St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 32

4C ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH SATURDAY. AUGUST 3. 1991 BASEBALL Cards Prospect At Ease After The Rigors Of VMI Maclin Still Fields Dream Of Playing For Cardinals MIKE EISENBATH j- yj MINOR LEAGUE NOTEBOOK ting average, one homer and 18 RBIs in nearly 150 at-bats. That and being away from home and truly on his own for the first time made for an interesting summer.

"Playing a full college season first, then putting in the pro season with a wooden bat for the first time, that made for a long year," Beasley said. "And I had a lot to learn about being on my own. In military school, they take care of you. Your laundry is done and things like that. "What I did learn at VMI was to manage my time and things that I need.

It gets you ready to know what it takes to get by on your own." Beasley's father, Billy Beasley, is a retired serviceman. He lives in Belleville and works in civil service at Scott Air Force Base. Billy Beasley's military career wasn't the reason Andy went to VMI, though. Andy lived with his mother after his parents divorced when he was about 11. He stayed in close touch with his father, but wasn't enthralled with military life.

'I really didn't like VMI that much," Beasley said. "It was a constant test, with their restrictions. I was mostly just looking for a good academic school in Virginia. The academics were great; some of the other things weren't" Beasley graduated with majors in economics and French. He had studied Latin extensively in high school but, moved to French at VMI.

As well educated as Beasley is, he doesn't exactly fit into a Midwest League locker room. Many of his teammates didn't go beyond high school; many of his Latin-American teammates didn't finish high school. "I don't notice it that much," Beasley said. "It's not like guys who have gone to college always sit around talking about intellectual things. There are a few guys on the team who like to read and are well-educated that I'm good friends with.

"But just being out in life, the fact that I'm on a team with all the Latin players that are from a different background that's an education, too." His success this year has changed his attitude. "Things aren't perfect every game," he said. "But now, after a game where maybe I go 0 for four or 0 for five with three strikeouts, I can sit down and not think it's the end of the world." history. There are grumbles and murmurs in Louisville that when the team's contract ends in a year, the Redbirds owners might switch their affiliation to another big-league team. The unhappiness stems over the quality of players the Cardinals have sent to Louisville this year.

The Redbirds recently signed former Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto to a minor-league contract to help shore up their depleted backstop corps. Both Ray Stephens and Ed Fulton were on the disabled list. When Nieto reported July 26, he hadn't hit in about three months and hadn't worked out in a month. He hadn't planned on playing for a week. In the emergency, third baseman Stan Royer the team's hottest hitter and one of the Cardinals' top prospects caught the first inning.

He was drafted as a catcher by Oakland, so the move made some sense. But Nieto replaced him after that inning. Considering Nieto's situation, one has to wonder if maybe someone in the Cardinals front office ordered Royer's removal. How bad are things in Louisville? In a batting practice drill Thursday, Joey Fernandez caught his bat on a strap hanging from the cage. The bat jolted up to his mouth, chipped a tooth and opened a cut that required 13 stitches.

Fernandez, a first baseman, has been the team's most consistent player. Sal's Surprise: Sal Artiaga, the commissioner of the National Association of Baseball League has informed the association's executive committee that he will not run for re-election at this year's winter meetings. The announcement caught most committee members off guard, because he has been commissioner only since John Johnson's death in 1988. "I've decided to pursue other avenues," said Artiaga, 45. "I don't have anything going right now.

But I didn't want to do that in a backroom setting. I didn't want to get re-elected and then come to the executive committee a couple of months later and say I was leaving for something. "I would like to stay in baseball." Artiaga is in his 27th year in baseball. He began working with the El Paso club in 1965, then went to Tampa and spent 15 years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He worked under Johnson for six years as an administrator.

Artiaga might be in good shape to find a prominent spot in baseball. A native of New Mexico and of Spanish descent, Artiaga could be regarded as a minority. "The fact that I'm bi-lingual is an asset to me," Artiaga says. "I've developed many contacts in the Latin-American market. But I would not want to be hired because I'm a minority but because of my skill." More Martinez: Pedro Martinez, 20, the brother of Los Angeles pitcher Ramon Martinez, didn't spend a lot of time in San Antonio of the Texas League.

But he left his share of memories. In 12 games there, he went 7-5 and had a 1.76 earned-run average. He had three shutouts, including a two-hitter and three-hitter just before his late- Tbis hasn't been the kind of baseball season outfielder Lonnie Maclin had planned when he left north St. Louis County for spring training last February. But his dream to wear a Cardinals uniform one day remains intact "It's been a very frustrating season," Maclin said.

