Independent from Long Beach, California • 23

i -TTv fl -Tl rTl a i i ip Earn 0) inm 11(D)(1MF Mi Rau, 28, coming off a 16-12 season, his best in the majors, a year in which his 2.57 ERA ranked second in the entire National League, was just warming up. "Position by position," he said. "Ill put us right up there with Cincinnati. I just don't see how Cincinnati is a better club than we are. Dodger of Pay BILL RUSSELL dan-bled, siigled twice and drove in twa rau to pace 8-2 victory aver Giants.

"IH stick my neck out and say it: if we don't win it this year, 111 be He had reason for his enthusiasm. For example: Everyone in the starting lineup collected at least, one hit. Dave Lopes, Bin Russell and Ion Cey each had three of the Dodgers' hits. Russell, Reggie Smith and Dusty Baker each drove home two runs. Charlie Hough, in his first relief appearance of 1977.

retired nine Giants in order, the only nine batters he fared, including four on strikeouts. It all added up to the Dodgers' second successive victory of the new season, both over San Francisco, and the fifth time in a row they've flattened the Giants, including a three-game series sweep at the tail end of the 1976 season. "It was a team victory all the way," proclaimed the team 's cheerleader and manager, Tommy Lasorda. Ran agreed. -There's a tremendous feeling on the bench that we're going to score runs," be said.

"We hist know we're going to Ran was impressive in his first start of the season, blanking San Francisco on three hits through four innings, then giving up single runs in the fifth and sixth rounds. When Marc Hill opened the seventh with a double, Hough and his kmicUer arrived from the bull-' pen. i- "CharQe was fantastic," saidW "Heck, I threw too many breaking pitches the first four or. five innings. By the sixth I didn't have a fast baH "I wasn't anywhere near 100 per cent But I'm going to get better the-next time I start" (Continued on Page By Gordon Verntt SUil Writer Doug Rao left Saturday sight's game in the seventh timing, something he's become accustomed to in bis five summers pitching for the Dodgers.

What he wasn't accustomed to is the fact he actually kft the game with a lead-nd a good one. Moreover, the Dodgers maintained the advantage, whipping the San Francisco Giants, 8-2, behind a 14-hit attack before 40.878 Dodger Stadium fans. "I'm telling he bubbled afterward, recalling his four successive starts of a year ago when the. Dodgers failed to score so much as one run for him, "this team can score runs. And you know I'm gonna like that.

"There are no outs tnls lineup. I'd sure hate to be pitching against us." Ex-mate unkind to Halos Weelock finds a team to beat JOHN DIXON Sports Editor ON THE INSIDE GORDON VERRELL analyzes the National League. Page S-l TRACY RJNGOLSBY crystal balls the American League. Page S-2. LOEL SCHRADER gets to know Tom Lasorda, Page S-l RICH ROBERTS talks things over with Gene Autry.

Page S-3. BUD TUCKER discusses possibility bTIFreewerieyia TED TURNER making a name for Page S-3. MAJOR LEAGUE schedules. Page SA. A LOOK back at 1976.

Page S4 THE DAY in baseball. Page SATURDAY SCOREBOARD. Page S-t. SEATTLE After the spring training Gary Wheelock suffered he was beginning, to wonder if he could get anybody out The Angels have removed those Wheelock, selected by Seattle from the Angels in the expansion draft, pitched six innings of one-hit ball Saturday night to earn the (Former) Angel of Day GARY WHEELOCK, an. Angel castoff, surrendered only one run and four hits in six innings of work against his former mates for 5-1 Mariner win.

victory in the Mariners' 5-1 triumph. It was the Mariners second win' in a row over the Angels after dropping the first two games of the LAKERS LOSE in Portland: Page SUND Se UCLA spikers sparkle. Page S-8. a SANTA ANITA rings down curtain today. Page S-10.

ROOKIES to watch. Page 8-U. 1 Ibat Urick lielps Goirapg Mame Horsing around Minnesota Twin second baseman Bob Randall rides the 'shoulders, of Dick Allen of the Oakland A's, who was merely' trying to break up a double play. He didn't Randall got off the throw, doubling up Manny Sanguillen. "It was a tough, defensive game and Atlanta deserves a tot of credit Everybody gave a big effort, tonight Butchie with his three goals and Rogie (Vachon) with the 1 big saves," Pulford said.

itfought'we let the first two goals, but we came 1 Vachon, who' repulsed 25 of Atlanta's 27 shots, said, "We're glad to be going to Boston. If we had lost tonight we would have hadi (Continued Page S4, CoLi) strong now. We have three lines scoring irow and we didn't last year. We have a better power play, too, although Atlanta did a good job stopping it. And our penalty tilling is good the 27-year-old Goring said.

"The hat trick was kind of like king on the cake," Goring beamed. "It was a close one. We worked aO year for the home ice advantage and it really showed its importance tonight," Pulford told a cluster of newsmen. "The fans were-Just-great- They gave is a lift from the start season. Whee lock's only real problem was his right elbow, which tightened up after the sixth inning and forced him to watch the final three frames from the "Itleels awful good to ccc and be able to do this in my.

first start," said Wheelock, who had a 10.28 earned run average in the spring and in his only spring appearance against the yielded nine runs in five innings. 4 "I WAS beginning to wonder if I could getnybody out," said Wheelock, who had 15 wins at Salt Lake last year to lead the Pacific jCoast Leagug. '1 was even beginning to wonder if I would be able to make the major league roster the way things were going." Actually, Wheelock tirould not have made the roster if everything had gone the way Mariner manager Darrell Johnson had hoped. But starters Dick Pole and Frank MacCormack were injured during spring training and placed on the disabled list, making room for the 25-year-old righthander room on the roster. While Wheelock is benefitine from the circumstances, Angel manager Norm Sherry felt his team was the victim of circum- stances.

