Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 50

6D The Clarion-Ledger Thursday, April 6, 1989 5 In brief -g Report says Rose bet big on baseball Reds manager may have bet as much as 1 6,000 a day during the '87 season. From Wire Service Report I- A i.i i From wire reports Cards snap losing streak, deal Mets, Ojeda 3-1 loss St. Louis spoiled Bob Ojeda's first start since he nearly severed the middle finger of his pitching hand and Willie McGee drove in two runs Wednesday, leading the Cardinals past the New York Mets 3-1. The Cardinals snapped their 1 1 -game losing streak in Shea Stadium and right-hander Jose DeLeon broke a personal nine-game skid against the Mets. DeLeon, who led the Cards' with 13 victories last season, allowed four hits in eight innings, striking out three and walking two.

Darryl Strawberry doubled off Ken Dayley with one out in the ninth before Todd Worrell got Kevin McReynolds to fly out and Gary Carter to pop out for the save. Phillies 12, Cubs 4: Mike Schmidt's three-run homer capped a seven-run fourth inning, leading visiting Philadelphia to a victory over Chicago in the first night game of the season at Wrigley Field. Schmidt's homer was the 544th of his career. Braves 8, Astros 4: Jeff Blauser put Atlanta ahead with a two-run double in the fourth inning and Gerald Perry added a pair of run-scoring doubles, leading the Braves over host Houston. Padres 4, Giants 3: Jack Clark's single keyed a three-run third inning as San Diego won at home.

Pirates 3, Expos 0: Doug Drabek pitched a two-hitter as Pittsburgh beat host Montreal. Drabek, the Pirates' top winner at 15-7 last year, held the Expos to Hu-bie Brooks' single in the first inning and a single by Andres Galarraga in the seventh. 8-run inning lifts Twins past Yanks Wally Backman8 single snapped a fifth-inning tie and sparked an eight-run inning capped by Brian Harper's three-run homer night, leading the Minnesota Twins past the New York Yankees 12-2 at Minneapolis. Harper had three hits and drove in four runs to lead a 17-hit attack. Athletics 1 1, Mariners 1: Walt Weiss, who homered three times all of last season, homered twice and Bob Welch allowed four hits in eight innings as the Oakland beat visiting Seattle.

Royals 2, Blue Jays 1: Danny Tartabull doubled with two outs in the ninth inning and scored on Pat Tabler's single, giving Kansas City a victory over visiting Toronto. Angels 6, White Sox 2: Lance Parrish had four hits and Chili Davis hit a three-run homer at Anaheim, as California snapped a 13-game losing streak dating back to last season. Chicago's Dan Pasqua broke a bone in his right wrist when he jammed his arm against a railing in the sixth; attempting to catch Jack Howell's foul popup. Rain postpones two night's games between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Indians and the Milwaukee Brewers were postponed by rain. Both will be rescheduled later in the season.

The end of the Os for Orel The Associated Press Pete Rose bet heavily on baseball games during the 1987 season under a code-name, two Ohio newspapers said Wednesday, citing unidentified sources. If true, the Cincinnati Reds manager could be banned from baseball for life if he bet on games involving his own club. A person referred to in an Internal Revenue Service court affidavit as "G-l" whom the Plain Dealer of Cleveland and the Cincinnati Post quoted sources as saying was Rose bet $8,000 to $16,000 a day on games during a stretch early in the 1987 season. Rose has denied betting on baseball. Although Rose is not referred to by name in the IRS affidavit, the newspapers said they were told by federal sources the code name "G-l" means Rose.

Rose declined comment on the newspaper reports. The Post quoted the document as saying G-l bet an average of "$2,000 per game on four to eight games per day, approximately four days per week." Goose may return to Yankees: Rich Gossage a New York Yankee again? It could happen this weekend, when the 37-year-old Goose is scheduled to throw for manager Dallas Green and his staff to assess whether he might fit into the pitching plans of the club he once starred have to appraise him and where he fits in here. He has to see where he fits in here," Syd Thrift, senior vice president of baseball operations, said. Gossage ranks second on the Yankees' all-time save list with 150. He was released by the Chicago Cubs at the end of spring training after a poor performance.

Cards replace Smith with Booker: The St. Louis Cardinals on recalled infielder Rod Booker from Class AAA Louisville of the American Association to fill the spot of shortstop Ozzie Smith on the roster. Smith was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday because of a pulled ribcage muscle and the Cardinals say he could be out 3-5 weeks. Pirates sign Meacham: The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent infielder Bobby Meacham, who spent -six seasons with the New York Yankees, to a contract with their Class AAA Buffalo farm club. Kelly says John 'scuffs': The Minnesota Twins saved five baseballs from Tuesday's season-opening loss to the New York Yankees and they were not to commemorate pitcher Tommy John's record-tying 26th major league season.

