The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 42

C4 THE MORNING CALL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1996 HEIR lean briglhrftsstt of serai Phi Ss' pirospcs Defending champion Reading opens No. Pitchers B-T Ago Notes 27 Matt Beech L-L 24 265 in 253.1 career IP 2T Tony Costa R-R 25 9-10, 3.85 at Clearwater 34 Robert Dodd L-L 23 8-7, 3.16 at Clearwater 12 Mark Foster L-L 24 11 svs at Spartanburg in '94 31 Vteyne Gomes R-R 23 228 Kin 224 career IP 14 Branson Heftin R-R 24 21 sv, 84K in 61 IP Clearwater 40 Gary Herrmann R-L 26 15-8 in career 7 MikeJuhl L-L 26 1-12 last two seasons 39 Carlton Loewer S-R 25 11-6, 2.29 at ClearwaterReading 29 Larry Mitchell R-R 24 175 BB in 293 IP last 2 yrs 10 Ryan Nye R-R 22 48 BB in 238.2 career IP 8 Keith Troutman R-R 22 16svs, 1.91 in '93 at Great Falls No. Catchers B-T Age Notes 26 Bobby Estallella R-R 21 40 XB hits in 404 AB at Clrwater JeffGyselman R-R 25 .172, 64 AB at Clearwater 15 Scott Haws L-R 22 1ABin'95 No. Infielders B-T Age Notes 3 Manuel Amador S-R 20 .279 at Clearwater 16 DougAngeli R-R 24 .191,47 AB at Clearwater 2 Essex Burton R-R 26 292 SB in 594 games 25 Dan Held R-R 25 led FSL with 21 22 Jason Moler R-R 26 83 AB before breaking leg 17 Scott Rolen R-R 21 .294 BA in 1st 3 seasons No. Outfielders B-T Age Notes 11 Jeremey Kendall R-R 24 62 SB, 98 RS at Sprtnburg in '94 35 Wendall Magee R-R 23 .353 avg.

led FSL 18 Chad McConnell R-R 25 .257 career avg in 3 seasons 37 Tom Nuneviller R-R 26 2 knee injuries in 4 years 19 Scott Shores R-R 24 30 SB at Clearwater Manager: Bill Robinson (26). Coaches: Larry Anderson (33), Kelly Heath (4). Ages listed as of Opening Day. through the Yankee system. "And as far as everything else, the ingredients are there.

All he has to do is let relax and let his God-given ability come through." Rolen's other course would've taken him to college basketball he averaged 28 points as a senior at Jasper, High School, and signed a letter of intent to attend Georgia, where he would've been a junior -on this year's club which lost an overtime heartbreak-er to Syracuse in the Sweet Sixteen. 4 Instead, he signed with the Phillies after being their second pick in the 1993 draft, and has developed to the point where Baseball America ranks him as the club's top prospect after just two full minor-league seasons. He played briefly at Martinsville at the end of the 1993 season, then was a South Atlantic League all-star the following year at Spartanburg. Last year he shook off a broken hand in spring training to hit .290 with 10 homers in 66 games at Clearwater and earn a promotion into the heat of Reading's drive to the Eastern League title. "I really didn't set a timetable for myself," Rolen, who hit .289 with three homers and 15 RBI in 20 games last year, said of his rapid rise.

"If I had done that I might've taken his injury a lot harder. But I realized before anything could happen I had to get over this injury and go perform at Clearwater, which I was fortunate enough to do and then get the opportunity to get here at the end of the season." Rolen, voted the EL's top preseason prospect by the league's baseball writers, performed so well that an off-season talk-show topic was whether he was ready for the big leagues as early as this year. The Phillies, wisely, decided to give him a bit more breathing room, signing Todd Zeile to handle the job until Rolen's ready. "He certainly has the ability, and I told him the people with ability who learn to relax the earliest are the ones who become stars," Robinson said. "How do you tell a person to relax? I don't really know.

But the most relaxing thing for them ought to be that like Cal Ripken, knowing they're coming to the park every league season at home tomorrow. By JEFF SCHULER Of The Morning Call READING Had fate steered Scott Rolen on a different course he just might have been playing basketball at the Meadowlands this past weekend. Instead, he was and is for the time being playing baseball in Reading, which many believe is a mere pit stop on a journey that will ultimately end with him at third base in Veterans Stadium in the not-too-distant future. Once there, many also believe, he will play 17 seasons, hit 542 home runs, win 10 Gold Gloves OK, so he probably won't exactly duplicate the career of one Michael Jack Schmidt. But just as Schmidt was for those 17 seasons, Rolen is expected to be a lineup fixture for some time to come.

