The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 11

TheGouner-News HUNTERDON D-1 Scoreboard D-2 Business D-8 Classified advertising D-8 Monday, April 27, 1987 for Date Gooden's return mm By STEVE MARCUS Newsday longer. I don't feel that they feel now that Dwight was deeply involved (in cocaine abuse)." Parkes said that Gooden's daily routine at Smithers includes group sessions with other patients. Gooden was said to be anxious to leave Smithers and is "counting the days" before he rejoins the team. The Mets said that they never thought Gooden's problem was a serious one. "I didn't think he had a big not yet clear whether the Mets will allow Gooden to talk about his therapy or his problem.

"We have to do what's good for him, not the vultures who don't care about him and are looking for a story," publicist Jay Horwitz said. James Parkes, the Mets' team physician, has been monitoring Gooden's progress. "They are very, very encouraged," Parkes said of doctors treating Gooden. "He's responding beautifully. Three weeks ago it seemed like he'd have to stay a lot problem," Manager Davey Johnson said.

"We would have known if he had problem," Darryl Strawberry said. "We would have been able to tell." Strawberry, Gooden's closest friend on the team, is ready to watch over the pitcher. "I'd probably like to stay around him," Strawberry said. "I think he's going to be a lot stronger physically and mentally, but it's up to the guys to stay close and make him feel at home and give him the support he needs." Ron Darling said, "The best thing is for him to be with his friends on the team, guys who will try to help him." Stottlemyre said that he is not sure what to expect from Gooden. "He has been through a lot.

A lot of the hitters have had the opportunity to see really good pitchers. I don't know how far behind he is or how much time he needs to catch up. I don't know what I should tell people to expect." Al Harazin met Saturday with doctors at the Smithers Alcoholism and Treatment Center in New York where Gooden has been under treatment since April 2, and apparently they are pleased with Gooden's progress. No details were discussed. June 1 has been targeted as the date for Gooden's return to active status.

Gooden is expected to rejoin the club and work under pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. He also might pitch for Triple-A Tidewater (Fla.) before starting in a major-league game. It is NEW YORK New York Mets officials are to meet today with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth to discuss the conditions of Dwight Gooden's return to the club. The Mets assume Ueberroth will order periodic drug testing for the 22-year-old pitcher, who is to be released from a drug center this week. Club executives Frank Cashen and Yamfe won lohn flpfic witlhi iC-N Sportswriter Cardinals show off their stuff By TOM PEDULLA Gannett News Service faced four batters and retired none before retiring for the afternoon with a sore elbow.

Rickey Henderson clubbed his third leadoff homer of the season. Willie Randolph, Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield all ripped singles, Win-field's providing the first of his four RBI. After Dan Pasqua struck out against Ed Vande Berg, Gary Ward lashed a two-run double and Pagliarulo capped the uprising with a run-scoring single. Winfield added a two-run homer in the second inning and an RBI in a six-run sixth that included four unearned runs. Every Yankees starter except Pasqua, whose average plunged to .125 with an 0-for-5 day, produced at least one hit, one run scored and one RBI.

Milwaukee maintained its three-game lead over New York in the American League East by downing Baltimore 5-3 for its 16th victory in 17 games. But Henderson dismissed the Brewers. "We worry about the other teams behind us rather than Milwaukee," he said. "We feel the team to beat is Toronto or Baltimore, one of the teams behind us." CLEVELAND When everything is in good working order for the New York Yankees, they can make the opposition look awful and the game look awfully easy. Such was the case yesterday as Tommy John allowed an infield single in seven effortless innings and the offense banged out 16 hits in a 14-2 laugher over Cleveland.

John struck out four and walked one in seven innings. Julio Franco's third-inning roller toward the shortstop hole provided the lone hit of his 95-pitch stint when it ticked off the glove of third baseman Mike Pagliarulo. John recorded 14 ground-ball outs and allowed just one ball out of the infield, Andre Thornton's routine fly to center to end the sixth. "It's amazing, isn't it?" marveled Piniella. "It goes to show you when you can change speeds and locate the ball like he did, you've got a good chance." Especially with a 5-0 advantage before you even reach the mound.

Cleveland's Tom Candiotti, 1-4, NEW YORK Jack Clark can't understand the fuss. So, the St. Louis Cardinals have beaten the Mets five out of six times this season. So what? "Why is everybody so surprised?" Clark asked Sunday. "Why does everybody act like it's a fluke because we beat the Mets? We're not a joke.

We're not scared of the Mets. "WHY DOESN'T anybody write that we're a good team, that we've got a good manager and good pitchers and good hitters? I can hit the ball as far as just about anybody? Why should we take a back seat?" So far, the Cardinals have taken a back seat to nobody. After sweeping the Mets in St. Louis last weekend, they nearly turned the trick again this week in New York. They took two out of three games at Shea Stadium, capping it with Sunday's 7-4 victory as Clark collected three hits, including his fifth home run of the season.

