The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 9

PORT EVENING SUN SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1983 PAGE 9 1 him i i ii mmmmmmmgi i. A Vikes are litmus test for Coifs "A i -4' i 4 i 1 'J I 4 1 WJCT jt urn 1 1 IP gall mm ir Wins again, to rejoin club By Jim Henneman Evening Sun Staff CHICAGO Jim Palmer apparently has completed his rehabilitation program and will rejoin the Orioles tomorrow night in Texas. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched eight easy innings, throwing 95 pitches, in Hagerstown last night as the Suns beat a Class A rival, the Winston-Salem Red Sox, 7-5. He allowed eight hits and four runs, one of them unearned. Three of the hits were solo home runs over the short (340 feet) right-center-field fence.

After his performance, which attracted a crowd of 8,944 (1,000 more than the San Diego Chicken pulled earlier in the year), Palmer said he felt "very good." He is scheduled for a visit to his doctor today and then will fly to Dallas, where the Orioles head after completing a four-game series against the White Sox here tomorrow. However, Palmer will not be activated until the team returns home next weekend. He will work out with the club under the guidance of pitching coach Ray Miller, and his first start in two months could come in one game of Friday night's double-header against Kansas City. The report from Hagerstown was that Palmer threw with better velocity than his other appearance with the Suns last Sunday, when he worked six innings. Bill Swaggerty, activated today after his purchase from Rochester, will make his first major league appearance tonight (8:35, WFBR radio) as the Orioles face White Sox left-hander Jerry Koosman in the third game of the series.

Scott McGregor (14-5) faces Richard Dotson (12-6) in the final game of the year between the two clubs tomorrow afternoon (2:15, WMAR-TV, WFBR). The Orioles' week-long hitting slump is emphasized by some individual performances, a few of which extend over a longer period. Rich Dauer, who was not in the starting lineup for the second straight night even though Lenn Sakata, his replacement, went into the game with an .015 lifetime average (l-for-68) against the White Sox, is 0-for-15 in his last five games. After a prolonged hot streak, Jim Dwyer had gone 0-for-ll before getting a single in the first inning last night. And John Lowenstein, who had two singles and a walk his first three at-bats, has gone without a home run since June 8 and has only four runs batted in over the last two months, spanning 29 games.

Associated Press Umpire Ted Hendry has heard enough and sends Oriole Manager Joe Altobelli for an early shower. Birds dump Rodriguez, not slump By Ken Murray Evening Sun Sports Having disposed of the hapless Houston Oilers nine days ago, the Colts wade into the more challenging phase of the preseason tonight when they call on the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Kickoff is 8:30 local time. The game will be televised by Ch.

2 and broadcast on radio by WCBM-AM, which begins its coverage at 7 p.m. The second stop on the preseason tour promises to provide Colt Coach Frank Rush with a better measure of the Colts' training camp progress. They had their way in a 15-0 victory over Houston last week when they outgained the Oilers 371 yards to 109. Against the grizzled Vikings, who have made the playoffs eight of the last 10 years, it doesn't figure to be that easy. Just ask offensive line coach Hal Hunter, who has vivid recollection of last December's 13-10 loss to the Vikes in the regular season.

"I'm looking forward to this game because last year their defensive front people really stuffed us," he said. "We scored 10 points but we were really fortunate it was as close as 13-10 as far as the offensive line play was concerned. "I'm anxious to see if our young people can move the ball against Minnesota as well as they did against Houston. The Vikings have as good a group of linebackers as anybody in the league. If we can rush for 150, 160 yards, I'll really be happy with our young people." Against Minnesota's four-man front, Hunter's chief interests tonight will include the development of Ben Utt at right guard.

If Ken Huff's three-week holdout continues and if the Colts don't make a trade for a veteran guard, Utt will be the man on the spot in the remodeled line. "Ben could make 20 of the 28 NFL teams," Hunter said, "but he may not make them as a starter. He knows that. If we had New England's John Hannah or Huff come in, he'd be a backup. But Ben is the hardest worker on the offensive line for kilowatt hours to make up for a lack of talent." Kush plans te make relatively few lineup changes for this game, and most of those are in the interest of finding out more about his personnel.

