The Press Democrat from Santa Rosa, California • 29

C3 BASEBALL Whitt leads Blue Jays on a hit parade THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1088 7 rsli sen jjhf1 Texas Rangers first baseman Pete O'Brien can quite reach afoul ball inning of Thursday's game at Anaheim. Associated Press There has been a lot of talk this year about tearing down Tiger Stadium to build a new, more modern place to play baseball. Ernie Whitt hopes it never happens. Whitt, a Detroit native, had four hits and four RBI Thursday night to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 13-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. "I hope they never tear this place down," said Whitt, who makes his off-season home in Mount Clemens, a Detroit suburb.

"I really enjoy hitting here. They've got a good background to see the ball." Whitt had two singles, a two-run triple and a two-run homer to lead a 15-hit attack that helped Toronto build a 13-0 lead before the Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Jays' 13-run outburst came on the heels of a 15-3 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday. "We're In a good groove right now," Whitt said. "The hitting is good, but the big thing Is that we've been getting some pitching." Mike Flanagan, 6-4, went eight innings for his longest outing of the season.

He allowed five hits, six walks and struck out seven before being removed in the ninth after walking the first two batters. "I felt I had my rhythm for the first time in a long time, but I'm frustrated with the walks," Flanagan said. "That's not like my track record. I want to make them earn it, and to walk the first two batters in the ninth Is against everything I try to do." The Jays opened the scoring on a strange play that saw Tony Fernandez circle the bases after his swinging bunt on the first pitch of the game led to three Tiger errors. Fernandez, who had three hits, reached first with the bunt single and was able to score after third baseman Tom Brookens threw wildly to first base and right fielder Chet Lemon bobbled the ball in foul territory before throwing wildly to Brookens at third.

"I've never seen that before," said Detroit manager Sparky Anderson. The Jays made it 3-0 in the second on Nelson Liriano's two-run double to right, and they hiked the lead to 7-0 in the third, when Whitt hit a two-run triple over Tiger center fielder Gary Pettis and scored on a wild pitch. Toronto added two more in the sixth on an RBI single by Lloyd Moseby and a throwing error by Pettis. The Blue Jays made it 13-0 in the ninth on a run-scoring triple by Kelly Gruber and a two-run homer by Whitt off the facing of the upper deck in right field. It was Whitt's third homer of the season and the first time this AMERICAN LEAGUE season he's had four hits or four RBI.

Fernandez had three hits. "We're going to score runs, but pitching is still the big thing," Toronto manager Jimy Williams said. "We haven't been consistent this year with hitting, pitching and defense. Put those three together like we did tonight and you're going to win some ballgames." Jack Morris, 6-8, allowed six hits, six earned runs and three walks before leaving with two outs in the third, his earliest exit of the season. He threw 72 pitches to 16 batters.

The Tigers, who entered the game as the major leagues' best defensive team with only 30 errors, finished with five miscues. Orioles 8, Red Sox 4 At Baltimore, Cal Ripken's two-run double and Jim Traber's run-scoring highlighted a three-run fifth inning as Baltimore defeated Boston. Traber had three hits and three RBI. Baltimore batters walked 10 times. Marty Barrett stole home in the fourth inning to give Boston a 1-0 lead.

It was the first time a Red Sox player had stolen home since Gary Allenson did it in 1980 as part of a double steal, and the first straight steal of home since Tommy Harpef on May 28, 1973. Jeff Ballard, 3-3, allowed seven hits in seven innings. Mark Williamson relieved after Spike Owen's leadoff double in the eighth and earned his first save. Angels 3, Rangers 0 At Anaheim, Kirk McCaskill pitched a three-hitter as California blanked Texas. McCaskill, 3-5, earned his first victory since May 8 and pitched his first shutout since April 15, 1987.