THE WIN PUT St. Louis into first place, one game ahead of the Mets. Courier-News photo by Dorab Khandalavala ON THE BANKS: Rutgers tailback Roland Banks (25) leaps high to catch pass during annual Scarlet-Knights spring football game Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. Chris Pickel (50), Rob Speidel (63) and Darrin Czellecz converge on Banks. See story on page D-5.

Flyers on the verge of dumping Islanders slot Sunday, an area his Islanders namesake, Alan, called "no-man's land." Kerr was double-teamed to open up Propp for his goal. Then, on Kerr's first goal, he set up at the hash marks between the circles, stopped Mark Howe's pass with his skates and teed up a wrist shot that beat Kelly Hru-dey at 6:06 of the second. Just 1:08 later, Kerr was double-teamed at the net, which left Propp open to feed Tookey alone at the right post. And on Kerr's second goal, he half-fanned on Pelle Eklund's pass, but was able to re-direct it past Hrudey, who was lifted in favor of Billy Smith after allowing five goals on 15 shots. good sign for us," said Flyers Coach Mike Keenan.

"And it's a function of the power play, that it's working well for us." Philadelphia scored on 3-of-4 power-play chances Sunday, bringing their series total to 6-of-12 in the series after a dismal 3-for-32 in the first round against the Rangers. Tim Kerr had two of the power-play goals and Brian Propp had the other. Al Hill, Tim Tookey and Rick Tocchet (into an empty net) scored the other Flyers goals, while Doug Crossman had three assists. The Isles, who got an emotional lift from Mike Bossy's return from a knee injury in Game 2 of the opening round, came out strong. Alan Kerr, Ken Morrow and Bryan Trottier (assisted by Bossy during a major high-sticking penalty to Scott Mellanby) provided the three leads by the 2:50 mark of the second period, before Tim Kerr, Tookey (assisted by Kerr and Propp) and Kerr again put Philly ahead to stay.

"If anybody can do it, we can" said Isles defenseman Ken than that feeling, the only thing we can do is look to Tuesday. We're going to have to do something about Kerr on the power play. If we let him do that again Tuesday, we're going to be in trouble." Kerr, who had three goals in the opener of this series and has eight in the playoffs, placed himself in a high battled their way out of a deficit. The Isles led and 3-2, but Philadel--phia made themrun out of gas and nearly out of rope. The Islanders are clinging to an unraveled twine against a team that shows no signs of allowing the type of comeback the Isles turned on Washington in the first round.

Almost equally as frustrating to the Islanders is their inability to win at home. They are 1-7-1 in their last nine at the Nassau Coliseum. The league-wide home-ice jinx continued, as the visiting teams have a combined 11-3 record in the four division finals. "The ability to come back from a deficit three times in one game is a By RICK CARPINIELLO Gannett News Service UNIONDALE, L.I. The Islanders have seen the complete package from the Philadelphia Flyers now.

Goaltending. Defense. Forecheck-ing. Offense. Special teams.

And the ability to come from behind. Throw it all together, and it spells big trouble for the Islanders, who face a gigantic 3-1 deficit in their best-of-seven Patrick Division final, after last night's 6-4 loss. Game 5, which could end the Islanders' season, is tomorrow at the Spectrum. Three times Sunday, the Flyers Irish runner takes Waterfront Local runner takes 10th 0 Lori Butterfield, a 1981 graduate of Hunterdon Central won $1,000 by placing 10th in yesterday's marathon. She also got a chance to run for some real gold: She qualified for the U.S.

Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. See story on Page D-8. "The problem is that everybody comes here in awe of the Mets," said Clark. "I hear the Mets saying that everybody wants to beat them. Well, what do they expect? Do they think we're gonna come here and just give up? "Listen, the Mets are no Big Red Machine.

They're not the kind of team that comes at you to search-and-destroy. If they're that good, let's see them win more games than they did last year. Let's see them domi' nate. They can't. They can't do it because they're not good enough." Clark's teammates weren't quite so outspoken.

Most of them said nothing but good things about the Mets. AFTER ALL, this was no cake-walk. Most of the games were close. Even Sunday, after taking an early 7-0 lead, the Cards had to hang on for the victory in the ninth inning as the Mets brought the tying run to the plate. Todd Worrell got Gary Carter on a soft fly to right to end the game.

"That was a breathtaking adventure, wasn't it?" manager Whitey Herzog sighed. "You can never get enough runs against the Mets. How many games have they already won 8-7? "I'll tell you, we just didn't want to get swept here. And, as it turned out, we could've won all three games. But, after losing the first one, I'll take two.