"I've just got to show a little mental toughness and end the season strong. I plan to make sure the Cardinals know I should still be in their plans." Like many of his teammates with the Class AAA Louisville Redbirds, Maclin hasn't had an ideal season. The Redbirds have the worst record in the American Association, and this has been one of Maclin's worst pro seasons. Maclin has been slowed because of strained ligaments in his wrist, an injury that forced him to spend nine weeks on the disabled list. As a result, he has played in only 53 games and has a .253 batting average.

Maclin has stolen 13 bases, driven in 16 runs and walked only 12 times. He hopes to raise his average to about .280 by season's end. Although he will cater to the Cardinals' wishes, Maclin would like to avoid instructional league work or winter ball and just rest his wrist all winter. Then, he can get back to pursuing an outfield spot at Busch Stadium. It's a position he has coveted since he was a small boy and later as a student at Ritenour High and Meramec Community College.

If the injury did anything positive for him, it gave him the chance to see his favorite team play a little this summer. "When I was on the disabled list, I didn't go on the road with the team here," Maclin said. "I went home; I've never been home during the summer to watch the Cardinals the last few years, so that was fun. I know a lot of those guys. So I had a good time when I was off.

Of course, I would have had a better time playing." Do his friends on the Cardinals, notably left fielder and fellow St. Louis native Bernard Gilkey and center fielder Ray Lankford, realize Maclin wants their jobs? "Of course they all know; they've been in my position before," Maclin said. "It was tough to move Willie McGee out of center field, but Ray did it. So I can, too. Bernard and I are neighbors and close friends.

But if I win the job from him, I know he can take it like a man." Louisville Notes: The Louisville Redbirds, the Cardinals' affiliate in the Class AAA American Association, went 7-22 in July, the worst month in the team's 10-year Kevin tVianningPost-Dispatcn A disappointing, injury-plagued season isn't quashing Lonnie Maclin's dream of playing for the Cardinals. July promotion to Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League. In his last game at San Antonio, 3,400 fans turned out; San Antonio averages 2,700 fans this season. Fans in the town, which includes a heavy Spanish-speaking population, were figuring out Martinez's future possibilities. He went to a local restaurant for an autograph-signing session and the restaurant didn't have room for all the fans who showed up.

First-Round Update: Lefthander Donovan Osborne, a first-round draft pick of the Cardinals last year, is on the rebound. After five poor starts in May, he is 6-3 with a 2.32 ERA for Class AA Arkansas (Texas League). He pitched a second successive three-hitter July 24 but lost 1-0 to San Antonio and pitcher Pedro Martinez. Paul Coleman, another former Cardinals first-round selection, hit his first home run of the season Tuesday, winning a game in dramatic fashion for the Class A Springfield (111.) Redbirds. Waterloo's Linty Ingram had a perfect game for 5 innings against Springfield before Jose Velez ended it with a sixth-inning single.

Ingram and Springfield pitcher Mark Bowlan each had shutouts through nine innings, and the game still was scoreless until Coleman hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 11th. CARDINALS Versatile Perry Shows By Mike Eisenbath Of th Post-Dispatch Staff Andy Beasley could feel proud of the season he is having for the Springfield (111.) Cardinals. But thanks to his background, ego doesn't pose a problem for him. Beasley is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. Life in the Class A Midwest League doesn't have anything on the rigors of VMI.

"In baseball, the team concept comes easy to me," Beasley said. "Living military-style in barracks with 24 other guys, you have to learn to get along or you just won't make it. Going to school at VMI suppresses your ego, and that comes in handy when you're trying to be a part of a team." Beasley, a catcher, is one of the brightest prospects on the Class A level. He has a .301 batting average, with nine homers and 44 runs batted in. He's been hitting .345 since June 1.

He was the batter of the week for all of the minor leagues last week, when he had went 12 for 24 at the plate and belted six homers. "It was a little bit surprising that I put it all together in one week," Beasley said. "But really, I've been wondering where my power has been all season. "Last year, I was flying out all the time at pitches. I was a little anxious." Being a first-year catcher in pro ball might have caused some of that anxiety.

