzalez If DeBell rf Berry 3b Spiers 3b Bogar ss Ausmus Hampton BWagner Totals 0 .378 0 1 592 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 2 3 4 .251 .226 325 .242 .286 .036 .000 Atlanta's biggest inning since a 10-run burst on July 27, 1989, against San Francisco. Blauser opened the inning with a home run off Garrett Stephenson (2-3). After Tucker walked, Jones and McGriff followed with home runs for a 5-3 lead. Stephenson retired the next two batters, but the Braves then scored five more runs. Eddie Perez walked, Mark Lemke singled and Maddux Pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney singled and Rickey Henderson walked to open the inning and chase Thomson.

Ruffin (0-2) relieved and Steve Finley sacrificed, and Chris Gomez walked to load the bases. On the next pitch, Gwynn hit a one-hopper to the fence in left-center field to give San Diego a 3-2 lead. Gwynn went 2-for-4, raising his average to .393. Padres starter Joey Hamilton and two relievers combined on a four-hitter. Mets 12, Pirates 9 (10) NEW YORK Carl Everett hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the New York Mets, despite another blown save by John Franco, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Mets completed their first four-game sweep at Shea Stadium since 1986, also against Pittsburgh. The Pirates lost their season-high sixth in a row, and have dropped eight of nine. Pittsburgh trailed 9-7 in the Pittsburgh Womack 2b ABrown cf MSmith KYoung lb Randa 3b Kendall JGuillen rf Sveum Loaiza a-MCummlngs ph Silva Sodowskv Christiansen c-MaJohnson ph Loiselle d-E Brown ph Peters Totals New York LJohnson cf Alfonzo 3b Olerud lb Hundley Everett rf Baerga 2b JoFranco Kashlwada Huskey If LLopez ss Li Acevedo RJordan b-Ochoa ph McMichaei Hardtke 2b Totals ab 40 ab .262 .255 578 0 .156 1 .194 0 .000 0 .000 0 1 .214 0 .000 0 .166 0 .500 6 11 1 bibb so avg. 4 2 0 1 .299 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 .311 0 321 1 .292 0 .266 1 .279 3 1 0 0 .000 1 1 1 .290 JOS 1 .000 1 .000 0 .221 oi.ooo 0 .500 1 42 12 II 12 Pittsburgh 000 420 102 0- 13 New York 013 104 000 3-12 II 2 Two outs when winning run scored. a-slruck out for Loalia In the 4th.

b-was Ml by pitch for Jordan In the 7th. c-struck out for Christiansen In the 8th. d-was hit by pitch for Loiselle in the 10th. E-Everett (3), LLooei (1). LOB-PMs-burgh 7, New York 9.

2B ABrown (6), MSmith 2 (4), Randa (16), LJohnson (6), Alfonzo (13), Oerud (21). HR-Everett (8) off Peters; LJohnson (1) off Sllva; Hundley (17) off Loaiza. Bis ABrown (10), MSmith 2 (6), KYoung (31), Randa 2 (34), Kendall (21), JGuillen (27), Sveum (15), Uohnson 2 (15), Alfonzo (28), Oerud 3 (52), Hundley (47), Everett 3 (30), Baerga (21), Huskev (36). SB-KYoung (6). CS-Uohnson (7).

S-Alfon-zo. SF-MSmlth, Kendall, Huskey. GIDP-MSmilh, Olerud. Runners left In scoring position Pittsburgh 3 (Randa, Kendall, MCummings); New York 6 (LJohnson, Everett, Baerga, LLopez, Udle 2). Runners moved up Sveum.

DP-Pittsburgh 2 (ABrown and KYoung), (Randa, Womack and KYoung); New York I (JoFranco, LLopez and Olerud). Pittsburgh ip rerbbso np era Loaiza Silva Sodowsky Christiansen Loiselle Peters 2-1 New York Lidle Acevedo RJordan McMichael JoFranco Kashiwada W.2-0 3 8 4 4 0 3 61 4.07 2 2 2 2 1 2 29 9 00 '4 1 1 1 0 1 12 3.72 Vi 4 2 2 0 1 32 7.71 2 2 0 0 1 2 32 2.84 Vi 1 3 3 2 0 17 4.84 ip rtrbbso np era 4 6 6 4 0 2 60 3.99 2 1 0 0 0 1 20 0.00 1 2 1 1 0 0 12 4.91 1 1 0 0 0 1 18 2.48 1 3 2 2 1 1 23 2.83 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 5.17 Silva pitched to 1 batter in the 6th, Lidle pitched to 2 batters In the 5th. Inherited runners-scored-Chrlstlansen 2-2, Acevedo 1-1. HBP-by Kashiwada (EBrown), by Christiansen (Ochoa), by Lidle (Randa), by Loaiza (Everett), by Lidle (Kendall). WP-Lldle.

