The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 25

FRIDAY, July 17, 1992 SECTION EDITOR: KENT HEITHOLT, 459-3233 I Horse racing: 2B, 4B PArea fishing: 3B 'Buchanan dies: 4B TEXAS LEAGUE BY THE NUMBERS ppy, eyuk! Captains tumble Texas League Midland 12, Shreveport 4 "I American League Milwaukee at Chicago (n) Minnesota 7, Boston 6 Kansas City 3, Cleveland 2 Texas 5, Baltimore 2 Toronto at Seattle (n) -Detroit at Oakland (n) New York at California (n) National League Los Angeles 7, Philadelphia 5 St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 1 Montreal 7, San Diego 4 Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 1 San Francisco 6, New York 4 Atlanta 4, Houston 2 (Standings, Page 4B) ter. After trailing 8-0, the Captains scored four times in the sixth inning. Bellinger homered and Pete Weber scored Jamie Cooper with a fielder's choice. Two more runs came on a home run from Adell Davenport just inside the left field line.

It was so close inside the foul line that the Angels argued vehemently that the ball was foul. It wa3 all the Captains could muster offensively. "We just played poorly today," Robinson said. "Nobody could do anything. We couldn't catch it.

We couldn't pitch it. We only hit in one Midland, meanwhile, took advantage of every opportunity. The Angels scored in every inning except the second, fourth and ninth. If you want to see how productive the Angels' offense was consider the fact that Midland's leadoff hitter Dan Rumsey went to the plate six times in a inning game. While Torres (6-7) allowed only two earned runs in the first five innings, Midland took advantage of a Shreveport error in the fifth inning to build a 7-0 lead.

Jeff Kipilia had a two-out, two-run double to do the damage. He later scored on Garrett Anderson's Gaffe-laden: Six Shreveport errors help Midland roll to 12-4 victory. By SCOTT FERRELL The Times There have been ugly baseball games, but Shreveport's 12-4 loss to Midland surely ranks at the top of the list. How ugly was it? "It was coyote ugly," Captains manager Bill Robinson said. "It was as ugly as a coyote.

You'ye seen how ugly they are." There was nothing pretty Captains' notes: 2B TL standings: 4B about the Captains' performance Thursday night. Consider losing pitcher Salomon Torre's line in the box score. He allowed seven runs in five innings. But only two of the runs were earned. Look at the errors.

Instead of one name listed next to errors, the Captains have an entire paragraph. Shreveport committed a season-high six errors. Shortstop Clay Bellinger was responsible for three of them. The offense wasn't much bet BRITISH OPEN I. 1 i'i kj iif GOLF: British Open, 9 a.m., ESPN.

Second-round coverage from Muirfield in Scotland as Ray Floyd, first-round co-leader with Steve Pate, continues his bid to become just the fifth golfer to win all of pro golfs major tournaments. single. For Torres, the loss was the continuation of some recent struggles. He has not won since June 8. He is 0-5 with two no-decisions since gaining his last victory.

Once Torres was gone, the only consistency was the battering of Shreveport's bullpen. Midland had 16 hits in the game, eight against the Captains' bullpen in the final four innings. Shreveport used Randy McCamment, Vince Herring and right fielder Ron Crowe in relief. Mark Zappelli improved to 7-1 for Midland. MAJOR LEAGUES Rangers: Harrah the man The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas It didn't take long for the Texas Rangers to realize they had the right man for the job.

The Rangers waited just four games before naming interim manager Toby Harrah the manager for the rest of the season, a move designed to ease the minds of both players and management. "We're not going to settle for things the way they are Harrah said Thursday. "Hopefully, the ballclub will go out there and really play hard. "You'd like to see your players leave their feet for the ball, not afraid to take the extra base and to really try to do the little things 'it takes to win a ball game." When Harrah was told the description resembled the trade-. marks of his 16-year career, he smiled and said, "I hope they play better." Harrah, an original Ranger when the franchise moved from Washington in 1972, was named the team's 12th manager a week after he replaced Bobby Valentine on the interim basis.