Beasley hadn't necessarily planned for what transpired last year, when the Cardinals took him in the fifth round of the draft. Beasley, an all-district most valuable player at Ferguson High in Newport News, was converted to catcher at VMI only because the team needed one. He had been a decent hitter through high school but didn't really develop his offensive skills until his sophomore year at VMI. By the time he graduated, he was an all-conference catcher for VMI. He was projected to go in the first 10 rounds of the draft.

Not in the fifth round, though. That made him think. "I was accepted to law school, but I thought I'd see what baseball could give me," Beasley said. Last year, it gave him a learning experience. He split 48 games between Hamilton, Ontario, in the Class A New York-Penn League and Savannah, in the Class A South Atlantic League.

He had a cumulative .178 bat NOTEBOOK His Worth Despite the soreness, the results appeared to be good. "He stretched it out pretty good today," pitching coach Joe Coleman said. "He threw 30 pitches, and that's Oquendo From page one pennant-winning team in 1987, Oquendo fe'u a strong sense of responsibility to be a leader for what had been tagged a "rebuilding" team after the departures of Willie McGee, Terry Pendleton and Vince Coleman. "That feeling affected me more," Oquendo said. "I wanted to be part of helping the team out but I forgot to do my job.

Then, I got mentally frustrated and lazy. Instead of being positive and working, I just said, 'I'm struggling so I need to This is a departure of form for the tireless Oquendo, known for his strong work ethic. "Instead of doing extra work, I was trying not to do too much, trying to rest," he said, shaking his head. "I was showing up at 3:30 or 4 for a 7:35 game, when I usually get here at 2. Now, I show up early, get my running in and get five minutes extra hitting." In his eight-game streak, Oquendo had 15 hits in 27 at-bats, a remarkable .555 average.

"He's really come alive," Torre said. "After playing bingo for the first three months, he's swinging the bat really nice. He's worked at it." Torre said he had a hunch Oquendo would break out of it 10 days ago when he drove in the winning run in a victory over the Houston Astros. "All I said was, 'You're going to To Cards about the most he would throw in a game. We were planning on having him throw about five more, but he felt it starting to come on in his elbow a little.

So, we decided to just shut it down there." DiPino was encouraged. "I was making good pitches," he said. "I wasn't trying to overthrow. The ball was moving real well. "It's discouraging that I had to shut it down, but today was the first day I threw a forkball and the ball was breaking well.

I had good control with all my pitches." The effect of the outing on DiPino's elbow might be more discernible today. If all is well, DiPino will pitch another simulated game Tuesday. The Cardinals went over the 50 million mark in paid attendance at Busch Stadium on Friday. The Stadium opened in 1966. The fan who represented No.

50 million was given four season tickets for next year. The Cardinals reached the 50 million mark in 1,971 dates, an average of 25,365. Other clubs to draw more than 50 million include the New York Yankees, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Los Angeles was the quickest to reach the 50 million mark (21 years). The Cardinals are the second fastest (26 years) to reach the mark.

Friday also marked the one-year anniversary of Joe Torre's appointment as manager of the Cardinals. Since taking over in the wake of Whit-ey Herzog's resignation, Torre has a 78-81 record. Kevin ManningPost-Dispatch Jose Oquendo and Pittsburgh's Barry Bonds colliding at second base while shortstop Ozzie Smith watches a throw by third baseman Todd Zeile sail into right field. CARDINALS CARDINALS 4, PIRATES 3 Pittsburgh AB Bl BB SO Espycl 4 0 0 0 0 1 Bell ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 Wehner3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 Bonilla rf 2 1 1 0 2 0 Bonds If 4 2 2 1 0 0 Merced 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 LaValliere 4 0 2 0 0 1 Lind2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 Z. Smith 3 0 0 0 0 1 Belinda 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total! 32 3 6 1 2 6 Cardinal AB Bl BB SO Lankford cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0.

Smith ss 3 2 1 0 1 0 Perry 1b 4 0 2 1 0 0 1-Penapr 0 1 0 0 0 0 ZeileSb 4 0 0 2 0 1 Joserf 3 0 0 0 1 0 Gilkeylf 3 0 1110 Pagnozzic 3 0 0 0 0 0 Oquendo2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 DeLeonp 2 0 0 0 0 2 a-Wilsonph 0 0 0 0 0 0 b-Thompson ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 Carpenter 0 0 0 0 0 0 McClure 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totali 30 4 5 4 3 3 Pittsburgh 020 000 100 3 6 1 Cardinal OOP OOP 202 4 5 1 One out when winning run scored. a-announced for DeLeon in the 8th. b-grounded out for Wilson in the 8th. 1-ran for Perry in the 9th. Lind (8), Zeile (16).

