Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 30

PAGE C8 STAR TRIBUNE SPORTS TUESDAY, JULY 242001 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Twins vs. Oakland Athletics NOUS -57. A backup outfielder thwarted the Twins' best shot at victory, proving that the Mariners' strengths run deep. Ready defenders INSIDE THE SERIES 'Throughout the years, it's been this way where I'd throw baserunners out It hadn't happened for a while, though. It got me back in the swing of things with the fellas and got my confidence Seattle's Charles Gipson MATCHUP Milton vs.

Jason Giambi Twins starter Eric Milton has contained last year's MVP, Jason Giambi, and will need to do so to break the Twins' losing streak tonight Giambi is hitting .290 (9-for-31) against Milton, with two doubles, three walks, eight strikeouts and three RBI. pi Eric Milton roster for his bat. "Throughout the years, it's been this way where I'd throw baserunners out," said Gipson, who also plays infield. "It hadn't happened for a while, though. It got me back in the swing of things with the fellas and got my confidence up." It had the reverse effect on the Twins.

Koskie was left stranded at second by Seattle closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, who recorded the final four outs in routine fashion. It was just another way to win for Seattle (72-27), which has not had a problem finding victories in any capacity. Jamie Moyer (10-5) won Monday and became the third Seattle pitcher with at least 10 victories. Paul Abbott (9-2) could make it four in his next start. Mark McLemore, an underrated No.

2 hitter, went 9-for-21 on the Mariners' 5-1 road trip. Seattle's sweep also came without Edgar Martinez, who has a .349 batting average and 25 home runs lifetime against the Twins. They did, however, have someone named Gipson. "This team comes to play hard every night, and we do what it takes to win," said Wilson, who also took time to marvel at Gipson's cannon of an arm. "If it means hitting, that's what we get.

If it means defense, that's what we get." Michael Rand is at mrandstartribune.com. By Michael Rand Star Tribune Staff Writer Monday's series finale between the Twins and Mariners was tight and low-scoring the type of game in which Seattle utilityman Charles Gipson knows he might have a chance to make an impact. "Anytime the game is within two runs, I stay loose from the fifth inning on," Gipson said. When manager Lou Piniella says get ready, I go down to the tunnel and play catch against the wall to loosen Gipson up. I can't be cold or tight." Gipson was neither of those things Monday when he entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement in center field.

With the Twins trailing 3-2, Chad Allen doubled with one out, and Corey Koskie followed with a single up the middle. Gipson charged the ball, played it on a big hop and made a throw on the fly that arrived ankle high and just to the third base side of home plate to catcher Dan Wilson, nailing Allen. The Twins, who never led during the four-game sweep, had their best chance at salvaging one victory erased. TH REE-GAM SERI ES AT OAKIAN COLJSEll Q-IKntn tnifou LHP Eric Milton (9-3, 3.84) 3.U3 Mil. lUUdJ vs.

lhp Barry Zito (6-7, 4.66) 9:05 pji. Wednesday O-IHnm Thiircdau RHP Adam Johnson (0-1, 7.71) J.III. IHUIiUd vs. RHP Gil Heredia (6-7, 5.67) Internet www.twinsbaseball.com Radio: WCCO-AM (830) TV: Today's game and Wednesday's game are on FSN. Thursday's game is not on TV.

TWINS UPDATE 58-41, 1st (tie) AL Central As the Twins start their most daunting road trp of the season, to Oakland, Seattle and Toronto, it's up to starter Eric Milton to stop the Twins' slide, and the Twins have won nine of the past 10 games that Milton has started-. Twelve of the Twins' last 14 homers have been bases-empty snots Last year, Corey Koskie had 45 extra-base hits. His double on Monday gave him 42 this season Frst batters are hitting 170 against reliever Bob Wells this season. Jason Giambi OAKLAND UPDATE 53-46, 2nd AL West The A's are 15-5 in July, and their starting pitchers had allowed three runs or fewer in 33 of the past 41 games The A's scored 52 runs in their six-game road trip, while batting .333 The A's are batting .311 since the All-Star break, best in the American League Before being held to four runs on Sunday, the A's had scored at least 10 runs in three successive games. -Jim Souhan 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS "I Jj 11 IP A TWINS SEASON STATISTICS Through Monday BATTERS AVG David Segul Paul Shuey Cleveland will lose Shuey for six weeks Associated Press Paul Shuey, Cleveland's top setup man, was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained elbow ligament and will be out for at least six weeks.