"Now, if we can just start playing better against somebody else." A YEAR AGO this weekend, the Cards lost four straight games to the Mets and never recovered. Maybe the Cards left a message for the Mets this time. Maybe things are going to be different in 1987. "We don't linger on the past," left fielder Vince Coleman insisted. "The Mets won last year but that's finished.

That's got nothing to do with now. Why's everybody always bringing up the past? "We're not trying to make a statement to the Mets. We're not making a statement toward anyone but ourselves. There were a lot of guys on this team who had bad seasons last year, a lot of guys who were slowed by injuries. A lot of us have something to prove." COLEMAN MIGHT be one of them.

He batted just .232 last year. Yesterday, Coleman had two hits and stole his 16th base. Lifetime, Coleman is a perfect 22-for-22 in steal attempts against the Mets. "Everybody says that we've got injuries, but we can't let it bother us," See CARDINALS on Page D-8 ---if. N- I "The four of us worked together.

We ran among ourselves, it was encouraging for women marath-oners," said Custy, who works in promotions for Reebok sneakers. "The winds were tough. But I was able to run the second half of the race much faster than the first. This course favored my type of running and training. I used the downhill portions of the first half to build my confidence." Confidence wasn't something the men's field showed early.

Unsung and unregistered until a few hours before the race, Tanzania's Ma-song Agapius was the only one to throw himself into the mercy of the wind. A weak split of 10:23 for the first two miles and 15:50 for the three-mile gave a strong reflection of how the wind dictated the field. Nobody wanted the lead. "It was perhaps the most cautious marathon I've ever been involved in," Donakowski said. "It certainly was a weird one.

The way we ran constantly threw us into different rhythms. It was a much harder race." The numerous shifts in the race's pace finally got to Donakowski at about the 16-mile mark. Leading up to that point, Donakowski, Kiernan, Don Janicki and John Moreno had exchanged leads. But then Donakowski made his move at 15 miles. "My spurt wasn't as much as a move to take the lead as it was to break up the pack and get something going," he said.

Kiernan's 4:46 split between the 16th and 17th mile startled See IRISH on Page D-8 By THOMAS H. FREZZA Courier-News Staff Writer JERSEY CITY As he surged past a boarded up gasoline station on Bergen Line Avenue in West New York, Bill Donakowski appeared ready to shed the frustration of a sluggish and strange race. After the 15-mile mark of yesterday's New Jersey Waterfront Marathon, Donakowski finally found brief relief from rolling pavement and gusting wind in a long downhill stretch into Union City. The asphalt slope momentarily pushed him in frontof a pack of two dozen runners being led by Dublin, Ireland's Jerry Kiernan and Paul Cummings of Orem, Vt. Donakowski supporters sensed a repeat of his 1986 waterfront victory.

After all, he was the No. American marathoner and would find a way to pull it out. But then Kiernan, an elementary school teacher, who describes his hometown neighborhood as the "redneck section of Dublin," answered Donakowski's charge. He lifted his 33-year-old legs to run the 16th mile in 4:46 far faster than any split all day. In that one mile, the Irish Olympian broke Donakowski's spirit and settled the issue.

Over the next nine miles, Kiernan would look wobbly and hunched forward at times, but he overcame his exhaustion to win in 2:13:47. Cummings, who caught Donakowski in nearly the same spot Don- akowski made his move to win the 1986 race at 24 miles, was third in 2:14:15. Donakowski was third, 27 seconds behind Cummings. "I felt wretched for the entire first half of the race. Fortunately, a marathon is 26 miles," said Kiernan, who earned $25,000 for the victory.

"I ran my first marathon in Dublin and there were millions watching from the streets. But today, I was competing for a lot of money." The women's race nearly took the same pattern of the men's race. A pack of four made up of Maureen Custy, Krista Vahlensieck, Susan Schneider and Rita Borralho, braved the early morning chill and 35 mph wind at their faces for the first 14 miles. One by one, they began to drop back until it was Custy all alone with a half-mile lead with two miles to go. The 31-year-old from Denver, toughened by training at high altitudes, finished at 2:34:42, more than a minute faster than second-place Vahlensieck.

Portugal's Bor-rahlo, last year's winner, faded badly and finished 13th. Crusty went home with the winner's share of $25,000. A. n. Associated Press photo Ireland's Jerry Kiernan won $25,000 for taking first in yesterday's Waterfront Marathon.

His time was 2:13:48. TO CALL THE EDITOR Sports Editor Tom Perry can be reached by calling 722-8800, ext. 446. THE ARD WAY: Giants' lineman Billy Ard discusses his hectic life during the off season. ASTROS LAND: The Houston Astros show up at Shea Stadium for a rematch of last fall's N.L Championship series.

Coming up tomorrow.