LOB Pittsburgh 4, Cardinals 4. HP, Bonds (17). SB O. Smith (23), Pena (10), Gilkey (14). CS Perry (3).

GIDP Bonds. Runners left in scoring position Pittsburgh 1 (LaValliere); Cardinals 1 (Thompson). DP Cardinals 1 Pittsburgh IP ER BB SO NP Z.Smith 7 4 2 2 0 3 90 Belinda 3-3 1 2 2 3 0 29 Cardinals IP ER BB SO NP DeLeon 8 5 3 2 1 5101 Carpenter Vi 0 0 0 1 0 10 McClure 1-0 1 0 0 0 1 9 Inherited runners-scored McClure 1-0. IBB off Belinda (Jose). Umpires Home, Runge; First, Winters; Second, Gregg; Third, WestT 2:25.

A 36,228. CARDINALS' AVERAGES BATTING Avg. AB H2B3BHR RBI Thompson .342 187 34 64 9 5 2 26 Carpenter .333 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 Jose 310364 48113 30 3 3 50 O.Smith .297 343 65102 17 1 0 33 Guerrero .284 289 38 82 8 1 7 53 Zeile 281366 50103 23 3 7 49 Olivares .273 22 2 6 1 0 0 2 Perry 267 146 22 39 6 2 6 26 Lankford .251 331 48 83 11 8 2 38 .250248 24 62 7 4 1 14 Smith .250 44 3 11 0 0 0 7 Hudler 248129 13 32 7 2 0 10 Pagnozzi .243313 26 76 12 4 2 39 227 242 24 55 6 2 3 17 Pena 223112 22 25 6 2 3 12 Tewksbury .200 35 2 7 0 0 0 1 Alicea .192 26 3 5 2 0 0 0 Wilson 189 53 4 10 2 0 0 11 Terry 167 6 1 1 0 0 0 1 Gedman .115 52 3 6 0 0 3 6 Hill 083 36 1 3 0 0 0 3 DeLeon .049 41 0 2 0 0 0 0 McClure .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L. Smith .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Agosto 000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fraser 000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 SB- Lankford 29, O. Smith 23, Gilkey 14, Jose 12, Zeile 12, Thompson 11, Perry 11, Pena 10, Pagnozzi 6, Hudler 5, Guerrero 2, Oquendo.

'On disabled list. PITCHING ERA IP BB SO Terrv ..2 1 216 58.1 56 25 38 Smith 5 2 2.50 50.1 46 8 49 Tewksbury 7 7 2.62 120.1 119 25 53 5 8 2 91 136 0121 49 99 Smith 9 7 3.73 137.2131 29 62 HIH 8 7 4.10 123 0107 46 82 CaroerrteV 7 3 4.70 53.2 44 16 35 Oares 4 3 5.14 77.0 75 38 39 Agosto 5 2 5.55 61.2 70 26 22 Praser 2 0 5 63 16.0 17 7 5 McClure 1 0 6 35 5 2 11 1 5 0 0 27.00 1.0 2 2 1 SAVES: L. Smith 28, Agosto, Olivares, Terry. UP NEXT a Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh: 12: 15 today, a Tuning In: KMOV Channel KMOX 1120 AM.

a Ptteheri: Bryn Smith (9-7, 3-9 lifetime vs. Pirates): Doug Drabek (10-10. 5-7 lifetime vs. Cardinals). REPORT CARDINALS' STATISTICS VS.

EAST Home Road Totals Chicago 3 3 3 3 6 6 Montreal 2 1 1 2 3 3 New York 2 1 2 1 4 2 Philadelphia 6 1 4 310 4 Pittsburgh 2 3 2 1 4 4 Totals vs. East 15 9 12 10 27 19 VS. WEST Home Road Totals Atlanta 3 3 0 6 3 9 Cincinnati 4 2 4 2 8 4 Houston 5 1 2 4 7 5 Los Angeles 1 2 1 2 2 San Diego 1 3 2 1 3 4 San Francisco 2 2 3 0 5 2 Totals vs. West 16 13 12 15 28 26 Overall Totals 31 22 24 25 55 47 BY THE NUMBERS Won Lost Day 16 13 Night 39 34 Shutouts 3 7 1 -Run Decisions 25 12 Extra Innings 7 2 Vs. RH Starters 31 25 Vs.

