The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 110

A THE PALM BCACH POST THURSDAY. APRIL 6. 2000 Baseball NUMBERS GAME DOUCH-RE-MI: The average player earns $1,988,034 this year. The Associated Press said. Los Angeles' Kevin Brown earns the most at $15,714,286.

The entire Minnesota Twins team makes $16,519,500. QUOTE OF THE DAY Philadelphia manager TERRY FRANCONA on Arizona ace Randy Johnson, who struck out 10 in beating the Phillies Tuesday. "Of course was hoping he wouIJh 't I come out in the ninth. I was hoping he wouldn come back out in the second. vMLB III NOTEBOOK Gwynn won't go on disabled list Galarraga homers in Braves' win jlWIIIIM San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn avoided a trip to the disabled list Wednesday when X-rays on his right elbow were negative.

"He could play in a day or two," Padres assistant trainer Jim Daniel said. The Padres travel this weekend to Montreal, where Gwynn recorded his career hit last year. Gwynn had feared a broken bone after being hit by a pitch from Al Leiter in Monday's opener against the New Cwynn yv San Diego shuts out the Mets, while Ken Griffey is still hitless for the Reds. The Associated Press ATLANTA After homering on opening day, Andres Galarraga hit a go-ahead, three-run homer Wednesday that rallied the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies 9-6. Kerry Ligtcnberg.

who missed all of last season because of elbow surgery, made his first appearance since a playoff appearance against San Diego on Oct 12, 1998. He pitched a perfect ninth for his first save since recording 30 as a rookie two years ago. National League Galarraga, a West Palm Beach resident who missed last season for cancer treatment, was 2-for-3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch for the third straight game. Bruce Chen (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Manny Aybar (0-1) gave up Galarraga's homer.

Padres 4, Mets (h Woody Williams (1-0) allowed five hits in sue innings and struck out six as visiting San Diego beat New York. The Mets' Bobby Jones (0-1) struggled in York Mets. Such an injury probably would have meant two weeks on the disabled list. "I want to play. I didn't fly 3,000 miles to put on the pom pons," said Gwynn, an eight-time NL batting champion.

"I think I could play if I had to. I probably could sneak down to the batting cage for a few swings." ARIZONA: The Diamondbacks bullpen struggled Tuesday in the absence of injured closer Matt Mantei. With two out in the ninth, Russ Springer and Dan Plesac gave up RBI singles before Darren Holmes got the last out on a sharp line drive to third baseman Lenny Harris. ATLANTA: Reliever John Rocker, suspended the first 14 days of the season, will make his first extended spring camp appearance in Orlando on Friday. CHICAGO: Opening-day starter Kevin Tapani hasn't won since June 24, a stretch of 11 starts.

CINCINNATI: Reds starter Denny Neagle gave up five hits in six innings Tuesday, a major improvement over spring training. He gave up a team-high 10 homers and had a 9.72 ERA in Florida. COLORADO: Larry Walker, the defending NL batting champion, was scratched for the second straight game with a mild right calf strain. He was available to pinch hit. HOUSTON: Richard Hidalgo, who went 3-for-4 with five RBI Tuesday, is 20-for-48 with seven homers and 19 RBI against the Pirates LOS ANGELES: Catcher Todd Hundley missed his second straight game Wednesday with a strained ligament in his right knee.

MILWAUKEE: The Brewers bullpen threw four shutout innings Tuesday, allowing two hits and one walk. Jim Bruske picked up the victory. MONTREAL: Hideki Irabu was going to study videotapes of his loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday. "Maybe the signs were stolen or maybe there was a problem with the glove, and they could see," said Irabu, who gave up six runs in two-plus innings. NEW YORK: Derek Bell is wearing No.

16 in tribute to former Mets ace Dwight Gooden, who, like Bell, grew up in Tampa. PHILADELPHIA: With Tuesday's loss, the Phillies are 52-64-2 in opening-day games. PITTSBURGH: The Pirates sold a record 54,399 tickets for their final opener Monday at Three Rivers Stadium. Only 14,610 braved Tuesday's ill weather to come back after Monday's game was rained out. ST.

