The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 9

www.tennessean.com THE TENNESSEAN Saturday, August 24, 2002 5C cm SWKI SSBASEBALL. HORSES Sounds close in with sweep over Memphis Sounds 3-5, Redbirds 2-0 Next game: Today, vs. Memphis When: 7 p.m. 3 Labor talks avoid luxury tax debate GAME 1 SOUNDS 3, REDBIRDS 2 ab Nashville ab bi Redman cf 4 Meyers cf 4 Clapp 2b 3 Nunnally rf 2 Cruzlb 3 CoolbaugTi3b3 Brownrf Pride If Cotac Lopez 3b Frank It bi 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PntchefMb Post 2b detaRosaseS Lowep 1 Rdmnvch ph 1 Campp 1 McDonald Delgadoss JoumeUp Mathewsp Ohrrep Newsonph Totals 2 5 2 Totals 25 3 7 3 Memphis NashvtKe Sounds 002 000 0 2 5 0 000 030 3 7 1 E-Post (12). LOB-Memphis 5, Nashville 7.

2B-Clapp (19), Nunnally (18). Redman (6), Cota (24). SB-Frank (7). Pnde (20). Ip i er bb so Memphis By MAURICE PATTON Staff Writer With a late rally and an early outburst, the Nashville Sounds swept both ends of a doubleheader last iht against Memphis, 3-2 and 5-0.

The two victories helped the Sounds move within one-half game of the Pacific Coast League East Division leader New Orleans, which defeated Colorado Springs 5-3. Oklahoma trails Nashville by 1-12 games after its 6-5 win over Calgary, and Memphis fell 2-12 games behind Nashville. "We had lost a couple of games in a row, but we put ourselves in a pretty good position with the two wins," outfielder Curtis I'ride said after his two-run homer gave the Sounds a 2-0 first-inning lead in the second game. That offense was all Kevin Tolar needed as the left-hander threw a complete-game, seven-strikeout one-hitter after Sean Lowe and Shawn Camp combined to stymie Memphis in the early contest. "If we can have a solid outing every day, we can have a chance to win," said Tolar, who has made six spot starts this season among his 42 appearances.

"If we can do that, we can win it alL" Memphis center fielder Chad Meyers walked and stole second and third to open the game against Tolar, who stranded him there and allowed just three baserunners the rest of the night "Kevin's done an outstanding job this year," Nashville Manager Marty Brown said. "He takes the ball when you give it to him, and he does all he can do." The Sounds' offense jolted to life with three runs in the fifth inning of Game 1 two on Humberto Cota's double after trailing by a pair, then carried the spark over into the late game to complete the sweep. Former Sounds first baseman Ivan Cruz, who homered for Memphis in Thursday's 3-1 series-opening win, was held hitless in six at-bats last night. "We wanted to give Cruz a different look every time, not let him pattern any of us," Tolar said. JoumelL.2-3 4.2 5 3 3 2 Mathews 0 10 0 1 Ohme 1.1 1 0 0 0 Nashville LoweW, 1-0 5 5 2 2 2 CampS.2 2 0 0 0 0 Mathews faced two batters tn the 5th inning.

WP-Joumell (3). PB-McDonakt. ANA. GAME 2 SOUNDS 5, REDBIRDS 0 Game 1 Winning pitcher. Sean Lowe (1-0).

Big stick: Humberto Cota, 1- for-3, two-run double. How they won: Cota's fifth-inning double capped a three-run rally after the Sounds fell behind 2- 0 in the third. Lowe struck out seven in five innings and was pinch-hit for in Nashville's comeback, but was the pitcher of record when his team took the lead. Shawn Camp, who has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances (14 innings), struck out four in two innings for his second save. Game 2 Winning pitcher.

Kevin Tolar (5-1). Big stick: Curtis Pride, 2-for-3, two-run home run, three RBI. How they won: Pride staked the Sounds to a 2-0 lead with his first-inning homer, and Reed Secrist followed one out later with a solo shot. Nashville added another pair of runs in the fifth, giving Tolar who pitched 4-13 no-hit innings plenty of cushion. What they said: "You've got winners, and you've got players.