"There's a chance he might be done for the year," Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's a big hit for us." Shuey said his right elbow flared up after pitching one scoreless inning in Saturday's victory over Detroit. He said an MRI exam revealed that his ligament is severely strained. He was on the DL from June 13-29 also because of a strained elbow, but said this injury is different and will take much longer to heal. Shuey said doctors told him "this is something you don't want to mess with or youU blow it up." To take Shuey's roster spot, Cleveland recalled righthander David Riske from Class AAA Buffalo.

Segui injured The Orioles put first baseman David Segul on the 15-day disabled list after waiting a week for him to recover from a sprained knee ligament. Segui, who's hitting .294 with eight homers and 37 RBI, hurt his left knee July 15 in a game against Florida. The move is retroactive to July 16, making Segui eligible to return next Tuesday when the Orioles begin a three-game series against Tampa Bay. The Orioles and Texas Rangers also reached agreement on how to make up games postponed by a train derailment at Camden Yards last week. Two games were postponed last week after a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel several hundred yards from the stadium.

The teams voted Monday to play a twi-night doubleheader in Arlington on Wednesday and a single game in Baltimore next Monday night. Phillies get catcher The Philadelphia Phillies, uncomfortable using rookie catcher Johnny Estrada every day in a pennant race, acquired Todd Pratt from the New York Mets for backup catcher Gary Bennett. Pratt is hitting .162 this season with two homers and four RBI in 80 at-bats. Estrada began the season at Class AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre and became the Phillies' everyday catcher when All-Star Mike Lieberthal was lost because of a season-ending knee injury in May. Etc.

Lefthander Chuck Mc-Elroy agreed to a contract with San Diego, and the Padres optioned righthander Brian Tollberg to Class AAA Portland. McElroy, released by the Orioles this month, is joining his ninth major league team over the past 13 seasons. McElroy, 33, is 37-29 with a 3.84 ERA in 623 games, all but seven in relief. He has 17 saves. The Arizona Diamondbacks placed righthander Robert Ellis and shortstop Tony Womack on the 15-day disabled list and recalled lefthander Nick Bier-brodt and infielder Alex Clntron from Class AAA Tucson.

"What a throw he made from center field," Piniella said. "His arm proved to be very accurate and strong." The Mariners had shown off their starting pitching, bullpen, speed and power in beating the Twins at their own game Friday through Sunday. On Monday, the Twins had kept Seattle's offense to three runs and pieced together two hits against Arthur Rhodes, who appeared unhittable earlier in the series. The Mariners defense had been solid to that point, but because the team held comfortable leads, Seattle's fielders had not been forced to be difference-makers. Gipson, however, has carved a niche with the Mariners by being just that.

Gipson entered his fourth season with Seattle having played 158 games while hitting .244 in only 160 at bats numbers that suggest he's not on the 5 all really happening. I was kind of nervous that first at-bat. But it was great to get back out there and get the first game under my belt." The first look First impressions have great significance when you are the bonus baby and the ink is barely dry on your $5.15 million contract the largest bonus afforded a Twins draft choice. "Without a doubt, these have been the most active two or three days I have ever had here," Elizabethton General Manager Mike Mains said. "It is so rare for something like this to happen.