LOUIS: Mark McGwire was out of the lineup Wednesday for the second straight game, sidelined by back spasms. He expects to play today. SAN FRANCISCO: Center fielder Marvin Benard agreed to an $11.1 million, three-year contract extension through 2003. He hit .290 last year with 36 doubles, 16 homers, 64 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Palm Beach Post Wire Services NICK WASSThe Associated Press Baltimore's Albert Belle is hit with a pitch from Cleveland's Chuck Finley on Wednesday.

Belle rang the Indians for a three-run homer as Baltimore beat the Indians 11-7. Johnson drives in five as Orioles defeat Indians his first start since May 22, lasting just 2 innings and getting booed when left trailing by four runs. Bret Boone hit an RBI double to key a three-run second for the Padres. Brewers 8, Reds 5: Kevin Barker, Tyler Houston and Geoff Jenkins homered to lead visiting Milwaukee, while Ken Griffey Jr. re mained O-for-Cincinnati.

Griffey walked, grounded out three times against Milwaukee's infield shift, struck out and stranded two runners on third. He's 0-for-10 in three games and has yet to get a ball out of the infield in his hometown. Jimmy Haynes (1-0) got the win. Stev" American League Parris (0-1) took the loss for the Reds, who 14-of-16 runners in scoring position. f( 03- struck out two batters in one inning.

White Sox 12, Rangers 8: Chris Singleton's ninth-inning homer started a five-run rally that sent Chicago to a victory at Texas. The White Sox led 7-1 before the Rangers rallied to tie the score at 7. Jeff Zimmerman (0-1) gave up Singleton's homer on his first pitch to the White Sox outfielder. Keith Foulke (1-0) got the victory in relief. Athletics 8, Tigers 2: Frank Menechino hit his second homer in three games and added a run-scoring groundout as host Oakland defeated Detroit Omar Olivares (1-0) allowed two runs in Tk innings for the A's.

Brian Moehler (0-1) allowed five runs in six innings for Detroit Royals 4, Blue Jays 3: Joe Randa homered twice and Jose Rosado (1-0) allowed just two hits in six innings as Kansas City beat host Toronto for its first victory. AL NOTEBOOK KfcRICAN UAGUEj The Associated Press BALTIMORE Charles Johnson homered twice and drove in five runs Wednesday as Baltimore beat the Cleveland Indians 11-7, giving Mike Hargrove his first victory as manager of the Orioles. Johnson's second homer, a two-run drive in the eighth inning off Scott Kamieniecki (0-1), snapped a 7-7 tie. The Fort Pierce native and former Florida Marlin also hit a three-run homer off Steve Reed to give Baltimore a 7-6 lead in the sixth. Albert Belle hit a three-run homer for the Orioles, who rebounded from an opening-day loss to Hargrove's former team.

Cal Ripken went 0-for-4 and remained eight hits short of 3,000. J. Ryan (1-0) got the last out in the eighth to earn his second major-league win. Charlie Manuel, Hargrove's replacement in Cleveland, was ejected in his second game as a manager for complaining about the strike zone. Jim Thome homered and Omar Vizquel had three hits for the Indians.

Chuck Finley, making his Indians debut after spending 14 seasons with Anaheim, allowed four runs in five innings. Twins 10, Devil Rays 7: Matt Lawton's three-run homer off Rick White (0-1) in the ninth gave host Minnesota its second straight comeback victory against Tampa Bay. Minnesota trailed 7-1 after seven innings but tied the score with six runs in the eighth. Three of those runs scored on a double by Midre Cummings. The Twins' Eddie Guardado (1-0) Cardinals 10, Cubs 4: Jim Edmonds drove in three runs with a homer and a double as host St Louis defeated Chicago.

Pat Hentgen (1-0), making his first start for St Louis, gave up three runs in 5 innings, u. Jon lieber (1-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings. Sammy Sosa was 0-for-4, making him 2-for-15 on the season. I Expos 6, Dodgers 5: Rondell White's two-run single off Jeff Shaw (0-1) in the ninth helped host Montreal salvage one game of its three game series with Los Angeles. Los Angeles went ahead in the eighth when pinch-hitter Dave Hansen hit a three-run homer off the Expos' Ugueth Urbina.

