St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 46

SUNDAY. JULY 12, 1992 ST. LOUIS HOST-DISPATCH SPORTS 5F BASEBALL E5 JUL 1 2 1392' CARDINALS NOTEBOOK Stars Lose Excitement Points Over A Lack Of Run Production AP Ozzie Smith's stolen base Saturday gave him 20 this year and marked the 15th consecutive year he had stolen 20 or more. their troubles in All-Star games. Orlando Cepeda was one for 27, Eddie Mathews was two for 25, Luis Aparicio was two for 28 and Roy Campanella was two for 20.

Mickey Mantle hit only .233, with Yogi Berra and Willie McCovey each under .200. Back then, though, there used to be a few runs. Five times in the 1950s were there at least 10 runs in the All-Star game, four times it happened in the 1960s, four more times in the 1970s, but only once in the last 12 games has it occurred. And, after getting 10 hits in seven All-Star games in the 1970s, the National Leaguers failed to do it even once in the 1980s. Part of the reason was the increased use of relief pitchers, particularly by the American League.

Give a guy just one chance against Dennis Eckersley or Dan Plesac or Bobby Thigpen, and that's no chance at all. Recently, both teams have tried to generate offense by picking players with speed, rather than sluggers, as the reserves. The NL did it this year, for example, by adding Bip Roberts (.293, 23 stolen bases) instead of a guy like Andre Dawson (13 home runs, 51 RBIs), who homered last July at the SkyDome. The revamped rosters have been a reason why the AL has reeled off four consecutive victories, matching its longest streak, accomplished from 1946-1949. The Nationals still have the longest string of 11 successive victories, accomplished during a period from 1963-1982 when it won 19 of 20 games.

Overall, the Nationals lead the series 37-24-1. last year's All-Star Game at Toronto? Not the game, but what happened the day before, when Cal Ripken put on a power show in the home run derby. And, in the last few years, what's the one and maybe only truly memorable moment in All-Star play? The time Bo Jackson led off the 1989 game with a monster shot over the center field fence. There's certainly nothing magical in seeing Rick Aguilera strike out Paul O'Neill or watching Dennis Martinez get Sandy Alomar Jr. on a grounder.

But, more and more, that's what the games have become. And, in this case, no runs equals no excitement "The hitters get one at-bat against a pitcher they have hardly, if ever, seen before," Paul Molitor said before last year's game, a 4-2 AL victory but not much of a classic. "I think it is very difficult for hitters to be successful in that situation." "One at-bat and the pitcher has a better chance to dominate that situation, no matter how good a hitter the guy happens to be." That partly explains why Sandberg is only three for 23 in All-Star competition, with Ozzie Smith even worse at two for 20. Puckett is just three for 13 and Ripken was three for 20 before winning last year's MVP honors with a three-run homer and a single. "It's more fun when you get a few hits and a homer," Ripken said.

Not for the pitchers. In the NBA and NHL All-Star games, it's OK to have a lot of scoring because no one gets shown up; baseball is much different, though, and no pitcher wants to get tagged, even in an exhibition. In the past, plenty of top hitters had SAN DIEGO (AP) Tune in Tuesday night to the All-Star Game and you'll see baseball from a neat, new perspective, thanks to a camera that CBS plans to install inside first base. Needless to say, after paying thousands of dollars for the lipstick-sized lens, CBS does not want to get its gadget broken. That being the case, maybe the network should mount it someplace where it won't get stepped on too often, someplace like home plate.

The reasons are plenty, but the result is always the same no one ever scores anymore. Fact: In the last six All-Star games, the National Leaguers have scored 10 runs. In that time, they've hit one measly home run. And, the NL has failed to score more than two runs in any inning since 1978, the last time the game was played at San Diego. Fact: In the last eight All-Star games, only once has the loser scored more than two runs.

In that span, only twice has a team gotten as many as 10 hits. It's too bad. Because as thrilling as it is to witness a tense pitching duel on a September afternoon, watching Roger Clemens match zeros with Jack Morris, it's just no fun to see that on a hot summer night when Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Kirby Puckett and Ryne Sandberg are all in attendance. Why has the National Basketball Association All-Star Game become so popular? Because Michael Jordan Co. put on a point-fest.

Why has even the National Hockey League All-Star Game become entertaining? Because Mario Lemieux and friends put the puck in the net like crazy. Just think, what was the highlight of Ozzie Is One Of Elite Three Joins Ex-Card Brock In Stolen-Base Feat By Rick Hummel Of the Post-Dispatch Staff LOS ANGELES Ozzie Smith's stolen base in the fifth inning Saturday gave him 20 for the season and marked the 15th consecutive year he has stolen 20 or more bases. That streak is the longest for any active player. "I've still got some legs," Smith said, smiling. "And I play on Astroturf.