(Continued Page Col. 4) I SPORTS I 1 ox? R-AnioLf-A. By AI Larson Staff Writer The sign told it all: "Adios Atlanta. Give Us Boston." With Butch Goring scoring three goals and Marcel Dknne adding a solo tally, the Kings sent the Atlanta Flames tumbling out of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second year in a row. Before a frenzied turnaway crowd of 16,005, coach Bob Put-ford's skaters doused the Flames, 4-2rSaturday night the Fojnm in.

the third and deciding game of the opening round of the NHL playoffs. "It was big men against-little men and this time the little men won," Goring said in the Kings' dressing quarters. "We worked the whole season for the home ice advantage and fortunately we had it and it paid off. We worked hard and deserved the game. We played better than they did," Goring added.

"We're looking forward to meeting Boston again," the popular 4-9 centerman sail "They beat us in seven games last year. We're IJe. nnslettall Lakers' vs. Seattle, Vwnf MHko. Ch.

bjis, a p. m. rie raring Santa Anita feature riWB Eariand, Ch A Tennis Tunny Canon vs. lie nee, RUlMf KNBC Ml, MM. wka U.S.

CkaBpioaiaips, KABC SPORTS IjljB CALBNDAJR, m'cil-The Masters. EOT lp.n. fasVkafl Angels vs. Seattle. ITU (SLllOB.ni.

he saiketkal Lakers n. Seattle, VMe WerM el averts Maieooera- taC table teeais aid desert racni. Seeeer DanieU Field (San Pedro). Ham. Baseball Dodgers vs.

San Francisco, Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m. Horse raetag Thoroughbreds, Santa Anita, 1:30 p.m. Ante racing- Figure 8, aval and street stocks, Ascot Park, 7.p.m. UBCl7I.S:S0p.m. KANO lateeaD Dodgers vs.

San Fan-risM. KABC I p-OLi Aasels vs. Seattle, K2PC.1 Nicklaus tabs 'Gentle Ben9 leaders Cremshaw Watson CO' power and pride of the youth move-' 'twice here, hasht been worse than fourth in six years and holds a record 14 major professional cham- i didnt play nearly as wen as collapses that have cost him titles in his last two starts. Crenshaw, apprised of Nicklaus' comment that he should win several Masters, had but one com ment: "I hope 1 start tomorrow. I feel like I have the capacity to win this tournament.

It's a good golf course Then be "It's a good Bob Green AKGetf Writer -AUGUSTA, Nick-lam, who has played Augusta National Golf course better than any ether person in the 41-year history oflhe Masters, strongly suggested thft dynamic Ben Crenshaw is the man to beat in today's final "Crenshaw piays a little bit like Tysed to." said the first two days, but I putted a lot better," be saii "That's encourag- ing going into the last round. I think I can get to hitting the baO -well pgain and if I can keep the putter going I've got a chance to do Jim Colbertr- wbo had a 69 in the sunny, warm spring weather. The group at 213. only four course for a lot of folks." mscn in ine cnase lor us mm ment that has swept the tour this season, muscled his way to a Retailing to the ball ia flight, twisting his stocky frame in body Engligh, dancing in delight when a go-ahead putt dropped, visibly agonizing when another putt missed. The they call "Gentle Ben' and the red-haired, freckle faced Watson, winner of two 'titles and leading the money list with $135,000 this season, snare a one-shot advantage over Rik Massen- 5 ale going into the final round of ic first of the year's four major tournaments.

Massengale bolted into his high position with a five-under par 17 that put him at 210. Nicklaus shook off his putting woes with a 89 that left him very much in contention at 211 It was pretty much a reverse from the first couple of days," said Nicklaus, who has finished second fatson started the day in a tie for the lead, appeared to be falter hi ism r.y'?l. 4 Masters bUe. "He overpowers a trf Coif courses. He should win this totfrnament several times This is a goigd course for him." iTom Watson, tied with Cren-shgw for the lead a kss-tban-conv; foriahle three strokes in front of Nicklaus.

disagreed. The maa he hat to'beat he said, ll himself the big person I have to said Watson, an obvious reference to the last-round strokes back and very much in the race for the famed green jacket that goes to the winner, included Hubert Greet; South African veteran Gary Player, Tom Kite and 44-year-old Fjmseth, Bo shared the second round lead wilh Watson. ing, once dropping two shots back, -and then, rammed in a birdie putt on the final hole that put him in a tie with thegs-vear-old Crenshaw, Watson'sownhuL five-foot effort on the two-tiered 18th green finished off a round of 70 and gave him a three-round total of 209, seven under the grudging par on the famed Augusta course. Crenshaw, who typifies the Buying the; enp en Crenshaw tt feceril puUs bum edge of cup but jail tolflrop for birdies Saturday. Popular pro shares lead with.Tam Watson heading intotoday's final Rasters roucd irAugusta, Ca.

r.r:: swm (Continued Page S4, Col t);.