That's a lot of hopes and expectations to dump on someone who only tomorrow will become old enough to legally celebrate his successes and drown his failures with a beer or two. But Rolen wants to remind everyone that he's not the one saying those things. "I didn't come out and say I have to to be the next Mike Schmidt," said Rolen, the brightest of the several prospects on hand at Municipal Stadium when Reading opens its season tomorrow against Portland. "Other people have. It's an honor, but frankly, what's written and what's said about you doesn't hold a lot of water as far as the coaches are concerned.

"I still have to perform out on the field or none of that means anything; I still have to work every day to get better because I want to play in the major leagues, and that's all I've ever wanted to do." "'Defensively, he can play in the big leagues right now," admitted first-year Reading manager Bill Robinson, who knows all about expectations since he was billed as "the next Mickey Mantle" while coming up makes a play or does something well, he's going to get a hug from his manager. But when they mess up 1 11 be on them too." Loewer joins tomorrow's starter Matt Beech, Robert Dodd, Ryan Nye and Tony Costa in the rotation with Gomes back in the bullpen where he sparkled as a hard-throwing closer at Old Dominion. Another former No. 1 pick, Chad McConnell, joins Magee and speedster Jeremy Kendall in the outfield. Rolen and Dan Held handle the corners of the infield with short stop Doug Angeli and second baseman Essex "Gas" Burton a minor-league Rule 5 pick from the White Sox after he stole 60 bases at Double-A Binningham up the middle.

Also back is Pennridge High's Tom Nuneviller. Once one of organization's top prospects, Nuneviller's career has been hampered by two major knee injuries in four years, and this spring he was slowed by a bad shoulder. "I'm just lucky to be around," Nuneviller said. They could have cut me loose, and I'm sure I'm running out of time. I'm just thankful have chance to still be on the team and have a chance to get healthy and hopefully play well and make some things day to play.

To me that alleviates a lot of pressure." not mv decision where I play," Rolen said. My goals for this year, like every year, is to become a better baseball player, whether that's here or at Scranton or wherever. If I go out and do my work every day and get better, that's all I can do. But what you want to do as a player is not leave the organization with a choice." Rolen joins four other players from BA's Top 10 organizational list pitchers Wayne Gomes and Carlton Loewer (both former No.l picks), catcher Bobby Estalella and outfielder Wendall Magee on Reading's opening-day roster. years ago we really had nobody here," said Robinson, who was promoted after Bill Dancy left to take Atlanta's Triple-A job at Richmond.

"Last year obviously things improved, and again this year we have some guys who have a chance to do something." Robinson, Dancy's coach the last two seasons, batted .258 with 166 homers in a 16-year major-league career, enjoying most of his success with Pittsburgh's Lumber Company in the late 1970s. "I see myself as a Chuck Tanner-type of manager," Robinson said, referring to his Pirate skipper. "I learned from him to be very enthusiastic; a kid wMmwtefiiii Bulto ifMids Rcis past Eitpos 4-1 Yankees' Cone stifles Indians Pirates 4, Marlins 1 MIAMI (AP) Carlos Garcia hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning last night, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Florida Marlins 4-1. The Pirates, whose 58-86 record last season was the worst in the N.L., are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 1993. Alejandro Pena (0-1) retired the first batter in the Pittsburgh ninth, but Jeff King reached on an error by shortstop Kurt Abbott.

With two out, Jay Bell doubled and Garcia followed by hitting a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall. Reliever Jason Christiansen (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for a win. Dan Miceli got three outs for the save. All four Pirates runs were unearned. A crowd of 20,243, less than half the total for Monday's opener, saw starters Denny Neagle of the Pirates and John Burkett of the Marlins match scoreless innings until Jeff Conine homered to lead off the Florida fifth.

Conine, who led Florida with 25 homers last year, stopped the Marlins' scoreless streak at 13 innings. The Pirates scored an unearned run in the sixth. Mike Kingery's routine line drive was dropped by Marlins center fielder Devon White for an error, Al Martin doubled and Orlando Merced had an RBI grounder. I i I I 1 7 7 N.Y. hurler has no-hitter through 5 innings; Jeter, Williams hit home runs.

By CHUCK MELVIN Of The Associated Press CLEVELAND David Cone never really felt he was flirting with a no-hitter. "I was flirting with disaster," Cone said yesterday after he limited Cleveland to two hits in seven scoreless innings as the New York Yankees beat the defending American League champions 7-1. Cone held the Indians without a hit until Julio Franco led off the sixth with a single, but he fought with his control all afternoon. He walked six and frequently worked from behind in the count against the team that led the majors in runs, home runs and batting average a year ago. "This is not a formula I want to use too often," said Cone, who was unable to hold an 8-0 lead against Cleveland last June when he was with Toronto.