"Looking back on it, that's quite a feat. There aren't many people who have done that." Smith became the third player since 1900 to steal 20 or more bases for 15 consecutive seasons. He joins Honus Wagner (18 years) and Lou Brock (15 years). Smith, 37, was charged with two errors at shortstop Saturday, marking the second time that had happened in a game here this season. He has made only two other errors this season, although he said a ball hit to his left by speedy Tom Goodwin in the first inning should have been a hit.

Smith said the muddy infield "was lousy. But I'm not using that as an excuse. If I get in front of it, I get an error. If I don't catch it cleanly, I get an error. Where's the justice?" Smith pointed to a ball Jose Offer-man hit off the glove of third baseman Todd Zeile on Friday night.

"I'm not whining," he said, "but if you're going to score that ball a hit, you've got to score Goodwin's ball a hit today, especially a guy who can run like that. He's faster than Offer-man." Cardinals first baseman Andres Galarraga, who had a total of six hits in three games earlier on the trip, is hitless in 15 at-bats since then, hitting only two balls out of the infield. Zeile, who has 30 runs batted in for the first 86 games, said he thought he could get to 75 by the end of the season. "I had over 40 actually 45 last year in the second half," he said. "And it wasn't like it was just an unbelievable x.

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"Same pitch every time," Cormier said. "Forkball." Dodgers outfielder Brett Butler missed his first game of the season because of a jammed shoulder. Donovan Osborne (7-4) will make the Cardinals' final start of the first half when he faces Los Angeles' Kevin Gross (4-9) Sunday. Dodgers lefthander Bob Ojeda (5-4) suspects he might be traded. Ojeda, 34, has given up only four runs his last 27 innings, but he is on a last-place team.

"I think my trade value is as big now as it has ever been," he said. "If we are still struggling and other teams are looking for a lefthander to help them win a pennant, I'm sure I'll hear my name." Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers' losing pitcher Saturday, has given up 31 hits in his last 19 innings. Cardinals coach Don Baylor said he is happy that manager Joe Torre is not threatened by his presence. "It's nice to be able to go where you want to go," Baylor said, "without worrying about whether the manager is going to be there." Cardinals starter Mark Clark's hitting streak ended at four games Saturday. Clark struck out twice and tapped to the mound.

"They hooked me," Clark said. "Can't hit a curveball." REPORT CARDINALS' AVERAGES BATTING Avg. AB H2B3BHR RBI Carpenter .500 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 Thompson .319135 18 43 5 1 4 12 Gilkey 313150 20 47 8 2 0 13 Wilson 311 74 4 23 5 0 0 9 Jose 304 253 27 77 12 2 7 43 O.Smith .299 264 32 79 7 1 0 20 Pena 295 95 15 28 7 0 3 12 .287 324 45 93 19 4 9 35 Pagnozzi .281 270 26 76 16 3 4 28 Olivares .273 33 4 9 1 0 0 2 Zeile 264 284 35 75 15 3 5 30 Alicea .252107 12 27 3 6 1 14 Perry 243103 10 25 7 0 0 12 Clark 235 17 0 4 0 0 0 1 'Guerrero .221 145 10 32 6 1 1 16 Hudler 207 58 8 12 2 0 2 3 Jordan .203192 17 39 9 4 5 22 Oquendo .200 10 0 2 1 0 0 1 Jones 188117 6 22 3 0 0 2 Galarraga. .184152 11 28 6 1 2 10 Osborne .162 37 4 6 0 1 0 0 Cormier .160 25 1 4 2 0 0 0 Gedman .120 50 0 6 2 0 0 1 Tewksbury .071 42 2 3 0 0 0 2 Worrell .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L.Smith .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McClure .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B.Smith .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Perez 000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 DeLeon .000 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 SB: Lankford 28, O. Smith 20, Jose 13, Thompson 13, Gilkey 7, Jordan 7, Pena 5, Zeile 5, Jones 4, Galarraga 3, Perry 3, Guerrero 2, Pagnozzi 2, Hudler, Wilson.