Balk Loaiza. Umpires Home, Bonin; First, Pulll; Second, Gregg; Third, Davidson. T-328. Braves 12, Phillies 5 Atlanta Blauser ss Bernard ss Tucker rf ChJones 3b Graffanino 3b McGriff lb 1-Mordecal pr-lb Klesko If AJones cf EddPerez Lemke 2b GMaddux b-Lockhart ph Byrd Clontz Totals Phiadefphia Otero cf Morandinl 2b DeMay rf Daulton rf RHarrls Gomes Spradlln Rolen 3b KJordan 3b Brogna lb Jefferles If Parent Stocker ss Stephenson Nye Blazier a-Sefclk ph-2b Totals ab bi bb so avg. 4 3 3 2 0 1 J5I 2 0 5 3 0 0 0 .261 3 1 1 .307 3 0 0 .295 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 .283 1 1 1 1 1 .269 0 0 0 0 0 .208 2m 0 580 0 1 0 1 0 556 1 0 0 527 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .061 0 .227 1 .000 0 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 12 17 12 lb bibb so avg.

5 1 2 0 0 0 .194 0 .298 566 0 1 .289 0 0 .000 0 1 577 0 520 0 557 0 .265 1 .130 0 .245 0 .222 0 .000 0 333 0 519 3 I 1 10 Atlanta 019 020 000-12 17 0 Phtodelphia 120 020 000- 5 10 0 a-doubled for Blazier in the Slh. b-grounded out for Maddux in the 6th. 1-ran for McGriff In the 8th. LOB-Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 6. 2B-Blauser 2 (19), Tucker (15), ChJones (21), Klesko (12), EddPerez (3), GMaddux (2), Otero (1), Brogna (21), Stephenson (1), Sefcik.

HR-Mor-andinl (1) off GMaddux; Tucker (5) off Nye; McGriff (10) off Stephenson; ChJones (10) off Stephenson; Blauser (9) off Stephenson. RBIs-Blauser 2 (36), Tucker 3 (36), ChJones 3 (53), McGriff (41), Lemke (14), GMaddux 2 (4), Morandinl 2 (13), Daulton (31), Jefferles (25), Stephenson (1). S-Morandlnl. SF-Daulton. Runners left in scoring position Atlanta 4 (Klesko, Lemke 2, Lockharl); Philadelphia 2 (Otero, DeMay).

Runners moved up-EddPerez, Lemke, Otero, Parent. DP-Phllodelphla 1 (Rolen and Morandinl). Atlanta to rtrbbso np era GMaddux 9-3 5 7 5 5 0 2 66 2.67 Byrd i I 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 23 3.03 lo rtrbbso np era Clontz Philadelphia Stephenson 2-3 Vh 6 6 6 2 3 68 3.53 Nve 5 4 4 0 1 15 855 Blazier 2 4 2 2 1 0 36 5.90 RHarris 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 519 Gomes Spradlln 3 2 0 0 1 0 36 5.40 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 3.5 RHarrls pitched to I batter me 6tn. Inherited runners-scored Gomes 1-0, Nye 1-1. HBP-bv RHarris (AJones), by GMaddux (Rolen).

WP-Steohenson. Umpires-Home, West; First, Vanovtr; Second, Nauert; Third, Dreckman. T-2J0. Marlins 2, Expos Florida LCastilk) 2b Dunwoody cf Eisenreich lb Sheffield rf Alou If Bonilla 3b Renleria ss CJohnson KJBrown a-Abbotl ph Cook Slanifer FHeredia d-McMilkm Ph Nen Totals Montreal Santangek) 3b Lansing 2b Grudzielanek ss Seoul lb HRodriguez If VGuerrero rf RWhite cf Widger Hermanson b-McGuirt ph c-Siankiewicz ph Urbina Telford Totals bi bb so avg. 0 1 0 0 1 554 I 1 1 0 JOB 0 0 0 0 573 0 0 .228 1 1 .302 0 0 313 0 1 .271 2 0 .231 0 0 .147 0 0 300 0 0 .500 0 .500 0 .167 0 3 0 0 4 bibb to avg.

