The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 11

Monday, May 24, 1999 5PORT Send comments and tips through e-mail to: sportstampatrib.com PAUL C. SMITH, Senior Editor for Sports, (813) 259-7753 Sports fax, (813) 259-8148 The Tampa Tribune Spurs sweep Lakers UULj-JL1 I I Rookie on a roll Rookie Ryan Rupe dominated the Angels for nine innings, before giving way to Roberto Hernandez, above, who lost it in the 10th: IP ER E3 SO Rupe's 1-hit effort for naught after Angels explode in 10th to win, 4-0 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 9 23 13 0 4 0 Hernandez Aldrcd Who: Rangers at Devil Rays When: 7:05 p.m. Where: Tropicana Field Pitchers: Mark Clark (2-3, 7.58) vs. Rolando Arrojo (2-4, 6.54) TV: WWWB-Channel 32 Radio: WFLA-970 AM, WBDN-760 AM (Spanish) INGLEW00D, Calif. Tim Duncan scores 33 points to lead San Antonio to a 118-107 win and series sweep against the Lakers.

By JOHN NADEL of The Associated Press INGLEW00D, Calif. Tim Duncan remembers when the San Antonio Spurs were a struggling, team. That was less than three months ago. Boy, have things changed. And he's the main reason.

Duncan, who seems to get a little better, every day, had 33 points, 13 rebounds and four assists Sunday to lead the Spurs to a 118-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, completing a four-game sweep of the Western Conference semifinal series. A day earlier, Duncan had 37 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in a 103-91 victory. "I think Tun is phenomenal," said David Robinson, San Antonio's go-to player for years until being supplanted in that role by Duncan early this season. "Obviously, if been a good bal-ance for us. I don't think it slows my leadership.

I still have a great responsibility." While the Spurs are headed for the conference finals for just the fifth time in their history, the overhyped Lakers are suddenly on vacation. Duncan went 11 of 14 from both the field and foul line as the Spurs, who finished the regular season with 31 wins in their final 36 games, raised their playoff record to 7-1. "He's just a heck of a competitor, he plays an all-around game," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Duncan, the first overall selection in the 1997 NBA draft "He really understands how to play, he's just smart" The Spurs broke open a tight game by scoring the first 13 points of the fourth quarter. The Lakers weren't closer than seven points after that "We just kept our composure, ran our offense the way we wanted to and went back and set up our defense," Duncan said. "We defended well, played the pick-and-roll the way we want to play it and just stuck with the game plan." The Lakers, who haven't won a championship since 1988, have the summer to try and figure out what went wrong.

Again. "Basically, it boils down to teamwork," said Lakers forward Glen Rice, who was held to 11 points. "A lot of times there wasn't a lot of teamwork out there. We weren't together. They were together." Reserve Jaren Jackson added 20 points and Avery Johnson had 19 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who went 39 of 54 from the foul line compared to 23 of 36 for the Lakers.

Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers with 36 points and 14 rebounds. This was the final game for the Lakers at the Forum, where they've played their home games since Dec. 31, 1967. ST. PETERSBURG Ryan Rupe tosses nine scoreless innings, but the Angels tag Roberto Hernandez in the 10th.

By JOE HENDERSON of The Tampa Tribune Manager Larry Rothschild said he can handle any second guess; ing that comes with his decision Sunday to remove rookie pitcher Ryan Rupe after nine dominating innings against Anaheim. That's because Rothschild's first guess told him not to take unnecessary risks with someone who shows the stuff of which staff aces are made. "I knew after nine innings I was taking him out," Rothschild said quietly after the Angels scored four times off reliever Roberto Hernandez in the 10th inning to beat the Rays 4-0 before an announced crowd of 22,522 at Tropicana Field. "I know he hadn't thrown a lot of pitches, but it was the first time he had gone nine innings and I'm not going to take a chance with him. If a very difficult decision.

I loved the way he pitched." Rupe could not have been much better. He gave the Angels only a bloop single by Darrin Erstad in his nine innings. Rupe walked none and struck out eight while facing 28 hitters, one over the minimum. He threw 87 pitches, two-thirds for strikes. In just his fourth start for the Devil Rays, Rupe mixed a fastball and slider with a devastating change-up.

He didn't quarrel with Rothschild's decision. "I knew I was coming out after nine," he said. Rupe has a history of arm problems, and Rothschild said it's too early in his career to stretch him out too far. "That's a tough call for any manager," said Anaheim slugger Mo Vaughn, who struck out twice against Rupe but delivered a key "i A I A I single off Hernandez. "Rupe definitely deserved a better fate." He might have had just that had the Rays run the bases better.