PITCHING ERA IP BB SO Perez 6 1 1.65 49 0 39 16 30 Tewksbury 9 3 1 87 134.2127 9 51 Carpenter ..3 2 2 33 50 1 34 13 26 Clark 2 3 2.79 51.2 42 14 18 Osborne 7 4 2.82 1081 100 21 58 Smith 2 3 3 03 38 2 33 12 33 McClure 1 2 3.21 28.0 27 14 13 Worrell 3 3 3.77 31.0 27 13 33 Olivares 5 4 3.78 97.2 84 31 50 DeLeon 2 6 4.21 77.0 73 27 53 Cormier 2 7 4.61 86.0 97 20 57 B.Smith ..0 0 6.75 2.2 3 2 1 Saves: L. Smith 23, Carpenter. 'On disabled list. SIZES 7T Blackwall v- x. aw 13" 14" SIZES 2ooo radial FTTTT1 METRICRA0IM SO 4 99 LWJ $0099 Flow-Through 15" second half." Dodgers right fielder Darryl Strawberry absorbed his worst booing to date by the home fans, striking out four times Friday night.

Strawberry has been slow to rebound after missing 49 games because of a herniated disc in his back. "I guess they assume I've been playing all year," Strawberry said. "I was somewhat surprised. It's not like I've been in the lineup and not performing." His salary of $4 million a year might have something to do with the fans' message. Teammate Eric Davis said: "If people expect Darryl to come in and hit every ball to the moon, it's just not going to happen that way.

It's sad they feel like that." Rheal Cormier finally got his second win in 15 starts Friday night for the Cardinals. "I've been pitching pretty well," he said, "but I had nothing to show for it. When we scored three runs, I said, 'I have to keep them Cormier (2-7) struck out 1 1 Friday. After talking to veterans Bob Tewksbury and Bob McClure, Cormier came away with the attitude that "you can't let your record determine how you pitch." "If you think about your record," he said, "you're probably going to mess up. If I keep pitching like I am, the results are going to change." Cormier said at times he had been aggravated by his lack of wins.

"It was aggravating at the beginning, and it's still aggravating. But you CARDINALS CARDINALS 4, DODGERS 1 Cardinals AB Bl BB SO Thompson If L.Smith O.Smith ss Lankford of Galarraga 1b Zeile 3b Jordan rf Pagnozzi Jones 2b Clark Carpenter d-Hudler ph Gilkey If Totals 37 4 11 Los Angeles AB Bl BB SO Offerman ss Goodwin cf c-Sharperson ph Howell Davis If Strawberry rf Karros 1b Hansen 3b Harris 2b Scioscia Hershiser a-Benzinger ph Crews b-Webster ph-cf Totals 1 1 0 0 Cardinals Los Angeles 130 000 0004 11 2 000 010 0001 7 2 a-struck out for Hershiser in the 5th. fa-singled for Crews in the 7th. c-grounded into double play for Goodwin in the 7th. d-flied out for Carpenter in the 9th.

O.Smith 2 (6). Offerman (20). Scioscia (7). LOB Cardinals 7, Los Angeles 8. 2B Jordan (9), Pagnozzi (16).

SB Thompson (13), O.Smith (20), Harris (10), Scioscia (3). CS Pagnozzi (3), Goodwin (2). GIDP Lankford, Sharperson, Harris. Runners left in scoring position Cardinals 3 (Jordan 2, Clark); Los Angeles 4 (Sharperson, Hansen, Harris 2). Runners moved up Pagnozzi, Offerman.

DP Cardinals Los Angeles 2. Cardinals IP ER BB SO NP Clark 2-3 6 6 1 0 3 3 96 Carpenter 2 0 0 0 0 1 22 L.Smith 23 1 1 0 0 0 0 13 Los Angeles IP ER BB SO NP Hershiser 7-7 5 8 4 3 1 3 80 Crews 2 1 0 0 0 1 22 Howell 2 2 0 0 0 0 19 Clark pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Inherited runners-scored Carpenter 2-0 IBB off Hershiser (Zeile) 1. PB Scioscia. Umpires Home, Froemming: First, Montague; Second.

Hallion; Third, Winters. 2:42. A 34,216. HOW THEY SCORED CARDINALS' FIRST Thompson singled to right and stole second. O.Smith singled to center, scoring Thompson.

ONE RUN. Cardinals led 1-0. CARDINALS' SECOND Zeile singled to center. Jordan reached on an infield single. Pagnozzi doubled down the left-field line, scoring Zeile and Jordan.

Pagnozzi went to third on Scioscia's passed ball and scored on Scioscia error. THREE RUNS. Cardinals led 4-0 DODGERS' FIFTH Harris was safe on S-mith's error. Scioscia bunted for a single. Both runners moved up on a double steal.

Offerman grounded into fielder's choice short, scoring Harris. ONE RUN. Cardinals won 4-1 hitter Mike Sharperson to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Carpenter said: "When I got to the mound, I knew I needed a strikeout. That's me maturing and listening to other guys like Mac Bob McClure and Rich Gedman.