2 J24 0 565 2 592 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 J22 1 300 Florida 000 000 0O2-2 6 0 Montreal 000 000 000-0 6 I a -grounded out for Brown in the 8lh. b-announced for Hermanson In the 8th. c-flied out for McGuire In the 8th. d-flied out for Heredla In the 9th. E-VGuerrero (6).

LOB-Florldo 7, Montreal 12. 2B-Dunwoody (2), Alou (17), Renter (11), HRodriguez 2 (21). 3B-Widger (3). RBIs-Renterla (25). CS-LCastllk) (9).

S-Sanlangek). GIDP-Elsenreich. Runners left in scoring position Florida 4 (LCastillo, KJBrown, McMilkm 2); Montreal a (Grudzielanek 3, RWhite, Stankiewicz 2). Runners moved up Eisenreich, Bonilla, Abbott. DP-Montreal 1 (Lansing, Grudzielanek and Seoul).

Florida so rtrbbso np era KJBrown 7 0 0 2 1 102 2.68 Cook vb 0 0 0 1 1 11 2 08 Stanner Vi I 0 0 1 0 10 2.95 FHeredia 4-0 Vj 0 0 0 0 4 1.98 Nen 19 1 0 0 0 0 1 II 4.86 Montreal ka rerbbso np tra Hermanson I 4 0 0 2 3 91 3.47 Urbina 2-5 Vj 2 2 2 1 0 27 4.41 Telford Mi 0 0 0 1 0 257 Inherited runners-scored Slanifer 1-0, FHeredia 3-0, Telford 2-0. IBB-off Hermanson (CJohnson) 1. HBP-by Urbina (Sheffield), by KJBrown (Lansing), by KJBrown (Grudzielanek). Umpires Home, Gorman; First, Tata; Second, Davis; Third, Rapuano. A-32J40 bi bb so avg.

2 2 0 0 1 565 2 3 1 0 0 .195 2 2 2 0 0 303 2 2 1115 1 1 2 0 0 .297 0 0 10 1 0 110 0 0 2 10 1 Cardinals 5, Reds 2 Cincinnati DSanders CGoodwin cf HMorrls lb WGreene rf Pendleton 3b ab bi bb so avg. 3 0 0 0 1 0 J14 2 0 1 1 .317 1 1 0 0 547 1 0 1 2 555 0 0 1 545 0 0 0 .111 0 0 1 530 ABoone 3b Fordyce b-Taubensea ph Branson 2b Remlinger Belinda Reese ss Tomko Sullivan Boone 2b Totals St. Louts DeShiekts 2b Gant If Eckersley Lanktord cf BJordan rf Mabry lb Clayton ss Difellce 1-Lampkln pr-c Sheaffer 3b AlBenes a-McGee ph-lf Totals Cincinnati 0 0 0 0 0 562 0 .156 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 1 575 1 1 1 1 .143 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 I 0 1 504 29 ab 2 4 14 1 bibb so avg. 1 0 3 0 .290 1 0 0 1 520 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 3 4 3 0 .344 0 566 0 .299 2 558 0 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 .223 0 0 .230 0 0 567 0 1 .229 0 0 570 7 6 0 4 3 0 10 0 1 Jl 4 002 000 OOO-l 4 100 010 12X-5 9 St. a-grounded out for Al Benes In the b-Oied out for Fordyce In the 9th.

1-ran for Difellce In the 8th. E-Ganl (4). LOB-Clnclnnall 4, SI. Louis 9. 2B-DeShields (15), Lanktord (18), Sheaffer (3).

RBIs-HMorrls (21), Lanktord (50), BJordan 2 (9), McGee (13). SB-CGoodwin (12), DeShlelds 2 (27). CS-DSanders (11). GIDP-A Boone, Mabry, Sheaffer. Runners left in scoring position Cincinnati I (WGreene); SI.