News that the 'interim' tag was gone from Harrah's title was met with smiles in the clubhouse before Thursday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles. "I think it's a good decision," right-hander Jose Guzman said. "Toby's been with us for a long time. He knows the organization, everybody likes him. I think it's going to be great playing for him." Shortstop Jeff Huson said the decision made sense.

"He knows the personnel that's here right now. He knows the league," Huson said. "If they were to bring somebody else in, he would have to learn us, we would have to learn about him and he might have to learn the league on top of learning the players." Horsemen to get purse increase Louisiana Downs officials and representatives of local horsemen announced Thursday that local hofsemen will receive an additional $95,622.60 in purse money based upon profits from the first 12 video poker reVejriue. VJdeo poker began at Louisiana Downs on July 1. Bench press event Saturday "Blpnchmania," a bench -press competition open to everyone will be held at Cody's, 410 Spur 63 in Lrigview, Texas, Saturday at noon.

World record holder John Inzer of Longview and Anthony Clark, dubbed the "world's strongest man" will be" oh hand to sign autographs. Admission is $2 and the is to benefit the Truman Smith Children's Ceriter in Gladewater. more information call John Miller at 753-2789. A UUitUattjaM AP Laserphoto Ray Floyd (center) is congratulated by fellow American Tom first-round British Open lead with Steve Pate. The 64 tied the Kite (left) after shooting a 64 Thursday to grab a share of the lowest first-round score in British Open history.

ma as favorable as the soft greens and gentle breezes that produced 56 sub-par rounds from the field of 156. By contrast, only 27 players beat par 71 in the first round five years ago, the last time the British Open was played at Muirfield. There also are seven big guns within five shots of Floyd and Pate. Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion with Gordon Brand Jrat 6-under-par. Two-time British Open champion Nick Faldo, who won here in, 1987, is among four players'at 5-under.

Sandy Lyle, the 1985 British Open and 1988 Masters winner, is in a group of six at Among 15 players at 2-un-der-par are 1989 British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, Lanny Wadkins, two-time British Open' titlist Lee Trevino and Corey Pavin. But it's Floyd with the chance to make history at this historic site. "My goal for years has been to win a British Open," he said after his best start by five shots in 18 British Opens. "In the world of golf this is the Open championship. If I go through my career without winning one, I'll handle it, but it would be a nice embellishment." Floyd carded eight birdies and a bogey in a round that saw him hit 17 greens.

Record-tying round: First-round co-leader shoots to be fifth man to win top four events. Gannett News Service GULLANE, Scotland Only four men in the history of golf have won all four majors: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Raymond Floyd is hungry to become the fifth. And it showed Thursday when he joined the players who took advantage of ideal scoring conditions for the first round of the 121st British Open at Muirfield. Complete scores: 2B British notebook: 4B Floyd, whose best finishes have been second in 1978 and third in 1981, shot 7-under-par 64 to share the first round lead with Steve Pate.

That score matches the first-round low in British Open history, achieved three other times. The 49-year-old former U.S. Open, Masters and PGA champion, if he prevails here, also would be the oldest British Open winner, edging Tom Mor-. ris, who was 46 when he won in 1867. Of course there's still a lot of golf to be played, and in conditions not expected to be nearly COLUMN A lineup of nine important baseball needs MIKE LOPRESTI Williams' robber awaits sentencing KANSAS CITY, Mo.

A jury.has recommended a 65-year prison sentence for a. man convicted of robbing Kansas City Chiefs and former LSU running back Harvey Williams last November. The Jackson County jury on Wednesday found John R.need, 25, guilty of armed criminal action and first degree robbery. Prosecutors said an old car pulled up behind Whams' car, which was parked in a driveway. Three men got out of the car and fired several shots, according to testimony.