Anthony Telford (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win. Orel Hershiser made his first appearance for the Dodgers since Aug. 7, 1994, allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings. Astros 11, Pirates 2: Jose Lima (1-0) allowed two runs and eight hits in seven shutout innings, and Daryle Ward homered and visiting Houston beat Pittsburgh. Kris Benson (0-1) gave up five runs in six innings.

LATE TUESDAY 1 I- Diamondbacks 6, Phillies 4: Randy Johnson (1-0) struck out 10 in 8 innings as Arizona beat Philadelphia in its home opener. LATE TUESDAY Yankees 5, Angels 3: Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer off Troy Percival (0-1) in the ninth to lead New York past host Anaheim. Ramiro Mendoza (1-0) got the win in relief of starter Roger Clemens. The Yankees also placed third baseman Scott Brosius on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled rib-cage muscle. Hammerheads hope to stay intact FSL Few DiMaggio items sold at auction Joe DiMaggio mementos struck out Wednesday at Christie's.

Most of the 96 pieces up for sale at the auction house failed to meet their minimum prices, forcing them to be removed from bidding. Among them was a jersey worn by the late New York Yankees star in his final game rn the 1951 World Series. The top bid for it was $100,000, $20,000 shy of the minimum. The only two DiMaggio items among the top 10 were his 1986 Florida driver license, signed Joe Paul DiMaggio, which went for $11,750, and a glove, which drew $11,162. "I am shocked and disappointed," said Morris Engelberg, DiMaggio's lawyer and longtime friend.

He asked whether Christie's decision to auction DiMaggio's items last, after items such as Muhammad Ali's boxing shoes, hurt their chances. Christie's said they usually save their star items to be sold last. ANAHEIM: The Angels have stranded 23 runners in their first two games. BALTIMORE: The Orioles hopes starter Scott Erickson, who had bone chips removed from his right elbow last month, can return this month. He threw for 16 minutes off a mound Wednesday.

BOSTON: Pedro Martinez has given up only one samed run in his last 42 innings and has shut out his jpponents in his last 24 innings. CHICAGO: Manager Jerry Manuel is counting on lames Baldwin, today's starter, to go six or seven nnings. Neither Mike Sirotka, Kip Wells nor Jim Parque nade it through five innings in the first three games. CLEVELAND: A victory today would give Charles Nagy L21 for his career, placing him 10th on the Indians' list. DETROIT: Juan Gonzalez, who missed two games with strained hamstring, hopes to play Friday in Baltimore.

KANSAS CITY: Royals right-hander Chad Durbin nakes his first big-league start today. MINNESOTA: With Tuesday's ninth-inning victory, the 'wins have won as many games when they trailed after iight innings this year as they did in all of 1999. OAKLAND: Athletics manager Art Howe was going to )ull Tim Hudson after seven innings Tuesday, even if )etroit's Tony Clark hadn't broken up his no-hitter, ecause he had exceeded his 100-pitch count limit. SEATTLE: Mariners right fielder Jay Buhner did not ilay Tuesday, snapping his consecutive opening-day treak at nine. Buhner was held out because he has truck out all eight times he has faced Boston starter 'edro Martinez.

TAMPA BAY: Ozzie Guillen, released by Atlanta last reek, signed a one-year deal and will join the Devil Rays Dr Friday's home opener against Cleveland. He was a firee-time All-Star for the Chicago White Sox. TEXAS: Injured left-hander Justin Thompson threw bout 60 pitches in a simulated game against Class A ort Charlotte. He felt no problems and will throw about 5 pitches in another game Monday. TORONTO: Manager Jim Fregosi wants to limit catcher larren Fletcher to 110 games this season.

"Fletcher had is best offensive season last year catching 112 ames," Fregosi said. Palm Beach Post Wire Services Area FSL teams Jupiter Hammerheads (Expos) LAST YEAR: 73-65 (first in East; lost in playoffs). GENERAL MANAGER: Rob Rabenecker, 775-1818. MANAGER: Luis Dorante. COACHES: Ace Adams (pitching), Mike Felder (bench).

OPENER: vs. Brevard County Manatees, 7:05 tonight, Space Coast Stadium, Melbourne. HOME OPENER: vs. St. Petersburg Devil Rays, 7:05 Saturday night, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter.