Louis 5 (Gant 3, Mabry, AlBenes). Runners moved up Gant, Lankford, McGee. DP Cincinnati 2 (Reese, Branson and HMorrls), (Branson and HMorrls); St. Louis 1 (AlBenes, DeShiekts and Mabry). Cincinnati ip rerbbso np tra Tomko 4'i 5 2 2 4 1 78 1.76 Sullivan 1-2 2VS 2 1 1 0 3 31 2.93 Remlinger 2 2 2 2 I 17 3.09 0 0 0 1 1 19 4.17 Belinda St.

Louis AlBenes 7-6 ip rtrbbso np tra I 4 2 1 4 7 122 2.73 Eckersley 14 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 4.22 Inherited runners-scored Remlinger 1-1, Belinda 2-2, Sullivan 2-1. IBB-off Remlinger (BJordan) 1, off AlBenes (WGreene) 1. WP-Belinda. Umpires Home, DeMulh; First, Danley; Second, Darling; Third, Hernandez. A 43,194 Padres 4, Rockies 2 0 I Chicago 000 000 001-1 4 1 Houston 201 000 OOx-3 2 a-grounded out for Foster In the 7th.

b-grounded out for Wendell in the 9th. E-Sanchez (4), Biggio (12), Berry (6). LOB Chicago 8, Houston 4. 2B Sandberg (13), Orie (12), Biggio (22), LGonzalez (17). HR-Bagwell (22) off Fosler.

RBIs-Orlt (17), Bagwell 2 (71). S-Listacn. GIDP-Sosa. Runners left In scoring position Chicago 3 (Sandberg, Fosler 2); Houston 1 (Berry). Runners moved up McRae.

DP Houston I (Bogar, Biggio and San Diego's Tony Gwynn watches his bases-loaded double head to left field in the eighth inning. Three runs scored to give the Padres the lead in a 4-2 win. Gwynn punishes Ruffin for late-inning challenge Bagwell). Chicago Fosler 8-5 Wendell Houston Hampton 3-6 ip It rerbbso np tra 6 5 3 2 3 4 87 4.52 2 0 0 0 0 2 20 4.35 ip rtrbbso np tra 8 5 1 1 3 4 113 S52 I 1 0 0 0 1 18 1.69 BWagner 13 Hampton pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. Inherited runners-scored BWagner 1-1.

Umpires Home, Ponclno; First, Gibson; Second, Rieker; Third, Wendelsledt. 2:15. (54370). Giants 4, Dodgers 2 Los Angeles ab bi bb so avg. Butler cf 402000308 Zeile 3b 4 0 0 0 0 Piazza 4 0 10 0 Karros lb 3 0 0 0 1 Mondesi rf 1 0 0 0 0 RCedeno rf 3 0 0 0 0 Ashley If 3 0 0 0 0 c-KGarcIa ph 1 0 0 0 0 Gagne ss 3 2 3 1 0 Cromer 2b 2 0 0 0 1 Guthrie 0 0 0 0 0 Park 2 0 110 WGuerrero 2b 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 7 1 2 0 .235 1 J55 0 555 1 588 0 .185 0 533 1 .190 0 572 0 .429 0 .000 1 561 0 584 4 San Francisco DHamilton cf Mueller 3b Javier rf Bonds If Kent 2b Snow lb Berryhill Aurllia ss Rueter a-Benard Ph b-MLewls ph Rodriguez Tavarez Beck Totals Los Angeles San Francisco ab bi bb so avg.

3 1 0 0 1 2 .261 2 0 1 4 0 1 0 571 0 303 1 565 2 550 0 .284 1 0 4 1 2 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 001 010 000- 2 7 2 100 100 20X-4 5 0 .257 .074 562 575 .500 .000 Associated Press SAN DIEGO Tony Gwynn was surprised when he saw the first pitch from Bruce Ruffin. Ruffin was surprised that Gwynn was so aggressive with it. No one was surprised at the outcome, though. Gwynn, a seven-time NL batting champion, hit an opposite-field, three-run double with one out in the eighth inning to lift the San Diego Padres to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies yesterday. Gwynn didn't want to fall behind Ruffin and have to try to hit a slider, and he had a hunch where the first pitch was going to be.