He walked three and struck out 10, The Rangers' only hits were singles by Ruben Sierra in the first inning, Steve Buechele in the fifth and Pete Incaviglia in the ninth. The victory was only the Angels seventh in 18 games since May 28. Five of the wins have been shutouts. White Sox 3, Brewers 1 At Milwaukee, Jerry Reuss allowed six hits in seven innings for his fourth consecutive victory as" Chicago defeated Milwaukee to end the Brewers' four-game winning streak. The White Sox took advantage ojj four Milwaukee errors, including three by second baseman Juan.

Castillo. Reuss, 6-2, walked one and struck out three to earn his 204LU! career victory. NATIONAL LEAGUE Injury Associated Press Mike Scott's eighth victory was marred Thursday night by his first pulled muscle. Scott allowed five hits in 7 innings before straining his left hamstring while throwing a pitch, forcing him to leave the game. Houston relievers Juan Agosto and Dave Smith survived a late Cincinnati rally to preserve a 7-4 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.

Scott, 8-2, said he's never had a severe muscle pull, so he's not sure how much it will affect his pitching. He was scheduled to be examined again today. "It happened on the last pitch. I don't know what happened," he said. "I can't bend over or stretch it.

I don't know; I've never pulled anything before." Until then, he was coasting along courtesy of Glenn Davis, who hit two two-run homers to win a long-ball contest with Cincinnati's Eric Davis. Agosto came on to get the last out in the eighth, but Eric Davis hit his Magnusson is released from Olympic team second struck out six to pass teammate Nolan Ryan for the National League lead with 102. Braves 9, Dodgers 2 At Atlanta, Ken Oberkfell went 4 for 5 and drove in three runs to lead an 18-hit attack as Atlanta defeated Los Angeles to snap a five-game losing streak. The Atlanta offense helped Zane Smith, 3-3, gain his first victory since May 2 and end his string of five consecutive no-decision outings. Smith also had two hits and scored twice.

Smith gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out two in seven innings. Juan Eichelberger and Paul Assenmacher finished up. The Braves took a 3-1 lead in the second with five hits off Ken Howell, 0-1, who was making his first start in the majors since undergoing shoulder surgery last October. Ozzie Virgil had an RBI double in the second, and Ron Gant and Oberkfell hit run-scoring singles. Witouski, a senior at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio; Mark Zeratsky, a senior at Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa; and Ed Beuerlein, a junior at Louisiana Tech.

Also cut were infielder Dave Hajek, a junior at California State Polytechnic University; outfielder Jim Buccheri, a sophomore at Golden West Community College of California; and outfielder John Wright, a junior at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. The next cuts from the tryouts were set for Saturday. Royals' make an even better mark? NOTES: Luis Polonia, just called up from Tacoma, made his first start in left field and went 1 for 5. He also made two weak throws to the plate that twice allowed Royal runners to advance to secona ana tnira. -Young lasted only 4 innings, his shortest stint since his first start against Seattle on April 6.

Shortstop Wait Weiss' batting average (.253) has surpassed that of McGwire Next for the A's is a three-game series with Texas starting Friday at the Coliseum. The A's scheduled starters are Dave Stewart, Storm Davis and Bob Welch. X-rays of Brett's injured right hand (he was hit by a Welch pitch in Wednesday's game) revealed only a bruise. His status is day-to-day. Oddly, it was the first game Brett, who has rarely escaped the DL in recent years, has missed this season.

Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Orlando Cepeda, Dick Allen and Reggie Smith are among the former sluggers expected to take part in an Equitable Old-Timers game prior to Sunday's A's-Texas Rangers game at the Coliseum. The game will have a special home run format with American League and National League pitchers throwing to their own teammates. Runs scored via home runs will count double. Former A's players on the A.L. roster include Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Billy North and pitcher Blue Moon Odom.

Other Giants on hand will be Bobby Bonds, Dick Dietz, John Monte-fusco and Gaylord Perry. Managers are Hall of Famers Bobby Doerr for the A.L. and Eddie Mathews for the NX. hit by Angels catcher Bob Boone in the l-for-22 slump in the past week. "I can't explain it," Davis said.