LH Starters 24 22 Grass fields 11 13 Artificial fields 44 34 ATTENDANCE Home Road Totals 1,656,910 1,176,964 PIRATES' AVERAGES BATTING Avg. AB H2B3BHR RBI Wehner .370 51 7 20 3 0 0 3 Bonilla .301 366 61 110 25 4 13 64 LaValliere .297 229 18 68 8 1 3 27 Bonds 294 326 56 96 14 4 17 76 McClendon .290100 13 29 3 0 6 16 .285246 50 70 10 2 6 30 Bell 279391 63109 19 4 12 49 Varsho .267131 18 35 9 2 3 14 Lind 257 300 31 77 8 2 3 29 Redus 255161 34 41 9 1 4 14 VanSlyke .253304 63 77 11 6 11 57 King 239109 16 26 1 1 4 18 Slaught .229131 6 30 8 1 0 15 Wilkerson .214117 14 25 6 1 0 9 Prince 125 8 1 1 1 0 0 0 Gonzalez .042 48 5 2 0 0 1 3 Espy 000 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 On disabled list. SB Bonds 31, Redus 10, Bell 7, Van Slyke 7, Varsho 6, King 3, Lind 3, Merced 3, Bonilla 2, McClendon 2, Wehner 2, LaValliere. PITCHING ERA IP BB SO Tomlin 6 4 2.50 97.1 86 36 52 Landrum 1 2 3.06 50.0 54 1 0 27 Walk 7 2 3.15 80.0 65 28 47 Drabek ....1010 3.24 147.0155 46 86 Smiley 12 7 3 34 124.0118 28 83 Smith 10 8 3.32 138 1 145 21 71 Palacios 6 3 3.44 73.1 58 34 57 Heaton 2 1 3.60 45.0 43 13 16 Patterson ..1 0 4.14 41.1 40 9 36 Belinda 3 3 4.41 49.0 33 28 49 Kipper 2 1 4.58 39.1 40 14 24 On disabled list. SAVES Landrum 15, Belinda 9, Kipper 2, Palacios 2, Patterson 2.

LOUISVILLE AVERAGES (Through July 29) BATTING AVG. AB H2B3BHR RBI Nieto 333 12 0 4 0 0 0 0 Stephens. .279165 16 46 7 0 7 28 Maclin 273198 25 54 5 2 1 16 Mendez .265136 7 36 5 1 0 7 Royer 254 397 36101 20 5 10 58 JoeyFrndz .245 233 27 57 12 1 8 23 Brewer .241 274 32 66 19 0 5 40 .240 329 46 79 19 2 9 37 Jones 235200 18 47 7 1 2 19 Crosby .231 147 16 34 4 1 0 13 Nichols .216 51 8 11 1 1 2 6 Figueroa .212 203 12 43 7 2 0 11 Fulton .198131 10 26 8 0 0 15 Carmona .178107 11 19 1 1 1 4 Magallanes .125 32 2 4 1 0 0 0 Christian .118 17 2 2 1 0 0 1 SB: Maclin 13, Jordan 10. Martinez 8. Carmona 6.

Jones 8. Joey Fernandez 3, Brewer 4, Figueroa, Crosby, Nichols. PITCHING ERA IP BB SO Grater 2 3 1.49 60.1 53 22 41 Sherrill 4 3 3 20 39.1 33 19 29 Moyer 3 6 367 83.1 81 36 45 Cormie. 7 6 4 06115.1 120 26 69 Clary 2 8 4.48 70.1 77 26 28 Loynd 1 2 4 50 14 0 13 6 11 Davidson 3 5 4 54 83.1 107 28 51 Clarke 5 7 4 60121 1 130 52 74 Milchin 4 6 4 66 751 106 26 38 Osteen 1 4 6 19 48 0 62 28 22 Picota 2 5 6 50 62 1 83 36 29 Perez 3 5 7.03 32 0 45 19 26 SAVES: Sherrill 7. Grater 6.

Perez 4. Clary, Richardson. On disabled list. By Dan O'Neill Ot the Post-Dispatch Staff Perhaps lost in the shuffle of Jose Oquendo's three-hit, three runs batted game Thursday against Pittsburgh was the stellar work of Gerald Perry. But Perry's performance wasn't lost on Cardinals manager Joe Torre.