"If you get a fastball, and get it up and out over the plate, just go with it," Gwynn said. "Don't try to pull it. Sure enough, there it was. More times than not, though, it doesnt happen." Rookie John Thomson shut out the Padres on just three hits through seven innings, but San Diego broke through in the eighth. Colorado ab EcYoung 2b 3 Burks cf-lf 3 Bichette If-rl 4 LWalker rf 0 Galarraga lb 4 Vender Wal rf I McCracken cf 1 Castilla 3b 4 JeReed 4 Weiss ss 2 Thomson 3 BRuffin 0 Leskanic 0 Totals San Diego ab SFinley cf 3 Gomez ss 3 Gwynn rl 4 Caminiti 3b 4 Joyner lb 3 GVaughn if 3 TiWorrell 0 b-DVeras ph 1 Hoffman 0 Clanfrocco 2b 3 CHernandez 1 a-MkSweeney ph 1 Flaherty 0 JHamilton 2 Henderson If 0 Totals 28 Colorado San Diego bi bb so avg.

0 0 1 1 .303 1 0 554 0 1 J03 0 0 .415 0 2 343 2 0 .189 0 1 592 0 1 598 1110 1 JOS 1 .269 0 111 0 0 2 594 0 0 .000 5 10 bibb so avg. 0 2 0 0 0 .261 1 1 557 0 0 0 J93 .242 1 0 .327 0 1 510 0 0 .200 0 0 .000 0 0 .500 0 1 .272 1 0 568 0 0 529 0 0 540 0 2 .150 1 0 556 1 1 0 0 4 000 010 100-2 4 3 000 000 04X-4 5 0 a-singled for Hernandez in the 8th. b-grounded out for Worrell in the 8th. -Galarraga (7), EcYoung (9), Weiss (7). LOB-Colorado 5, San Diego 5.

2B-Gwynn (19). HR-JeReed (7) off JHamilton. RBIs-JeReed (22), Weiss (21), Gwynn 3 (53). CS-EcYoung (9). S-SFinley.

GIDP-Gomez, Clanfrocco. Runners left In scoring position-Colorado 2 (JeReed, Thomson); San Dieoo 2 (Caminiti, Runners moved up JeReed, Caminiti DP-Colorado 2 (Castilla, EcYoung and Galarraga), (Weiss, EcYoung and Galarraga); San Diego 1 (Gwynn and Jovneri. Colorado Ip rerbbso np tra Thomson BRuffin 0-2 Leskanic San Diego JHamilton TIWorreH 3-6 7 4 2 2 3 98 i.12 to 1 2 1 1 0 5.40 V3 0 0 0 0 0 10 4.20 ip rtrbbso np tra 7 3 2 2 5 7 117 4.58 1 0 0 0 0 0 I i 1 1 0 0 0 3 17 3.66 Hoffman 12 Thnrmon Ditched to 2 batters in the 8th. ninth, but rallied to tie it against Franco. Tony Womack and Adrian Brown singled and, after Mark Smith grounded into a double play, Kevin Young walked and stole second.

Joe Randa followed with a tying double over left fielder Butch Huskey's head. Astros 3, Cubs 1 HOUSTON Mike Hampton shut out Chicago on four singles until needing relief help in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros defeated the Chicago Cubs. Jeff Bagwell hit his NL-leading 22nd homer, a two-run shot in the first Marlins 2, Expos MONTREAL Edgar Renteria's two-out single in the ninth inning lifted Florida to a win over Montreal. Montreal wasted two bases-loaded opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings. Marlins reliever Felix Here-dia (4-0) earned the win by getting pinch-hitter Andy Stan-kiewicz to fly out with the bases loaded in the eighth.

ron, the Richland County coroner, Bishop's blood-alcohol level tested at .096, or just .004 below the South Carolina limit for legal intoxication. According to Barron, Bishop's urine-alcohol level was higher than that indicating that his blood-alcohol level was descending at the time of his death. Bishop, the coroner said, was "certainly" drinking before he died. Vickers, whose alcohol level was not tested after the accident, maintained that Bishop had not been drinking. Vickers noted that team policy bans drinking on the team bus.

Phillips said yesterday that the Mets have a policy against drinking on all minor league team buses. Mets fire coaches for alcohol death concerns a-announced tor Rueter in the tn. b-sate on error for Benard In the 7th. c-struck out for Ashley In the 9th. E-Korros 2 (4).