Everywhere I go in town, people are talking about Joe. It's just been a wonderful experience for us and our town." Fans arrived early Monday armed with pens, programs, hats, shirts anything for Mauer to sign. A group of Little Leaguers competing in the state baseball tournament stood outside the clubhouse asking everyone who passed by if they had seen Joe "Morrow." Elizabethton resident Scott Honeycutt didn't even try to pronounce Mauer's name, instead referring to him as "the big boy." "We had to come see him," Honeycutt said. "We're ex After picking up a hit In his first official professional at-bat, Joe Mauer third inning of the Ellzabethton Twins game on Monday. Mauer walked MkHilKiBwk ,317 .386 350 53 111 26 1 12 57 35 60 2 3 3 Ortjz ,310 .386 100 19 31 7 1 7 21 13 22 0 0 0 Guzman .308 ,345 351 62 108 22 13 7 34 16 57 17 6 14 Pieraynskl .301 .323 249 35 75 20 1 3 34 6 42 1 4 7 Lawlon .301 .406 359 69 108 25 0 10 51 62 45 19 6 3 Buchanan .287 .348 101 13 29 7 0 5 18 9 31 1 1 0 Koskie .277 .367 336 59 93 26 1 15 64 42 66 12 2 7 Allen .279 .360 136 17 38 9 2 4 17 18 28 1 2 1 Jones .262 .312 305 35 80 16 0 9 35 20 63 5 6 3 Rivae .246 .300 329 40 81 11 3 5 33 24 58 15 3 11 Hocking .242 .326 186 24 45 12 2 1 17 23 41 5 0 2 Hunter .239 .279 330 46 79 19 2 16 53 12' 76 5 2 0 Prince .229 .315 109 13 25 3 1 4 12 9 20 1 0 0 Maxwell .217 .308 46 2 10 40 1 86 13 000 Totals .277 .342 3419 499 946 214 29 99 465 307 650 86 36 63 McheiJ ERA 0 GS SV IP ER HR BB SO Hawkins 1 2 3.13 43 0 25 37.1 32 13 13 0 24 28 Cressend 2 1 3.19 24 0 0 31.0 24 11 11 2 10 18 Majs 11 7 3.37 20 20 0 133.2 123 51 50 18 34 61 10 7 3.76 22 22 0 158.0 169 71 66 16 14 96 Milton 9 3 3.84 20 20 0 131.1 131 58 56 21 34 88 Guardado 6 0 4.14 34 0 3 37.0 32 18 17 3 14 38 Redman 2 4 4.22 9 9 0 49.0 57 26 23 6 19 29 Welte 8 3 4.44 46 0 1 502 46 25 25 12 11 39 Miller 1 3 4.54 32 0 0 33.2 30 20 17 2 16 24 Santana 1 0 4.64 14 4 0 42.2 48 24 22 6 15 27 BaHour 0 0 5.40 1 0 0 1.2 1 1 1 0 2 2 Carrasco 3 3 5.48 34 0 1 47.2 53 30 29 6 21 50 Lohse 3 2 5.75 7 7 0 40.2 47 26 26 6 9 24 Johnson 0 1 7.71 2 2 0 9.1 13 9 6 3 3 8 Total 58 41 4.33 99 99 30 887.2 901 450 427 116 266 579 MAUER from CI Top pick gets 2 singles in debut with Twins9 rookie league team OAKLAND SEASON STATISTICS Through Sunday BATTERS AVG Star Tribune photo by Carlos Gonzalez was thrown out at home In the in his first plate appearance.

pecting big things from him. But that's a lot of pressure for a young kid. It's pretty neat to have him here." It also is a new experience for Mauer's teammates. Many said they were surprised at how unassuming and soft-spoken he is. They tease him about his celebrity and marvel at his hitting skills.

"I heard he was a legend in Minnesota," pitcher Jason Miller said. "Heard he can't walk down the street without someone recognizing him." Mauer's teammates appeared starstruck when he stepped into the batting cage hours after joining the team Saturday. Everyone coaches, players, team officials came to a standstill and watched. "Guys came out of the clubhouse to watch him hit," said outfielder Barry Quickstad, a native of Waseca, Minn. "Everyone was excited to see him." The euphoria should subside now that Mauer has played his first game.