"I've hit some balls hard here and there. Sometimes those things happen. I've still been able to drive some, runs in and contribute, regardless if I'm not getting some hits." Davis hit a high fastball and a high slider for his two homers, the only runs off Soto. The right-hander has had little margin for error this season the Reds have scored only one run or been shut out in four of his seven losses. "I'm running into hard luck," Soto said.

"Everything is going against me right now. It's a tough time right now." Scott made few mistakes until his injury. He has won his last two starts, including a one-hitter last Sunday against Atlanta when Ken Oberkfell singled with two out in the ninth. The right-hander lost his shutout in the sixth Inning Thursday when Kal Daniels doubled with two out and Davis hit his 10th homer. Scott or Sunday to join the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league team in Great Falls, Mont.

The reductions left 34 players in the team's training camp, and coach Mark Marquess of Stanford University said the roster would be down to 25 by June 22, when the team is scheduled to leave for a five-game series in Japan. The roster must be cut to 20 by Sept. 19 when Olympic competition gets under way in Seoul, South Korea. Catchers sent home from the tryouts included Magnusson; Drew sent him sprawling on the mound. "When we were 12-13 games out I'm not sure we were looking forward to playing them (the A's)," said Gubicza.

"They beat us pretty good last year. Realistically we'd have been happy to win two of three." It was the first of the three games at the Coliseum the Royals unloaded on the A's pitching staff, but it was the same old story line for the A's offense. "I think the big key would be if we could score some runs early," said Lansford. "You don't want to panic. But you have to push.

You hate to build up a lead like that and then wind up getting tied by somebody." For his part, La Russa is staying calm and collected in the face of the A's worst spell of the season. He believes a full season is really nothing but streaks, whether it's McGwire hitting or not hitting or the other guys (in this case the Royals and Minnesota) riding a big wave, "Baseball is basics. He (McGwire) came off the road trip seeing the ball better and taking better swings. But the pitchers threw well no team has ever won 130 games. The better clubs play good for longer.

We'll see the mark we make after 1 62 games." The trouble now is: will the 5 Goodyear EAGLE GT 19570HR-14 98.95 20570HR-14 99.95 19560R-15 99.95 20560R-15 105.95 21565R-15 99.95 119.95 EAGLE VR Radial 22560VR-15 179.95 22550VR-15 189.95 24550VR-15 199.95 GLASS BELTED WHITEWALLS 28.95 17580-13 29.95 18575-14 30.95 19575-14 32.95 20575-14 34.95 36.95 22575-15 38.95 23575-15 40.95 STEEL RADIAL Reg. 205-75-15 38.95 185-80-13 34.95... 35.95 195-75-14 36.95 205-75-14 37.95 225-75-14 215-75-15 225-75-15 39.95 second homer of the game leading off the ninth, and Bo Diaz got an infield single with two out to bring on Smith. Smith gave up a single to Jeff Treadway and walked Terry McGriff on four pitches to load the bases for Barry Larkin, who hit into a forceout to end the game and give Smith his 12th save. Glenn Davis hit both his homers off Mario Soto, 3-7, who has lost his last five starts.

Soto gave up six hits and two walks in five innings. The four RBI moved Davis into a tie with Pittsburgh's Bobby Bonilla for the NL lead with 52. He has 15 homers, one shy of the league lead by the Giants Will Clark and Montreal's Andres Galarraga. Davis has just four hits in his last 34 at-bats, but all four have been homers. His first homer on Thursday snapped an 0-for-7 streak and a they cut five (four) of them," Magnusson said.

"The competition was definitely there. Six of the catchers were Division I players." Magnusson said the tryouts consisted of intrasquad games in the morning and evening, and everybody was given an opportunity to show what he could do. "I couldn't complain," he said. "I got to play as much as anyone. I hit the ball really well, so I have no'v regrets." Magnusson won't waste any time getting into a baseball uniform again.

