Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 18

The Indiana, PA Gazette Sunday, July 16, 1995 C-2 Homers help Braves erase big deficit at San Diego NL Roundup 4 A a run that made it 54. Holmes then retired Bonilla for his seventh save. Saberhagen (5-5) was tagged for four runs and six hits. He left with no outs in the third inning. Reds 4, Cubs CHICAGO All-Star outfielder Ron Gant left the game with a rib injury and substitute Jerome Walton doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Saturday night, sending the Cincinnati Reds past Chicago 4-3.

Gant, among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs, is expected to be out for two to five days because of a strained right rib muscle. Gant winced alter fouling off a pitch in the first inning. He then doubled, and left in the middle of the second. Walton took Gant's place in left field. With the score tied at 2 in the seventh, Thomas Howard led off with a single and was forced out on Barry Larkiu's grounder.

Walton followed with his RBI double. Pete Schourek (9-4) won his fifth straight decision. Jeff Brantley finished for his 17th save despite giving up Sammy So-sa's 16th home run. Jamie Navarro (7-3) allowed three runs, two of them earned, in eight innings. Bret Boone had three hits, including his sixth homer, and scored two runs.

He singled in the second and scored on shortstop Shawon Dun- By The Associated Press SAN DIEGO The Atlanta Braves erased a 5-0 deficit on home runs by Cbarue O'Brien, Dwight Smith and Jeff Blauser to beat San Diego 7-6 on Saturday night for their 12th victory in 13 games this month. Smith pulled the Braves to 6-5 with a pinch-hit, three-run shot to straightaway center off starter Andy Ashby with two outs in the seventh. Smith, who had been in an O-for-20 slump, jumped for joy as he rounded first base. After reliever Bryce Florie (2-1) walked Marquis Grissom, Blauser hit the next pitch over the left-field fence to give the Braves a 7-6 lead. The homers were Blauser's ninth and Smith's third.

The homers were the only hits for the Braves in the five-run inning, as Ashby and Florie combined for three walks. The Braves finished with six hits and seven walks. O'Brien started the Braves' scoring with a two-run homer off the top of the left-field fence with none out in the fifth, his sixth of the season. Ryan Klesko was aboard after a leadoff single-Smith was pinch-bitting for reliever Brad Clontz (3-1), who retired all five batters be faced, striking out three. Mark Wohlers pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

With runners on first and third and one out in the Padres' seventh, Greg The Mets' Edgardo Alfonzo had to go Imv to get under the relay throw of Rockies shortstop Jason Bates. pngtg Legion holds off BlairsviUe BLAIRSVILLE Playoff-bound; Indiana Legion took an early 4-0 lead and held off BlairsviUe for a 6-5 victory in Indiana County Senior Legion baseball action Saturday. Legion took advantage of BlairsviUe errors early, scoring two of four, runs in the first inning on The Flames had five errors in the game. The fourth run of the inning' came when Joe Kreutzberger was, bit by a pitch to score Nick Kotula. Jeff Gonos and Brian Shirey each had two hits.

Jeff Putt picked up the pitching win with one strikeout and two walks. Lincoln Loucks and Ryan Staats each had two hits for the Flames. Homer City 7, Glen Campbell 1 GLEN CAMPBELL Ray Heas ley and John Zometsky teamed up for four hits and four RBIs to help Homer City over Glen CampbeU. Homer City improved to 12-9 after starting the season 3-7. With Homer City holding a slim 3-1 lead going into the sixth, Heasley hit an RBI double that scored Adani; Kanouff, and Zometsky doubled in Eric Midock and Jason Lawson.

Glen Camphefi lone run came when Mike Rummel drove in Royce Flynn. Rummel and Flynn each had two hits and Sean Cassidy had threes Rummel smacked a double and a triple. HC pitcher Dave Yanoschick. struck out seven in posting the Center 9, Young Twp. 5 MARION CENTER Both teams, had big third innings, but Marion Center had the bigger to take the win over Young Township.

Marion Center scored six runs in the third, stretching a 4-3 lead to 9-3- Chad Fairman led Marion Center" with three RBIs on two hits, including an triple in the third that scored Jim Stormer. Chuck Pinizotto drove in two runs on a double. MC pitcher Josh Krizmanich struck out eight and helped his own cause by driving in a run during the -third inning. For Young Township, Sean Meyer hit a two-run homer in the third. Meyer also singled and doubled and finished with three hits.

NBOC claims Colt title PARKWOOD National Bank of. the Commonwealth came from behind in the sixth inning to take the Indiana Baseball Boosters Colt DivU. sion championship with the 7-6 win-. overSheetz. NBOC swept the bestof-5 series, 3-0.