"Before that game, I was talking about not playing him" on Friday, Torre said. "Not because he wasn't playing well, but just to work things around their pitching rotation. But I told him he was so good against the lefthander Randy Tomlin Thursday, I had to get him back in there against Zane Smith. "He said, that's fine with me. I don't want to sit." Perry went two for four with one RBI in the Cards' 4-3 victory Friday.

Perry's game Thursday was perhaps his best one as a Cardinal. He had two hits, and was robbed of another on third baseman John Wehner's diving catch. He also walked twice, stole two bases and scored twice. What's more, Perry made an outstanding defensive play by knocking down Mike LaValliere's smash and flipping to Omar Olivares for a putout. "It was fun," Perry said.

"That's the kind of game I like to be in. I like to be aggressive and run the bases, try to help out however I can." Friday's performance raised Perry's batting average to .267 for the season. Torre likes having Perry in the lineup for reasons that go beyond his statistics. "He gives us everything," Torre said. "He gives us intangibles with his leadership qualities.

He knows how to do it." Cards From page one retired Ozzie Smith and Perry on grounders, keeping his perfect streak intact. Mike LaValliere looped a soft single to left with one out in the fifth, but DeLeon got Jose Lind to fly to center and Zane Smith popped to second. Smith retired the side in order in the sixth, all on ground balls. At that stage, the Cardinals had not hit a ball out of the infield since Lankford's drive in the first. Oquendo lined a drive toward the gap in right-center in the sixth.

But Espy again covered ground and made a running catch. Bonds gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead in the seventh with his 17th home run. He picked on a 3-1 pitch with one out and hit it over the right-field wall. One out later, LaValliere singled to left. But Ozzie Smith dived in the hole for Lind's grounder, popped up and threw to second to force LaValliere.

The Cardinals ended Smith's perfect game and shutout in the seventh without hitting the ball out of the infield. Lankford led off with a roller up the middle. Lind backhanded the ball, but his late throw was wide of the bag and Lankford reached second. He was credited with a single. Ozzie Smith hit the ball even more softly than Lankford and beat out a high chop to second.

Smith then stole second, his 23rd steal. Jose Oquendo's hitting month by month. Month AB Hits Avg. April 60 12 .200 May 44 7 .159 June 77 20 .260 July 61 20 .328 August 6 3 .500 Total 248 62 .250 Cardinals recuperating lefthander Frank DiPino tossed a simulated game before Friday's real game. DiPino threw 30 pitches before feeling some tenderness in his elbow.

With runners at second and third, Gerald Perry beat out yet another infield grounder as Lankford scored and trimmed the lead to 3-1. Moments later, however, Perry was thrown out trying to steal second as Smith held third. Zeile bounced softly to third as Smith scored, making it 3-2. With two out, Jose made a bid to tie the game, but fell short as Bonilla retreated to the wall in right and hauled in the long drive. Gilkey got the first hard hit off Smith in the eighth.

He lined a single to right to start the inning. Smith retired Tom Pagnozzi and Oquendo before Craig Wilson pinch-hit for DeLeon. With Wilson at the plate, Gilkey swiped second, his 14th steal, to get in scoring position. Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland replaced Smith with righthander Belinda and Cardinals manager Joe Torre countered by replacing Wilson with lefthanded-swing-ing Milt Thompson. But Thompson grounded to short, ending the rally.

The Cardinals then rallied in the ninth. Ozzie Smith drew a one-out walk. Perry then lined a single to right as Smith moved to third. Geronimo Pena pinch-ran for Perry and stole his 10th base, putting runners at second and third. Zeile then tapped past the mound and the charging Bell threw home, but Ozzie Smith crossed the plate just ahead of the throw to tie it 3-3.

Belinda walked Jose intentionally to load the bases and then walked Gilkey unintentionally on a 3-2 pitch, giving the Cardinals the victory. knock in the winning Torre said. "He just looked at me, and he went up and got a base hit. From that point on, he started swinging it a lot better from both sides." He's also more relaxed, and having a lot more fun. Still, the bad start bothers him.

"It's coming along good, but I don't care what I do from now on I could finish .270 or something I'd still say I had a bad year," he said. "I struggled so much at the start of the year. I couldn't say it was a good year." Unless of course, the Cardinals win the National League East. "If we win, I'll be very happy," he said. American Heart Association.