LOB-Los Angeles 4, San Francisco 4. 2B-Gagne (11), Park (3). 3B-Javier (3). HR Bonds (16) off Park; Gagne (5) off Rueter. RBIs-Gogne (28), Park (2), Mueller (16), Javier (16), Bonds (39), MLewis (20).

CS-Butler (5), Karros (2), Mueller (2), Bonds (4). S-Muetler. GIDP-Zeile. Runners left in scoring position Los Angeles 2 (Butler 2); San Francisco 2 (Kent 2). DP San Francisco 1 (AurHia, Kent and Los Angeles Ip rtrbbst np tra Park L.

5-4 6to 3 4 3 4 6 113 3.19 Guthrie If) 2 0 0 0 1 19 2.78 San Frandsca ip rtrbbst np era Rueter 4-2 7 5 2 2 2 3 105 3.51 RRodriguez Vi 1 0 0 0 0 6 1.51 Tavarez 0 0 0 0 0 3 4.78 Beck 24 1 1 0 0 0 1 16 2 67 Inherited runners-scored-Guthrie 2-2, Tavarez 1-0. IBB-off Rueter (Cromer) 1. Umpires-Home, Hallion; First, Bell; Second, Crawford; Third, Montague. Career saves leaders Career save leaders since 1969, when saves became an official major league statistic (x-acttve): Through June 22 1. x-Lee Smith 478 2.

x-Oennis Eckersley 367 tie Jeff Reardon 367 4. x-John Franco 341 tie Rollie Fingers 341 6. TomHenke 311 7. Rich Gossage 310 8. Bruce Sutter 300 9.

x-Randy Myers 299 10. x-Doug Jones 260 11. DaveRlghettl 252 12. x-Jerl Montgomery 244 tie Dan Qulaenberry 244 14. x-Todd Worrell 237 15.

x-Rick Aguilera 226 16. Sparky Lyte 222 17. Gene Gar bar 218 18. Dave Smith 216 "That's something between myself and the organization," he said. "I'm not going to comment on anything." According to accounts provided by the Mets and police, Bishop left the ball park after a road trip in teammate Randy Vickers' car.

A front tire blew out on the car at an interchange on Interstate 126. Bishop and Vickers got out of the vehicle, but Bishop then returned to the car to put on its hazard lights. But as he attempted to do so, the vehicle was struck by another car. The impact sent Bishop over the median onto the opposite side of the highway, where he was struck and killed by a third vehicle. According to Frank Bar- New York Times News Service On April 19, the Mets organization was stunned to learn that Tim Bishop, a 20-year-old outfielder on its Class A team in Columbia, S.C., had been killed late the night before in a car accident.

Now, two months later, the Mets have dismissed the manager and two coaches of the Columbia team. Last Wednesday, the Mets asked for, and received, the resignations of the manager of the Capital City Bombers, Doug Mansolino; the pitching coach, Dave Jorn, and another coach, Tim Leiper. Steve Phillips, the Mets assistant general manager, who traveled to Columbia to ask for the resignations, would not offer specific reasons for the dismissals. However, a highly ranked club official confirmed that the Mets did not feel the coaching staff thoroughly investigated the drinking issue. Rather, said the Mets official, the Columbia manager and coaches readily accepted the players' insistence that alcohol had not been consumed on the bus.

The 40-year-old Mansolino, who was in his first year as a manager in the Mets' farm system, could not be reached for comment Neither could the 30-year-old Leiper, who was starting his second season as a Mets minor league coach. The 42-year-old Jorn, who was in his second tour of duty as the Capital City pitching coach, was reached at his home in Illinois. Inherited runners-scored-BRutfin 2-2, Leskanic 1-1. PB-Flaherty. T-259.

Near no-hitters No-hit bids that reached the ninth Inning this season with date, pitcher's name, team, and player who broke up the no-hitter April 10 Alex Fernandez, Florida, at Chicago Cubs; Dave Hansen, infield single off the leg of Fernandez with one out in the ninth. May 16 Alan Benes, St Louis, at Atlanta; Michael Tucker, double to left-centeriield with two out In the ninth. May 30 Mike Mussina, Baltimore, vs. Cleveland: Sandy Alomar lined single to left field with one out in the ninth. 1 19.

Bobby Hgpen.