ROSTER: Pitchers: Scott Albm. Ryan Becks, Donnie Bridges. Robert Castelli, Ron Chiaviacci. Chuck Crumpton, Jorge Julio. Marts Mangum.

Dustin Seale. Kyle Sheldon, Brad Waldron. Trevor Wamback. Catchers: Ryan lentz, Brian Preston. Scott Sandusky.

Inftelders: Scott Hodges. Albenis Machada, Randy Meadows, Tootie Myers. Thomas Pittman, Mart Thomas. Outfielders; Ron Callaway. Matt Cepicky.

Noah Hall, Matt Watson. St Lucie Mets LAST YEAR: 68-70 (third in East). GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Taglieri, 871-2100. MANAGER: Dave Engle. COACHES: Buzz Capra (pitching); Roger LaFrancois (bench).

OPENER: vs. Vero Beach, 7 tonight, Thomas J. White Stadium, Port St. Lucie. HOSTHfc Pitchers: Heath Bell.

Gary Bohannon. Andy Cook. Von German. Dave Lohrman, Nick Maness. Mike Prokop.

Mike Queen. Jason Saenz. Pat Strange. Rene Vega. Paul Wilson.

Catchers: Rvan Bennett. Jason Phillips. Andrew Thompson. Infielders: Pat Bums. Bobby Hill.

Rodney Nve. Brian Shipp. Ean Snyder. Gil Veiazauez. Outfielders: Endy Chavez, Bnan Cole.

Brandon Copeiand. Rob Stratton. ALL-STAR GAME: June 17 at Jupiter. Chuck Otterson By Chuck Otterson Palm Beach Post Staff Writer JUPITER There were times last season when manager Luis Dorante must have thought there was a revolving door on the Jupiter Hammerheads' clubhouse. A dozen players almost half his roster were promoted to Class AA Harrisburg during the season, which meant replacements arriving almost daily, most of them from Cape Fear in the South Atlantic League.

Despite the turnover, Dorante managed the club to a first-half division title and the best overall record in the Florida State League's East Division. The roster depletions finally took their toll in the playoffs as the Hammerheads fell to the Kissimmee Cobras, two games to one, in the first round. The good news for Jupiter fans hoping for another playoff appearance might be that it's unlikely that so many players will be promoted to Harrisburg this season. "This is a young club," Dorante said Wednesday, 24 hours before tonight's season opener against the Brevard County Manatees at Melbourne. "Well have to stay more on top, teaching them how to do little things." The Hammerheads' biggest and perhaps best player is first baseman Thomas Pittman, who figures to bat cleanup.

Pittman, 20, is big enough not only to scare opposing pitchers but NFL players as well. A 6-foot-4, 260-pounder from Garyville, he hit .283 with 22 home runs and 97 RBI at Cape Fear last season. Joining Pittman in the starting lineup are second baseman Clarence Tootie" Myers, who hit 11 home runs and stole 30 bases at Cape Fear; shortstop Albenis Machado, who hit .247 with the same club; third baseman Scott Hodges, at Cape Fear; DH Matt Watson, who hit .380 with seven home runs, 47 RBI and 17 steals in 70 games for Vermont right fielder Noah Hall, with the Hammerheads; left fielder Matt Cepicky, at Vermont; center fielder Ron Callaway, with Jupiter; and catcher Scott Sandusky, with the Hammerheads. "We have more power than last year," Dorante said. "We have some guys who hit home runs at Cape Fear and Vermont It's just a matter of how they adjust to this league.

The pitching is better, and the ballparks are bigger." The starting pitchers, all right-handers, are Donnie Bridges (6-1, 2.28 ERA at Cape Fear; 4-6, 4.09 at Jupiter), Jorge Julio (4-8, 3.92) and Ron Chiaviacci (4-4, 2.23) and two players promoted from Cape Fear Mark Mangum and Trevor Wamback (6-3, 2.84). Chuck Crumpton, a 6-4 right-hander who had a 1.93 ERA at Vermont and was 2-1 with an ERA of 0.47 and seven saves in 13 games at Cape Fear, will be the closer. Left-handed hitter Ryan Lentz, who played third base last season, has been moved to catcher. "It will take time for him to adjust and learn how to call the game," Dorante said, "but we think he has more value behind the plate. He has a good arm.".