"This lineup really puts stress on a pitcher. I was a little wild, but no matter what I did, I didn't want to give in and put one down the middle. "Julio's a good hitter. That hit broke up the no-hitter, but that was not the most fashionable no-hitter to that point, with all those walks and everything." Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams homered for the Yankees, winners of five straight season openers and 10 of their last 11. The game was delayed one day by snow.

The Indians finished with four hits. It was their second straight weak showing in games that counted: They were held to one hit by Atlanta's Tom Glavine in the decisive Game 6 of the World Series last October. "WW" XV Jeter, playing in his 16th big league game, hit his first career home run and also saved a run with an over-the-shoulder catch of Vizquel's pop fly behind shortstop in the seventh. Dennis Martinez took the loss in his ninth consecutive opening day start six with Montreal, three with Cleveland. He allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Until Franco lined his clean single to right leading off the sixth yesterday, the Indians didn't come close to a hit off Cone. Alomar then doubled to right with two outs in the seventh, but Jeter chased down Omar Vizquel's pop fly to strand him. Mariano Duncan singled and scored New York's first run on Paul O'Neill's double in the third. Jeter led off the fifth with his home run, becoming the first Yankees rookie to homer on opening day since Jerry Kenney in 1969. Williams made it 5-0 with a three-run shot off Alan Embree in the eighth.

Cleveland scored on Carlos Baerga's RBI forceout against Bob Wickman in the eighth. But the Yankees added two runs in the ninth on a single by O'Neill bis third hit and a double by Ruben Sierra. Orioles 4, Royals 2 BALTIMORE (AP) President Clinton and Mike Mussina took care of the pitching, and Cal Ripken did the majority of the hitting as the Baltimore Orioles opened the season by beating the Kansas City Royals 4-2 yesterday. Ripken drove in three runs, and Mussina allowed two runs and five hits over seven umings in beating Kevin Appier before 46,818 at Oriole Park. The game, delayed a day because of rain, got under way shortly after Clinton tossed a soft strike from the mound to Baltimore catcher Chris Hoiles.

Then Mussina and Ripken took over. Mussina, who led the A.L. with 19 wins last season, struck out four and walked two. Jesse Orosco worked the eighth, and Randy Myers, signed as a free-agent during the offseason, pitched a perfect ninth for his first A.L. save.

Ripken took care of the Baltimore offense, hitting a two-run single in the first and driving in the go-ahead run in the third. An RBI double by B.J. Surhoff made it 4-2 in the eighth. Associated Press The Yankees' Bernie Williams clubs a three-run homer off Cleveland reliever Alan Embree in the eighth inning. Flag at half-staff in honor of umpire who died Monday, forcing day's postponement.

CINCINNATI (AP) Chris Sa-bo had three RBIs in his Riverfront Stadium homecoming, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-1 victory yesterday over the Montreal Expos in a game postponed a day by the death of umpire John McSherry. The flag was at half-staff, and the umpiring crew got a standing ovation when it came onto the field. Several banners honored McSherry, who collapsed in the first inning Monday and died at a hospital. The crowd was about half the size of Monday's 53,136 for the makeup, played on what was supposed to be an off-day. Players were still grieving when they took the field for batting practice.

Fans went easy on the umpiring crew, which included Rich Reiker as McSherry's replacement. Several times the crowd started to boo calls, then hushed. Winner Pete Schourek, who threw seven pitches in Monday's opener before McSherry collapsed, started the makeup and gave up one run over five innings. Tim Pugh allowed one hit over three innings, and Marcus Moore pitched the ninth for his first major-league save. Sabo had an RBI single and double, and was hit by a pitch in the eighth with the bases loaded, accounting for three runs.

The win was Ray Knight's first since being introduced as the Reds' fourth manager in five years. It was Cincinnati's first season-opening win since 1993, when the Reds beat Montreal 2-1 in the first of Tony Perez's 44 games as manager. Sabo, a former Red trying to come back from chronic back problems, wasn't in the lineup Monday because right-hander Pedro Martinez was scheduled to start. Manager Felipe Alou decided to go with left-handed Jeff Fassero in the makeup, giving Sabo a start at third base. Fassero pitched four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking four in taking the loss.