He'll fly out either Saturday it doesn't much matter who's pitching against the A's. "I feel sorry for the team that we come out of this against," said Lansford. "This is a tough stretch for the whole team. I think everyone is trying a little too hard." Hitting is not the only area in which the A's are coming up short these days. Willie Wilson tripled and scored the first run of the game in the fourth, a ball that center fielder Stan Javier appeared to have a legitimate shot at catching.

It drifted over his head, landing at the base of the fence. He scored on the first of Tabler's three hits and White singled in another run in the inning of A's starter and loser Curt Young (4-3). Dave Parker had two of the A's hits, and scored along with Terry Steinbach in the fifth when Javier's grounder rolled between Tabler's legs at first. A four-run Royals eighth against A's pitchers Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk and Dennis Eckersley, however, put the game out of reach and had Canseco and Lansford (he pinch-hit in the seventh) bunting for hits in the ninth. "I had a good sinking fastball and the slider came along as the game progressed," said Gubicza (9-5), who had a no-hitter until Parker's single up the middle in the fifth WHITEWALL all season 51.95 49.95 46.95 50.95 51.95 59.95 52.95 54.95 235-75-15 44 95 56.95 RV AND TRUCK TIRES MUD SNOW 10x15 69.95, 11x15 79.95 12x15 84.95 7001 53.95 750-16 67.95 H78-15 64.95 67.95 950-165 74.95 99.95 Staff and wire reports MILLINGTON, Term.

Santa Rosa Junior College's Brett Magnusson was one of four catchers among the eight players released Thursday in the first round of cuts 1 S. I I ,1 Dy me u.a. uiympic uuseuuu team. i ne iormer sonoma tugn acnooi slugger was one of only six junior college players in the nation invited to the tryouts after being named co-Most Valuable Player in the Paminn Nnrte fnnferenre. He hit A23 with nine home runs and 42 RBI.

"They had nine catchers and A's Continued from Page Cl scored three unearned runs in the fifth to cut the Royals' lead to 4-3. But Frank White, the first batter in the Kansas City sixth, tagged Gene Nelson for a home run to start the inning. White, though, attributes superior pitching for the Royals' hot strciK "It (the win streak) is what happens when you get good pitching," he said. "Our pitchers are making good pitches on their big guys and keeping the ball in the ballpark:" In the six games with the Royals, the A's have scored just 10 runs and 1 only six earned runs." A's first baseman Mark McGwire went hitless in nine at-bats in the series, and Jose Canseco, among the league's RBI leaders, had two hits, one a bunt single in the ninth on Thursday. "I'm not going to say we're a better team," said Wellman, hitting .222 at the start of the game in a part-time role.

"But we beat them six out of six, and I know they're looking over their shoulders." Lansford, who has seen his average drop from .402 to .365, and who didn't start Thursday's game, said MICHELIN ORDUNLOP IMPORT STEEL RADIAL STEEL RADIALS I55-12 20.95 155-12 145-13 155-13 165-13 175-14 185-14 165-15 17570-13 18570-13 18570-14 19570-14 39 95 40.95 42.95 45 95 53 95 56 95 51.95 55 95 58.95 60.95 69.95 145-13 22.95 165-70-139-95 155SB-13-3. 25.95 16513SR. 27.95 175-13 30.95 165-14 32.95 195-70-14 .34.95 175-14 30.95 185-14 33.95 ALL DUNLOPS REDUCED GT QUALIFIER -SP-4 Radial Rover -Mudrover Sensor- Elite -Questor TRUCK STEEL RADIALS 30X9.50R15..........6C 82.95 31X10.50R15 6C 87.95 31X11.50R15. 6C 88.95 33X12.50R15. 6C 99.95 875XR16.5 80 87.95 950XR16.5 8D 94.95 65.

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