Twins manager Tom Kelly suspected the balls were scuffed by John a frequent accusation but emphasized he was not upset and did not object to the umpires. In related news, the Twins are pulling out of Orlando for spring training and will be relocating their major-and minor-league bases in Fort Myers, in 1991. Except for three years during World War II, the Twins have set up camp in Orlando since 1936, decades before the Central Florida city had become a tourism mecca. Los Angeles catcher Mike Scioscia' talks with Orel less innings streak stopped at 59 during the first inning Hershiser after Hershiser had his consecutive score- of the Dodgers' game against Cincinnati. Story, 1D.

MSU explodes to sweep New Orleans COLLEGES Cohen and Masters combine for 12 hits. From Special and Wire Service Reports Mississippi State scored seven runs in the fourth inning for a 7-1 victory in the second game of a dou-bleheader sweep over the University of New Orleans on Wednesday at Starkville. Mississippi State used an 18-hit attack to defeat the Privateers in the first game, 11-2. Burke Masters and John Cohen combined for an impressive 12-for-15 hitting for the day. Cohen was a perfect 5-for-5 in the first game and added a hit in three at-bats in the nightcap, while Masters went 2-for-2 in the final game to complete a 6-for-7 day.

the season. USM 5, SE Louisiana 4: Brent Covington singled in Scott Hebert for the game winner in the eighth inning as the Golden Eagles won at Hammond. USM, 17-14, went ahead 4-3 in the fifth on Fred Coo-ley's 12th home run on the season, a solo shot, and a run-scoring triple by Greg Cole. Nicholls State 8, Belhaven 7: Vic Merritt hit a three-run triple in the sixth to put the Colonels ahead to stay in Thibodaux, La. USM's Jurich wins honor: USM second baseman Scotty Jurich, a Biloxi native, went 10-for-18 (.556) in the Golden Eagles' four games last week, and was named Metro Conference Player of the Week.

MSU's Richie Grayum saw his school record 25-game hitting streak come to a close as he went hitless in five at-bats in the opener. Grayum was closing in on the Southeastern Conference record of 27 consecutive games, set in 1975 by Tennessee's Condredge Holloway and tied in 1981 by Alabama's David Magadan. Ole Miss 1 3, Arkansas State 4: Robin Coffman had three hits, including two triples, to lead Ole Miss at Oxford. The Rebels are now 21-11-1 overall while the Indians fell to 5-18. Keith Kessinger ignited the Rebels' 12-hit attack with a two-run homer in the first inning, his first of MSU From ID didn't hit the ball hard, and earlier I had hit it hard and made some outs, but that's the way a streak goes." The streak surprised at least one Bulldog.

"He's not your classic hitting-streak guy," State coach Ron Polk said. "He's not particularly fast, so he's not going to leg out many hits. And he doesn't get many ground ball hits. "The thing is, he's hit some home runs and he's gotten a lot of line drives. He's not striking out and he's done a good job of adjusting at the plate with two strikes.

He's been down 0-and-2 or l-and-2 and he's "Right now," said State third baseman Pete Young, Grayum's roommate and best friend, "he feels like when he steps to the plate he's going to get a hit every time. It's like, 'c'mon, throw it in here, I'll hit Grayum's streak began in State's second game of the season. It ended Wednesday, when he went 0-for-5 in the first game of a doubleheader against New Orleans. There were some close calls along the way. In game 16, against Hawaii, Grayum went hitless his first four at-bats.

In his final trip, he hit a pitch off his fists that blooped over the shortstop. "It was a hit," Grayum said. "I shortened up his swing and just put the ball in play." Grayum credits his ability to adjust to his three years at State since coming out of Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, Fla. "When I was in high school," Grayum said, "I played the game, but I didn't know the game. I've learned the game now." In three years, Grayum has quietly posted the best composite numbers on the team, all the while shuffling roles, from DH to left field to third base, where he fills in when Young takes the mound.

While some of his teammates Young, center fielder Jody Hurst Grayum had 60 of them last year, a school record. He has whiffed 22 times this season. Nothing eats at Grayum more than the strikeouts, especially if he doesn't get his cuts in. Striking out without taking three good swings, to Grayum, is "wasting an at-bat," and Grayum thinks every at-bat is a pri-velege he should take full advantage of. Lately, he hasn't missed many chances.

Said Grayum: "My confidence is at an all-time high here." That should help him relax. and pitcher Bobby Reed to name a few have gotten more publicity, Grayum has done better than any of them in State's record book. He is tied with John Mitchell for fourth on he career home run chart with 34, behind Rafael Palmeiro, Will Clark and Bruce Castoria. He ranks sixth on the career RBI list with 144, behind Palmeiro, Clark, Castoria, Brad Winkler and Mitchell. Grayum said he spied his named in the media guide before the season began.