Winners may not be as talented, but that's what I want on my team because they're going to give you everything they've got. We've got some winners." Sounds Manager Marty Brown. Tonight's pitchers: Sounds RHP Salomon Torres (7-4, 3.70 ERA) vs. Redbirds RHP Woody Williams (NR). Memphis ab bi 0 0 0 Nashville ab Redman cf 3 Meyers cf Brownrf Pnde If Lopez 3b Secnstlb Post 2b Romeroc 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 Clapp 2b 2 Riggslf 3 Cruzlb 3 Ortegarf 3 Rumfieldc 2 Delgadoss 2 Srrithp 1 McDonald ph 1 Wakondp 0 WeMp 0 Totals 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 delaRosass2 0 0 Tolarp 2 0 0 Totals 25 5 7 5 Tennessean News Services Alex Rodriguez offered to slash his record-setting salary if it would help baseball, a novel approach to solving the sport's problems as it moved within a week of a strike.

"I would take a cut in pay 30 to 40 percent if it would make the game better," the Texas shortstop said yesterday at Yankee Stadium before adding: "It's not a very realistic proposition." Rodriguez's $252 million, 10-year contract is the richest in sports, and many owners have pointed to it as a sign of baseball's imbalance between rich and poor. Seven days before the threatened Aug. 30 strike date, the sides avoided the key issues. Management said it expects a new proposal from the union today on the key economic elements of a labor deal. Meanwhile, former commissioner Fay Vincent predicted baseball won't be able to avoid its ninth work stoppage since 1972.

Commissioner Bud Selig, who determined the owners' labor policy during strikes in 1985 and 1994-95 and a lockout in 1990, said he was hopeful there would be a deal but didn't go into specifics. "Nobody on this Earth is more hopeful than Selig said. "Yes, I'm optimistic. These are different from past labor negotiations. So, I'm hopeful.

But time will tell." The sides spent yesterday discussing issues such as drug testing, the amateur draft, player discipline, scheduling, licensing, medical care and regulations on uniforms, according to Rob Manfred, the owners' chief labor lawyer. While they are not far apart on revenue sharing, they remain divided on the luxury tax, designed to cause high-payroll teams to spend less on players. "We're at the point in time where we really need to get at the core issues and see if we can get them resolved," Manfred said. "The pace on those issues needs to improve," he said, adding, "I think all the issues that we have out there are resolvable." It appears any movement is likely to take place in the day or two before the strike deadline. Rangers-Yankees game on Web: Major League Baseball said it will Memphis Nashville 000 000 0 300 020 0 1 1 5 7 0 Small shows lead to big wins show Monday's Texas Rangers-New York Yankees game on the Internet, the first time an entire game has been offered to Web users.

The game, which starts at 1:05 pm New York time, will be available for free at http:www.mlb.com. The online coverage won't be available in the home markets of the Rangers and Yankees, baseball said. Astros' Oswalt suspended: Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt was suspended for five games yesterday for hitting Chicago's Alex Gonzalez with a pitch on Aug. 12. Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, said Oswalt intentionally threw at Gonzalez after Oswalt had been given a warning by umpires.

Oswalt, who also was fined, was to start serving the suspension today. The players' association said Oswalt appealed the suspension, so the penalty will be delayed until after a hearing. W3pon completes buyout of Mets: Fred Wilpon completed his buyout of New York Mets co-owner Nelson Doubleday yesterday, ending their acrimonious partnership after 16 years. Wilpon sued Doubleday in July, trying to force a buyout at the price set by an appraiser. Doubleday countered with accusations of misconduct between Commissioner Bud Selig and the appraiser.

The sides settled last week. Under the original appraisal, Doubleday would have received $137.9 million half the team's $391 million value after accounting for debt. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, although Doubleday likely will receive more than he would have under the original appraisal. Indians place Diaz on DL Indians catcher Einar Diaz, injured when he got stepped on by Oakland's David Justice in a play at the plate, was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. Diaz got hurt in the second inning of Thursday night's 9-3 loss to the Athletics when he tried to tag Justice, who accidentally stepped on the catcher's right hand and then sent Diaz sprawling as he ran across the plate.