Down 5-3 in the sixth, NBOC scored four runs. The winning run came across when Gary Hazy knocked in James Huff and Steve' Vinton. Huff picked up the win and Allen Yeckley recorded the save. Yeckley; also drove in three runs. Mike' Busovicki had two hits.

Sheete pitcher Andy Sgro suffered the loss despite 12 strikeouts. Pony Division Wheat First defeated Stewart Bus Line 5-4 for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3: playoff series. Wheat First pitcher Jeremy McDonough posted 18 strikeouts in seven innings to pick up the win. Chris Sabia had three hits, including a double. Stewart scored three of its four runs on errors.

Gross' pitching leads Rangers past Red Sox McMicbael relieved Pedro Borbon and struck out Ken Caminiti and got Eddie Williams to force Tony Gwynn at second. Toe Padres lost for the 13th time in 18 games. Rockies 5, Afets 4 NEW YORK Larry Walker hit a two-run double in the third inning that finished an ailing Bret Saber-hagen, leading the Colorado Rockies over the New York Mets Saturday night. Saberhagen, the subject of several trade rumors, left with a strained muscle in his left side. He was examined by Dr.

David Dines, the associate team physician, and his condition was listed as day-to-day. Andres Galarraga had a pair of RBI singles, and Dante Bichette and Mike Kingery each had three hits for the Rockies. Bobby Bonilla had three hits, including his 14th home run, for the Mets. But he grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game. Bill Swift (3-2) won his fourth straight decision.

He gave up three runs on 10 bits in 6 2-3 innings. The Mets loaded the bases in the ninth after Curtis Leskanic struck out the first two batters. Darren Holmes relieved, and Rico Brogna beat out an infield single for was third in walks. He struck out two, walked three and didn't allow a runner past first base until Matt Stairs tripled in the eighth and scored on John Valentin's ground-out. Gross left after Troy O'Leary's two-out single in the eighth, and Matt Whiteside retired the side.

The Rangers improved to 41-31, matching the best mark in their history after 72 games. They moved within a half-game of first-place California in the AL West. Boston's AL East lead dropped to 346 games over Detroit, which was rained out against the Angels. Orioles 9, Royals 1 BALTIMORE The Baltimore Orioles handed Kevin Appier his fourth straight loss Saturday night, scoring six early runs against the Kansas City ace in a 9-1 victory. Seldom-used Leo Gomez homered 3 4 )U -1 will AL Roundup and matched his career-high with four RBIs as the Orioles beat Kansas City for the first time in four games this season.

Harold Baines went 4-for-4, and Cal Ripken and Brady Anderson each had three of Baltimore's season-high 17 hits. Appier, who pitched two perfect innings in Tuesday's AU-Star Game, gave up eight hits and hit a batter in two-plus innings. He is 0-4 with a 9.97 ERA in his last four starts. The right-hander was 11-2 with a 2.04 ERA on June 23. Now he's 11-6 with a 3.43 ERA.

Scott Erickson (6-6) allowed one run, five hits and two walks in seven innings. He is 2-0 since joining the Orioles in a July 7 trade with v.Vii--.- f'' V71 By The Associated Press BOSTON Kevin Gross, near the bottom of the AL pitching statistics in several categories, allowed five hits in Vh innings as the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 Saturday night. Rusty Greer, who had two RBIs in his previous 17 games, singled in two runs for the Rangers off Erik Hanson (7-3). Greer went 3-for-4 after getting six hits in his previous 52 at-bats. Texas led 3-0 after three innings, added four in the eighth and won for the seventh time in its last eight games at Fenway Park Gross (4-8) entered the game having allowed 18.2 runners per 9 innings, the most in the AL.

But only six Red Sox reached base in the first Seven inning He also was tied for second in the league in losses and earned runs and Creps beats Helwig in JL playoffs Creps United stayed alive in the Indiana County Junior Legion League playoffs, beating Helwig Insurance 11-2 in a loser's bracket game at Mack Park Saturday. The two teams played to a 13-13 tie on Friday and met yesterday to replay the game in its entirety. Creps advanced to play Kovacik Insurance at BlairsviUe today at 5:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to play to-seeded Arone Auto Body on Monday in Homer City. Helwig was eliminated but will still compete in the Western Regional tournament. Creps broke the game open by scoring nine runs in the fourth through sixth innings- Bill Gett delivered a big blow with a two-run double in the fifth.