"It was kind of neat to see my name in there in something besides the strikeouts," he said. Ah, the strikeouts. nervous wreck. All he has done this season is get at least one hit in 25 consecutive games, breaking the single-season school record streak of 24 games set byBobKocolin 1979. All Grayum did last week was get 11 hits in 25 at bats, drive in 15 runs and hit home runs in four consecutive games.

All Grayum has done in State's first 28 games is hit .353, drive in 42 runs and knock out 11 home runs. So Richie, what about those nerves? i "When you're hot," Grayum said with a shrug, "I swear things just go right for you." Masters From ID Injury hampers Nicklaus ta's passion for tradition. "Anyone of the eight first-time winners on last year's Tour can win here. Nowadays, nobody can't say nobody can't win," Calcavecchia said. Bob Lohr, Greg Twiggs, Jim Ben-epe, Mark Brooks, Andrew Magee, fice Friday.

He said he went to a chiropractor and that aggravated the problem. Still, he says he is playing well. "I'm a little disappointed I won't be 100 percent," said Nicklaus. "But last fall I didn't think I'd be playing at all. So it's a big notch above that." Nicklaus said he had some good practice rounds here, and feels that he has played well in all six competitions he has entered this year except the Doral Open.

"I'm happy to be playing," he said. "Maybe I'll scare somebody." Back problems may slow down six-time Masters champion. The Associated Press AUGUSTA, GA. On the eve of his 31st Masters golf tournament, six-time champion Jack Nicklaus said Wednesday he is suffering again from back problems but playing well enough to possibly scare somebody. Nicklaus, 49, said he suffered back pain for the first time since November when he suffered a spasm arising from a chair in his of-' DGC From ID "I want to play hard, and hopefully by Sunday I'll be in contention to win that green jacket," said Mark Calcavecchia, playing in just his third Masters.

The lush Augusta National is soft and pretty. The treacherous "greens have been softened by rains. The roughs have been trimmed to impose no threat. The fairways are deep green and manicured to perfection. Said Greg Norman, "This is the prettiest I've ever seen it." And yet, Augusta National re-rnains a devilish piece of real estate, shrouded by the folklore of such champions as Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Snead and protected by the obstinate spirit of longtime tournament director Clifford Roberts.

"You can get the big swing here, especially on the back nine," Nicklaus said. "That's what makes this golf tournament so great. "This is my home territory, a place where experience means a lot I always try to prepare my game to be ready for here. I'm always happy to be here. Who knows, maybe I'll scare somebody before this is over.

I never discount my chances of winning." Calcavecchia finished second last year after Scotland's Sandy Lyle made a birdie from a fairway bunker on the final hole. He, like so manv other vouns -A a. i I 7 Blaine McCallister, Dave Rum-mells and Tom Sieckmann are playing their first Masters. Nicklaus, who's place in The Masters tradition is secured, disagrees. "I don't think there's much of a chance for a first-time player to win here," he said.

"When you've won here, you've won the first of the Majors. It sets you apart from everyone else. It takes some experience and know-how to get around here." It also takes a delicate blend of patience and emotional drive. The course, often so tantalizing in appearance, can dump a player's hopes into Rae's Creek in a three-hole stretch on the back nine Nos. 11, 12 and 13 called Amen Cprner.

Or it can runaway like a train gone berserk in a rash of three-putt bogeys so familiar with the jet-quick greens and sweeping sidehill breaks. "The harder you try, the worse things turn out on this course," Norman said. "I've improved as a golfer since last year," Calcavecchia said. "I was nervous last year. I was never completely relaxed.

I think good concentration overcomes nervousness." Much of that concentration, no doubt, will be on the green jaiket. was never able to regain the form that had led to such success during the DGC's early years. "I'm well now," said Nevil, who served in the United States Air Force and juggled his time later as a fireman in Dallas. "But I lost nine or 10 of what should have been the best golf years of my life. "It's sad.

But that's the way life is sometimes," he said. Nevil never won again on the tour. He did, however, finish second several times. "But nobody ever remembers who finishes second, so it wasn't such a big deal." Nevil knows Hattiesburg Country Club as well as anyone, as you might expect. Just this past weak- end, he arrived early so he could join several HCC members for a few friendly rounds of golf.

"That's the way you really get to know a course," he explained. "You watch the members play their bump-and-runs, how they putt the greens. If they do it, there must be a reason for it. "I mostly observed this weekend, and I hope it pays off." Pro-Am: Lance Ten Broeck, who won the DGC in 1984, won Wednesday's competition with a 7-under-par 63. Willie Wood and Greg Chapman were next at 65, followed by Jim Booros at 66.

Defending champion Frank Conner ballooned to an 80, the highest round by a professional. The Associated Press players, isn't intimidated by Augus Greg Norman reacts following a shot during a practice round at August..