PCL standings AMERICAN CONFERENCE Central Division Pet 60 .552 63 .530 67 .500 62 .338 E-Meyers (7). DP-Naslwlle 1. LOB-Memphis 3. Nashvrlle 3. 3B-Redman (4).

HR-Pride (10). Seoist (12). SB-Meyers 2 (41). Brown (20). Pnde (21).

Ip er bb so Memphis SrmlhL.4-6 4 4 3 3 0 1 Walrond 0.2 2 2 2 1 1 Wet 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 Nashville ToiaW.5-1 7 1 0 0 2 7 HBP-Meyers (by Tolar). PCL schedule Thursday's results Calgary 2. Oklahoma 1 Colorado Springs 5, New Orleans 2 Fresno 5. Sacramento 2 Iowa 7, Omaha 5 Tucson 4. Las vegas3 Memphis 3.

Nashville 1 Portland 7. Salt Lake 3 Edmonton 5. Tacoma 4 Yesterday's results Nashville 3, Memphis 2, 1st game Nashville 5, Memphis 0, 2nd game Oklahoma 6. Calgary 5 New Orleans 5. Colorado Springs 3 Fresno at Sacramento Ornate, Iowa 1 Tucson 1 3.

Las Vegas 0. 1 st game Las Vegas at Tucson, 2nd game Sail Lake 4, Portland 0 Tacoma 5. Edmonton 2 Today's games Calgary at Oklahoma Colorado Springs at New Orleans Fresno at Sacramento Iowa at Omaha Las Vegas at Tucson Memphis at NashviHe Salt Lake at Portland Tacoma at Edmonton Salt Lake (Angels) 74 Omaha (Royals) 71 Iowa (Cubs) 67 Col. Springs (Rockies) 52 Eastern Division By CHIP CIRILL0 Shift Writer SHELBYVJXLE Riders from all over the country arrive at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration every year. Many call it the Super Bowl of the industry, a huge event with 153 classes.

Celebration officials dubbed the 64th annual event "The Greatest Horse Show on Earth." But before the riders get to the big show there are hundreds of small one-night shows all over the country that get the horses ready for the Celebratioa "They go on all summer long in different parts of the country and many are in Middle Tennessee," said Charles Gleghorn, chairman of a show in Fayetteville. There are also one-night shows in Belfast, Wartrace, Woodbury, Bethesda, Lewisburg, Gallatin and Pulaski. Walking Horse shows enjoy their greatest popularity in the Southeast, but they have also spread to California. "The one-night shows are the backbone of the industry," Gleghorn said. "If you have a horse that's coasistent and he wins six or seven of the smaller shows, then you have a good shot at the big one.

You try to get a winner to carry to the Celebratioa" Allan Callaway had the biggest winner last year when the veteran trainer from Shelbyville rode Pride's Jubilee Encore to victory in the big stake. "There are normally two horse shows a week, sometimes three," Callaway said. "All of them are important because you can get your horse in the ring and see what you need to do to prep him for the Celebration." "It's kind of like playing a basketball schedule before the tournaments." There are about 65 Walking Horse shows annually in the Mid-state from March to November. The busiest time of the show season is from April to August. GB 3 7 22 GB 2 3 70 69 66 Pet 64 .522 64 .519 66 .507 66 .500 New Orleans (Astros) Nashville (Pirates) Oklahoma (Rangers) Memphis (Cardinals) PACIFIC CONFERENCE South Division Pet GB Las Vegas (Dodgers) 78 55 .586 Tucson (Diamondbacks) 65 65 .500 11(4 Sacramento (Athletes) 59 73 .447 18''! Fresno (Giants) 53 80 .398 25 Western Division 77 66 63 62 Pet GB 54 .588 66 .500 11 66 .488 13 69 .473 15 Edmonton (Twins) Portland (Padres) Calgary (Marlins) Tacoma (Manners) New ownership, new attitude, exciting new products! In addition to everything else, we had the audacity to make it all-wheel drive.

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