In the sixth, Creps capitalized on four errors and six walks. Five of those walks came in the sixth inning, with two forcing in runs. Luke Stevens had four bits and Gett had three RBIs for Creps. Justin Reiser had two hits, including an RBI double. Gator Woodall posted the mound win, striking out nine and walking three while limiting Helwig to two hits.

a-tf Jfr ston's error, and homered in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Expos Phillies 3 MONTREAL RondeU White and WU Cordero both had two doubles among three hits and drove in two runs and Butch Henry pitched six strong innings Saturday night as the Montreal Expos beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3. White, who was 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored Friday, was 3-for-4 and scored two runs Saturday. Cordero was 3-for-5. Minnesota last week.

Baltimore has. scored 20 runs in those two games. Erickson hit former replacement player Edgar Ca ceres with a pitch on the knee in the seventh. Kansas City reliever Dave Fleming hit Gomez with a pitch in the eighth. Gomez took three steps toward the mound, then retreated to first base.

Appier pitched 6 innings of no-hit ball against the Orioles on opening day, but the first batter he faced this time, Anderson, doubled to right. Appier then hit Manny Alexander with a pitch before Ripken and Baines delivered RBI singles. Baltimore made it 4-0 in the second. Jeffrey Hammonds led off with a single and came home on Chris Hoiles' drive into the gap in right-center. Hoiles strained his left hamstring on the play and was replaced by pinch-runner Greg Zaun, who scored on a double by Garcia ruled a fair ball on Pedro (AP photo) 1994 with a compound fracture of his right leg, is tied with Walker for the NL lead in homers.

Gant may have the biggest biceps in baseball "Twenty inches around the last time I measured them" and has played nearly every day despite being at about 90-percent of his pre-injury strength. Honorable Mention: Tim Wakefield, Red Sox. Cy Young Leaders Hard to believe, but Greg Maddux of the Braves is even better than before. The ERA is down to 1.59, the 9-1 record is the NL's best, as are his complete games total (five) and innings pitched (113 1-3). He had struck out 95 and walked nine in 15 starts.

Honorable mention: Hideo Nomo, Dodgers. Randy Johnson, Mariners, Is the only pitcher who has dominated the AL throughout the season. Kenny Rogers and Kevin Appier have had their moments, but only Johnson has been consistent since late April. His numbers (9-1, 2.88, 109 1-3 IP, 3 CGs, 152 Ks) are the best in the league or within the top five. Honorable mention: Appier, Royals.

Henry (4-7) allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out four in winning for the second time in five starts. Mel Rojas pitched two innings for his 16th save, allowing a run-scoring single to Gregg Jefferies in the ninth. The Phillies have lost two of the first three games of this four-game series, scoring nine Cordero gave the Expos a 2-0 lead, driving in White with a single in the first and with a double in the third. Anderson. The Orioles chased Appier during a four-run third.

After Ripken singled and Baines doubled, Mike Mag-nante came in to face Gomez, who drove a 2-0 pitch to deep center. The ball hit the top of the wall and-bounded over, Gomez's first homer since last July 30. Twins Yankees NEW YORK Kirby Puckett hit a three-run homer and Pedro Munoz had a controversial home run Saturday night as the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees 6-5. Puckett connected in the first, inning off Scott Kamieniecki (0-2), pitching for the Yankees for the first time since injuring his elbow May 5. Kamieniecki gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 1-3 innings.

Munoz was credited with a solo home run in the third that tied it at 4. First base umpire Rich Garcia called Munoz's opposite-field drive fair, even though television replays indicated it was foul. Indians 7, Athletics 2 CLEVELAND Orel Hershiser, his trademark sinker working impeccably, won for the first time in more than a month, and Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs Saturday night as the Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2. The start of the game was delayed two hours and 16 minutes by rain. Alvaro Espinoza also drove in three runs for the Indians, who have won 13 of their last 17 games to improve baseball's best record to 49-21.

Oakland has lost 10 of 13 overall and nine in a row against Cleveland. Hershiser (6-4) allowed two runs on Terry Steinbach's second-inning homer, but got 17 of his 21 outs on ground balls, notching his first win since June 5. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked one in seven innings. In his previous four starts a stretch interrupted by a stint on the disabled list for a sprained back Hershiser was 0-3 with a 6.55 ERA. But he showed quickly that he was back on track by getting the A's first three hitters to ground out to the mound.

Eric Plunk worked out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the eighth by getting Geronimo Berroa to ground into a double play, then struck out three in the ninth for his second save. Rookies Nomo is the clear-cut choice in the NL. The AL is a tossup right now between Curtis Goodwin (Orioles), Jon Nunnally (Royals) and John Flaherty (Tigers), with honorable mention to Alex Gonzalez (Blue Jays) and Marty Cordova (Twins). Executives Dan Duquette, Red Sox. Made a ton of offseason and in-season moves, very few of which have not worked out Pitchers Erik Hanson (7-2, 3.61) and Tim Wakefield (7-1.