Williams and a passenger car, Maria Sears, said.Sneed repeatedly jammed a pistol into Williams' chest. He then fired several shots into the grfmnd and demanded money, they said. Police arrested Sneed several hours later when Sears saw him return to the area. The two later identified Sneed in a police lineup. Race horses are quarantined Hundreds of thoroughbred race horses have been quarantined at several major tracks in the EaBt as the result of an equine disease described as most serious outbreak appeared to be at Suffolk Downs, where between 30 and 40 horses have shown signs of the potentially fatal equine virus.

They will be quarantined at Suffolk DiJwns for about two weeks, a spokesman said Wednesday. families who might only be able to afford one trip to the ballpark each year a good dose of baseball. Then the owners got a bright idea. No doubleheaders meant more dates. More money.

Players didn't like doubleheaders, either. It made them put in eight-hour workdays, God forbid. So the only thing that creates doubleheaders anymore are rain-outs in April. Or riots in Los Angeles. Bring them the doubleheader.

No. 9. When any city in the future plans on building a stadium, call the Baltimore Orioles for suggestions. They built a ballpark. Not a lifeless cookie-cutter, circa 1970s, such as Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, etc.

Fans like to come to real ballparks. At least, they used to. And baseball, both management and player, ought to worry more about how manv still do. Mike Lopresti is a national sports columnist for Gannett News Service. dors.

No. 4. Since No, 3 has no chance of being adopted, every concession stand should a TV above it showing the game, so fans can see what they shouldn't be missing. No. 5.

The sport better do something about attracting minority fans. Country clubs are more integrated than the box seats at some baseball games. No. 6. Make players available at an autograph booth before selected games.

And every player has to do it, not just the utility infielder and middle relief man. A few signatures for people who have paid to see the game do not seem like too much to ask of men averaging $1 million a year in salary. No. 7. Clubs should have no more patience with rude and slovenly ushers, ticket sellers and concession workers than they do with left fielders who hit .208.

No. 8. Once upon a time, there was something called a double-header. A lot of them were on Sundays or holidays, and gave system. With corporate gobbling of season and luxury boxes, it is nearly impossible for the average guy to ever get his hands on good seats.

Want to take the family to the ballgame today? Fine. Have a good time up there in Row 59. Great seats, hey buddy? There is no reason clubs couldn't save a few of their better seats for game-by-game basis first come, first served making them available to average fans and not just vice presidents for sales. No reason except money. No.

2. Every ballpark should have top-of-the-line technology to show fans high quality instant replays. The nation's addiction to TV is now deep rooted. And replays have become our constitutional right. No.

3. No ballpark should have such a shortage of concession stands that someone has to miss an inning or 11 percent of what he's paid to see to get a hot dog. Build more of them. And if there's no room to build them, use more carts and ven Polls suggest it. Letters to the editors say it.

Lower attendance in many ballparks imply it. Fans are restless. Weary of the rising prices in baseball. Disillusioned with the business of baseball. As owners and players have squabbled in the most unseemly ways over their shares of the pie, one assumption has always been made: The fans will put up with anything.

Turn on the lights, and they will come. But maybe not. Trouble can start in subtle ways. The stands of baseball are still crowded, but when polls come out showing fewer kids are going to games, fewer families are making the sport part of their leisure time, baseball's lords ought to be concerned. But then, it took these guys years to decide St.

Louis was west of Atlanta. Currently some of them seem to be fully engaged in trying to dump their commissioner. Let us put the issue of stratospheric salaries aside. They are not going to go away. Baseball has become big business.

It is there to stay. But if baseball has to cost more, it ought to give more. Winning, of course, cures most evils. But there are other ways to help people into the ballpark, and make them feel they are needed. What follows is a lineup of nine ideas.

Some perhaps fanciful, some not, and in no particular order of importance. Many already are in force at some ballparks. Some are not. If only fans had agents. No.

1. Going to too many ballparks has evolved into a caste.