Sabo singled home a run in his first plate appearance at Riverfront Stadium in three years. Barry Lar-kin doubled with two out in the first, Reggie Sanders walked, and Sabo hit a broken-bat single to for a 1-0 lead. Hal Morris followed with a hit-and-run single through the hole vacated by third baseman Shane Andrews, who was moving to cover the bag. Larkin walked in the fifth, moved up on a wild pitch by Barry Manuel, stole third and came around on Sabo's opposite-field double to right for a 3-1 lead. dowsky, who got the victory despite giving up seven hits, four walks and hitting a batter in five innings.

Loser Rich Robertson, moved from fourth to second in the Twins' rotation when Rick Aguil-era was put on the 15-day disabled list last weekend, lasted just 1 Tigers 10, Twins 6 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Cecil Fielder had the first stolen base of his big league career and Buddy Bell earned his first victory as a manager in the majors last night -as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6. Pat Meares homered, tripled, doubled and drove in a career-high' four runs for Minnesota. With a chance to hit for the cycle, he grounded into a double play to end the game. Melvin Nieves bit a three-run double in the first inning and Chad Curtis hit a two-run homer in the second for Detroit. Alan Trammell had a pair of RBI singles as the Tigers took a 9-1 lead in the fifth.

Detroit finished with 14 hits and didn't go down in order until the seventh. Fielder stole second base in the ninth and later scored on Meares' throwing error from shortstop. The Tigers slugger has played 1,099 games in bis 11-year career. Dave Hollins, 2-for-3 In his Twins debut Monday, was 2-for-2 with two walks. Bell's victory came in his sec- ond game with Detroit.

The Tigers-lost their opener 8-6, scoring five times in the last three innings. The Tigers' early surge made the night much easier for Clint Sc Astros 5, Dodgers 4 HOUSTON (AP) Derek Bell singled home the winning run in the ninth inning, his third hit of the game, to give the Houston Astros a come-from-bebind 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers last night. Houston, which lost its season opener to Los Angeles, failed to hold a two-run lead in the ninth, when Los Angeles tied the score 4-4 against Todd Jones (1-0). Brian Hunter led off the bottom half with a single off John Cum-mings (0-1), Craig Biggio sacrificed and Jeff Bagwell was intentionally walked. Bell then lined a single into left field and Roger Cedeno's throw to the plate was wide, going into foul territory.

The game drew 20,492 to the Astrodome, a day after Houston attracted 34,375 to its opener. Astros owner Drayton McLane, who has threatened to move the team, wants attendance to average 30,000 this season. Mike Piazza's run-scoring single put Los Angeles ahead In the first, but Bell's RBI double tied the score in the third. Los Angeles went back In front in the sixth on Greg Gagne's RBI double, but Houston came back in the bottom half on Orlando Miller's sacrifice fly. '95 DODGE SPIRIT 4 Green, AT, AC, a a 4 Rear Def.

lUf9o(J Mariners 3, White Sox 2 SEATTLE (AP) Sterling Hitchcock won his debut for Seattle and Luis Sojo hit a three-run double last night as the Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2. Hitchcock, acquired in the multi-player trade in December that sent Tino Martinez to the New York Yankees, pitched seven strong innings. The left-hander allowed just four hits, including a two-run homer by Ray Durham in the third. Hitchcock struck out two and walked three. Bobby Ayala and Mike Jackson combined for a scoreless eighth inning.

Norm Charlton pitched the ninth for his first save, retiring Chris Snopek on a grounder with runners on first and second to end the game. White Sox starter Wilson Alvarez pitched seven innings and gave up only three hits. He struck out eight and walked three. i lELi: LQiUJTiliAL ifl I EGEl'QLOuY SKOH I lcUl University Rauch FleldhOUSe (Next to Stabler Arena) cn Csodman Campus Bethleher er VviV Jm April 3 4 WE REBUILD, REPLACE REPAIR VOOO! of NEW Industrial Products: Industrial Supplies Power Tools Material Handling Packaging 5 VISIT WILL CLEAN SUMP AND 9 ROAD TEST YOUR CM Hydraulic Pneumatic Safety Equipment THE BRIDGE" to ATLANTIC CITY EVEBYDAY for ONLY $15 pp By Joining The "BRIDGE CLUB" Highest Bonus in Atlantic City (Up to $27.50 Same Day Coin) Choice of Casinos REPLACC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND PAN GASKET ADJUST BANDS AND LINKAGE Equipment. And much, much more REMOVE FAN FREE TECHNICAL SEMIMARS DAILY Wt only do th work nad Tti Ktwem cost you! I SHOW HOURS: WE9 THURS.

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