Former Twins catcher Ray Smith, who is Elizabethton's hitting coach, said Mauer will be handled wisely but not differendy. "We're not going to do anything stupid, but he will do the same things as everyone else," Smith said. "He is a member of a team and organization now. We're going to expect just as much out of him as the rest of the guys." Just an ordinary Joe? If that were only the case. Chip Scoggins is at ascogginsstartribune.com.

In the bottom of the second inning, anticipation finally gave way to reality. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a big welcome to No. 7, the designated hitter, Joe Mauer," the voice boomed over the loud speakers. The crowd of 1,000 roared as Mauer dug into the batter's box. It took all of three pitches before the cheers turned to jeers.

Pulaski (Va.) Rangers pitcher Hayden Gardner started Mauer with three consecutive balls, none close, and the Elizabethton fans were seething. "Come on, pitch to him," a man yelled over the boos. The catcalls grew louder after Gardner delivered ball four. Mauer smoked a first pitch fastball to center field in his second at-bat. A crisp single.

Gardner tossed the ball to the Twins dugout, a keepsake for Mauer's collection. Mauer finished 2-for-4 on a pair of singles in a 7-5 loss. I le struck out once, the same number he had in his record-setting high school career at Cretin-Derham Hall. But this is professional baseball, and Monday was a solid start to what Twins officials hope is a long, promising career. "It's been pretty crazy since I got drafted," Mauer said.

"I still kind of wonder if this is Ja. Giambi .330 .460 327 69 108 28 2 22 69 75 55 0 0 5 Je. Giambi .319 .403 210 31 67 13 0 6 34 30 47 0 1 3 Long .278 .329 385 49 107 24 1 9 50 31 67 6 1 4 Valdez .278 .418 54 7 15 1 0 1 8 12 18 0 0 0 Menechino .266 .381 319 53 85 16 2 11 49 49 59 2 3 9 Tejada .263 .321 384 64 101 19 0 20 61 24 53 6 2 11 Chavez .257 .311 323 49 83 28 0 14 56 23 70 2 1 8 Damon .249 .313 405 67 101 23 2 7 36 37 42 18 8 3 Hernandez .246 .317 272 29 67 13 0 6 32 24 33 0 1 6 Myers .229 .306 109 13 25 2 0 6 21 12 23 0 0 0 Saenz .218 .294 220 20 48 15 0 5 18 13 44 0 1 3 McMillon .217 .284 9272081 1 14 725 101 Piatt .211 .300 9592051 06 13 26002 Gant .182 .217 22 3 41103 1 6 0 0 0 Bellhom .140 .232 50 10 7110 3 6 24 0 0 3 Total! .257 .336 3391 483 872 201 11 107 460 362 621 35 18 75 PWcheri ERA GS SV IP ER HR BB SO Hiljus 1 0 1.86 4 1 0 9.2 10 6 2 0 5 12 Isnnghausen 2 2 2.28 39 0 19 43.1 31 13 11 3 11 51 Magnante 0 1 2.48 38 0 0 32.2 30 14 9 5 8 15 Hudson 11 5 3.00 21 21 0 144.0 116 51 48 11 45 121 Tarn 1 3 3.44 45 0 3 52.1 49 22 20 3 24 32 Mulder 11 6 359 21 21 0 140.1 138 58 56 13 29 91 Meclr 2 7 383 38 0 2 47.0 38 20 20 3 18 44 Lidle 4 4 4.24 17 17 0 102.0 99 53 48 IB 31 66 Zito 6 7 4.66 21 21 0 123.2 125 70 64 12 42 119 Guthrie 6 2 4.79 35 0 1 35.2 35 21 19 5 13 38 Heredia 6 7 6.67 17 17 0 93.2 122 66 59 22 29 41 Vizcaino 0 0 6.35 9 0 1 11.1 12 8 8 2 4 14 Totals 52 46 3.91 96 98 28 887.2 868 428 386 105 276 687.