1.61) are looking like the best of the moves, which have helped the Red Sox stay in first place despite going much of the year without Roger Clemens and Jose Canseco. Beat This Heat No records are kept of the hottest weather in baseball history, but this week's two-day All-Star festivities had to be near the top. A thermometer in a shaded area outside the press box at The Ballpark read 114 on Monday, and people who brought thermometers to the field said they got above 120. One of the hottest previous All-Star games was the 1966 edition in The Yankees' Don Mattmgly argues with umpire Rich Garcia after Munoz home rum Rangers, Angels over-achieved in baseball's CALENDAR PUNXSUTAWNEV The PunrevUwncy VFW Teener League witt will bold its annual W-U-year-old toonument on Ang. 4-Lt The enlry fee is $75 sod tw otm baifcballs per game.

Teams nasi be covered by thdc own iasoraoce policy. For more EnfonnatiM call (814 (8H or 2864538. Entry deadliae is July HASTINGS Any mm fnterested in forming a youth football program for ages 8-12 to play in a tri-coanry youth leagra shonld contact Richard Nagel al (8H or write P.O. Box 17, Hastings, PA 1C646. The nrogram Is a commodity resource effort, not directly affiliated with any school district and is operated by volunteers.

first half Busch Stadium, where the city of St. Louis was in the middle of a beat wave in which temperatures were near 100 for 17 straight days. "It felt like 200 degrees under a batting helmet. You could feel your brains frying," Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson said at the time. Doctor Bill Pete Conlin, the son of Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Con-' lin, was a replacement player for the Phillies this spring.

The 25-year-old right-hander was. cut March 31, the day before teams released all of their replacement players. But Conlin, who never played professional ball, is still costing the team. He wound up needing arm surgery and the Phillies are having' to foot the bill. Steady at Short If you can guess who's the best' defensive shortstop in the majors, you've been watching too much baseball.

It's Mike Bordick of the Oakland Athletics, who leads ail major league shortstops in fielding percentage and has gone 35 games without an error. been much better under Terry Be-vington. The drastic loss of talent during the strike (Julio Franco, Darrin Jackson, Jack McDowell) hasn't been adequately replaced. Only the lowly Twins have won as few games on the road as the White Sox. Toronto Blue Jays: Does anybody remember that they are baseball's reigning champions.

Instead, people look at them as a group of rapidly aging has-beens on the verge of a firesale. Look for David Cone, Paul Molitor or Joe Carter to be traded soon. New York Yankees: A slew of injuries, especially to the starting pitching, has taken its toll, but the plain truth is that this team hasn't come near the energy level it played at last year. Montreal Expos: They lost four key members of their 1994 team an excuse that this young club shouldn't have to fall back on. Too much talent here to be falling out of the wild-card race so soon.

Comeback Player Ron Gant, Reds, who missed all of Sparky Anderson's team is the only one putting beat on the Red Sox. Philadelphia Phillies: Their recent slump notwithstanding, Jim Fregosi's defending NL champs have positioned themselves as a favorite for a wild card. The pitching a team ERA of 3.80 and a reliever in Heathcliff Slocumb who is tied for the league lead with 20 saves gets the bulk of the credit. Colorado Rockies: Everybody expected them to hit well, but nobody expected Vinny Castilia to be a an AU-Star starter or Larry Walker to lead the league in homers or Dante Bichette to have an average near .340. San Francisco Giants: Last In the NL in hitting and near the bottom in pitching, they have kept pace in the NL West by having IS come-from-behind victories, going 15-7 in one-run games and 16-8 in games decided during the final at-bat.

Underachievers Chicago White Sox: Their dreadful start cost manager Gene Lamont his job and they haven't By CHRIS SHERIDAN AP Sports Writer The All-Star break is the traditional midpoint of the season, but teams will actually made it halfway through their 144-game schedules this weekend. Here are some notable accomplishments and non-accomplishments for the first half of the season Overacbievers Texas Rangers and California Angels: The teams that began the weekend tied for first in the AL West. The Rangers have a penchant for winning the ugly ones, and they lead the AL in errors, have just one starter hitting over .300 and have a dreadful bullpen. California's pitching and hitting have been much better than expected in what is likely to be Gene Autry's last year controlling the team if the sale to UV Disney Corp. is approved.

Detroit Tigers: No one expected the AL East to be weak, and everybody thought the aging Tigers would be the division doormat. Alas, nothing ever goes as expected and.