Dave Martinez was picked off first by Anaheim's Chuck Finley after walking with one out in the eighth. Martinez started to steal, "then I saw Finley come over to first and it was too late," he said. Then Mike DiFelice struck out but reached first when the third strike bounced away from catcher Charlie O'Brien. Kevin Stacker followed with a double off the left field wall that sent DiFelice charging. He didn't see the stop sign from base coach Greg Riddoch in time as he rounded third, stumbled, and was tagged out "I think I did a couple of backstrokes trying to get back," DiFelice said.

"The base-running in the eighth inning might have cost us the game," Rothschild said. Maybe. But the base-npning blunders couldn't take awlpthe good feelings provided by Rupe. "Confidence-wise, this has to help, but we didn't win the game," Rupe said. "With this team, though, well win this type of game 99 percent of the time." MARK GUSSTribune photo Ryan Rupe handcuffed the Angels for nine Innings, allowing one hit and no runs.

Modern-day Ryan gives Rays hope for future donuts with Angels starter Chuck Finley? And who didn't slump when Darin Erstad's bloop in the seventh ended Rupe's no-hitter? One hit That was it Also, who didn't scream when block-headed Rays base running lost this game in the eighth? Dave Martinez picked off first; Mike DiFelice, lying there like a stuck bison after getting thrown out overrunning third. Who didn't question Rays manager Larry Rothschild lifting Rupe from this scoreless gem after nine? Roberto Hernandez instantly imploded for four runs, each of them a knife between your ribs. You just wanted the kid to win. There were no impartial witnesses. There was just too much Ryan Rupe, too much 24 years old and what could be ahead.

No announcer or scoreboard had to beg Rays fans to make noise. They just made it Here's one noise they made: Ruuuuu-pe. "Thank you," were Ryan Rupe's first words to media complimenting him. The words were spoken softly. He kept saying it was one of those days where the ball always got hit at somebody.

He could have done better. He threw just 87 pitches, 59 far strikes. He faced 28 batters. He threw 28 balls. He See, PageS ST.

PETERSBURG For a couple of hours Sunday afternoon, this felt like a baseball town. And Jose Canseco didn't swing, not once. All it took was a tall Texas kid nobody could hit Name of Ryan. No, not that Ryan. It's Ryan Rupe, 6-5, 230, throws right In his fourth major-league start, six days after his first major-league win, he threw to 28 Anaheim Angels in nine innings, just one more than the minimum, before 22,522 at Tropicana Field, which, sadly, isn't the minimum.

Still, his mom and dad and brother flew in from Houston. That was good enough attendance for Ryan Rupe. But who didn't feel like family as Rupe Sunday's mutts Indiana 89, Philadelphia 86 Pacers win series, 4-0 San Antonio 118, LA. Lakers 107 Spurs win series, 4-0 New York 90, Atlanta 78 Knicks lead series, 3-0 Portland at Utah, late Blazers lead series, 21 MARTIN FENNELLY Columnist Tonight's gams threw and Angels didn't connert? Who didn't cheer with a twang as he matched Atlanta at New York, 8, TBS M015ON 1 71, Sabres win opener despite Hasek's absence 'A Sunday's result st- Buffalo 5, Toronto 4 Sabres lead series, to Tonight's gams Colorado at Dallas, 7:30, ESPN Avalanche lead series, lO myself. It's hard when you haven't played much." Roloson, with not as much help from teammates as he might have liked (the Maple Leafs had nine power plays), got enough in the third period when Curtis Brown broke a 3-3 tie at 5:21 and Geoff Sanderson notched the game-winner with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation.

"It seemed like everything they touched turned to a goal," a disheartened Joseph said. "He Roloson played very good for a guy who hasn't played in a while. I need to make the big save and I See SABRES, Page 9 shots as the Sabres escaped with a 5-4 victory. Hasek practiced Saturday but appeared to be slow, and Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff knew right away what he would do. "I wanted to surprise the Maple Leafs Ruff said of his decision to wait until just before the game to announce Hasek wasn't playing.

"And it worked." The series was supposed to be a battle of two of the best goalies in the world: Hasek and Curtis Joseph of the Maple Leafs. Instead, it was a veritable rookie against Joseph, and it was the 10-year veteran who turned in the shaky TORONTO Dwayne Roloson's first playoff start is a success as Buffalo wins 5-4 in the Eastern Conference final opener. By JOHN KEKIS of The Associated Press Surprise! The Buffalo Sabres are more than goaltender Dominik Hasek, and they proved it Sunday to the Toronto Maple Leafs. With Hasek unable to play because of a chronically injured groin, Dwayne Roloson was given the start in goal for Buffalo in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. It was his first playoff start, and he measured up, stopping 28 I L-Jt game in the tense atmosphere of Air Canada Centre.

"I sort of knew what was happening Saturday night but wasn't sure really until Sunday morning," Roloson said. "I just tried to relax. I went for a short walk with a couple of teammates and tried not to get too far ahead of Xppholo Buffalo defenaeman Jay McKee, left, loses his helmet as he dumps Toronto's Kris King into the bench with a check Sunday..