I take none of the credit mentally. The guys around me have given me the plan." Torre said he thought Carpenter's work represented the key part of the game. "We had lost the momentum when we didn't score in the fifth with second and third with nobody out, and Carpenter got it back for us," Torre said. Clark said: "Cris saved me. You're not going to have your goodstuff ev in L.

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"When you're the leadoff man, you've got to run," he said. Todd Zeile, extending his hitting streak to eight games, singled to start the second. "He seems to be comfortable, finally," Torre said. Brian Jordan, who had been six for 55, beat out an infield single, his first of two hits Saturday. Then Tom Pag-nozzi grounded a double over the third-base bag, and both Zeile and Jordan scored on a track muddied by a pregame drizzle.

Pagnozzi went to third on a passed ball by Scioscia. After Tim Jones flied to short center, the Cardinals put the squeeze on with Clark at bat. Clark couldn't make contact with an outside pitch, and Pagnozzi was hung up between third and home. But Scioscia fired the ball well over the head of third baseman Dave Hansen, and Pagnozzi trotted home. The Cardinals wasted singles by Thompson and Smith and Smith's stolen base in the fifth as Ray Lankford, Andres Galarraga and Jordan all couldn't drive anybody in.

The Cardinals have scored only three of their last 25 runners from third with less than two out. Two were driven in on pinch-hit efforts by Bernard Gilkey, and the other was Pag-nozzi's dash home after Scioscia's error. "The longer it goes, the worse it gets because everybody's conscious of it," Torre said. Pagnozzi said: "I don't know what it is. But if we're going to get it together, scoring runners from third is the first place we have to start.

When we don't get the good pitching, our hitting has to got to pick up." In their fifth, the Dodgers took advantage of Smith's second error to score their run. Smith, who has six errors this season, including a pair of two-error games here, bobbled Lenny Harris' slow roller. The tortoise-like Scioscia beat out a bunt with the infield playing back. Pinch-hitter Todd Benzinger struck out, but Harris and Scioscia worked a double steal. Jose Offerman grounded to Smith, who caught Scioscia between second and third as Harris scored.

Torre, referring to the two errors, said, "I told Smith I'm glad this game was on television because if people saw it the papers, they wouldn't believe it." A diving stop by third baseman Zeile aided Clark in the sixth. Zeile took a hit away from Eric Davis, a play that proved important because Clark issued back-to-back walks to Eric Karros and Hansen later in the inning. After a visit from Coleman, Clark retired Harris on a grounder to second baseman Jones. Clark left in the seventh after giving up leadoff singles to Scioscia and pinch-hitter Mitch Webster. Webster's hit was his seventh in 15 pinch-hitting appearances.

But Carpenter struck out Offerman on a low fastball and induct pinch- CARDINALS' STATISTICS VS. EAST Home Road Totals Chicago 2 4 1 4 3 8 Montreal 2 1 2 1 4 2 New York 4 3 2 5 6 8 Philadelphia 2 1 1 2 3 3 Pittsburgh 1 2 1 2 2 4 Totals vs. East 11 11 7 14 18 25 SSpeed Rated Blackwall 165R13 fA 17570R13 18570R14 19570R14 20570R14 not an authorized Mtcheim dealer. OFF I 1 1 Car Service FILTER Parts Labor Covered Original Price ANY WHEEL ALIGNMENT WITH THIS AD I .99 wFire- Credit Appii Purchase cwo ippkcAon Service renters will renlare vnnrHracnn a nrnratMl lui artnl 1 iiiMwr" tT JMBalaWal-, VS. WEST Home Road Totals Atlanta 3 1 1 2 4 3 Cincinnati 2 0 0 2 2 2 Houston 2 1 2 1 4 2 Los Angeles 1 2 4 1 5 3 San Diego 1 2 5 1 6 3 San Francisco 2 1 3 3 5 4 Totals vs.

West Overall Totals 11 7 15 10 26 17 22 18 22 24 44 42 UPCOMING GAMES Sunday: in Los Angeles 3:05 p.m. Monday: Open Date Tuesday: All-Star Game in San Diego Wednesday: Open Date Thursday: in Cincinnati 6:35 p.m. Friday: in Cincinnati 6:35 p.m. Saturday: in Cincinnati 6:35 p.m. ery time.

Today was one of those times. Pags would set up inside, and I'd throw it outside." Carpenter said he wasn't as strong as he would have liked. "But how I feel and how I throw are two different things," he said. Veteran Bob Tewksbury has served as an example to Clark, Donovan Osborne and Rheal Cormier, who struck out 11 on Friday. Tewksbury is "like a machine out there, Clark said.

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