On offense, he'll start Mark Herrmann at quarterback instead of Mike Pagel. Herrmann is scheduled' to play the first half and Pagel the second. On defense, either Steve Parker or Quinton Ballard will start at right end in place of Fletcher Jenkins, and Cliff Odom will open at left inside linebacker in place of Johnie Cooks. Rush's problem, such as it is, will be to give the first units enough work to improve cohesive-ness and timing, and yet still give a look to all the borderline roster cases and aspiring rookies. toward that end, Rush plans to use fourth-round draft choice Phil Smith and second-year man Bernard Henry more at wide receiver.

Free agent wide receiver James Bennett will make his roster bid on the special teams by handling punts returns. On defense, Kush will give defensive linemen Donnell Thompson and Leo Wisniewski only limited playing time. In addition to Parker and Ballard, Kush also wants to watch Chris Lindstrom at left end and Ernie Barnes and Jamie Giles at nose tackle. What Kush would like especially to see on defense is more of what he saw against the Oilers, when the Colts registered eight sacks, three of them by rookie linebacker Vernon Maxwell. And another victory wouldn't be hard to take, either.

"A win to us," Kush said, "always means a great deal." NOTES The Vikings launched their preseason schedule with a 28-10 triumph over St. Louis in Wembley Stadium, London, England, last week. Quarterback Tommy Kramer hit 13 of 19 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and Steve Dils hit 7 of 16 for 89 Minnesota tight end Joe Senser had knee surgery Aug. 1 and won't play The Vikes added defensive back Joey Browner and linebackers Walker Lee Ashley and Mark Stewart in the draft to strengthen their pass defense. Sulky driver dead at 41 By Jim Henneman Evening Sun Staff CHICAGO It was not a good night for the Orioles, their manager or their third baseman.

It was an especially bad night Manager Joe Altobelli got thrown out of the game, meaning he missed a first-hand account of the last inning. The Orioles lost another game, which doesn't exactly fall under the heading of news since they've done it seven straight times now, and Todd Cruz played the leading role in the outcome. They'll all be back for another try tonight, for whatever it's worth, but not Aurelio Rodriguez. He lost his job when the Orioles, who aren't hitting hard enough to warrant an assault charge, decided they needed an extra pitcher rather than an extra spectator. For Rodriguez, the gentlemanly veteran who logged only 67 at-bats in 45 games, the move wasn't a total shock.

"I never really played," he said more as a statement of fact than a complaint, "so what can you do? Maybe if they'd given me the job third base and said 'it's yours' things might have been different. But who knows? That's the way it goes." The Orioles have given the 35-year-old Rodriguez the option of reporting to Rochester, from where he could be recalled any time after 10 days, or taking his unconditional release and he will wait until Monday before making a decision, after contacting other major league clubs to see if there is any interest. As far as last night's 2-1 loss to the White Sox was concerned, it was a night of grumbling for the Orioles, who have been jawing with home plate umpires throughout their seven-game losing streak. Last night Ted Hendry was the one on the receiving end of the complaints as the Orioles struck out nine times, running their total for the last three games to 31, which would be high even in Little League. How much of the complaining is legitimate and last night there were a couple of calls to back up their contention and how much is frustration on the Orioles' part is subject to debate.

But one thing is certain this is a club in the throes of a deep slump, badly in need of a boost. If they get one tonight it most likely will have to come from an unexpected source, because Bill Swaggerty will be making his major league debut as Storm Davis' replacement in the starting rotation. Last night's game was decided in the fifth inning, when the Orioles scored their lone run and the White Sox countered with two, set up by Cruz' error when the third baseman dropped a throw from catcher Joe Nolan on what seemed to be a routine force play at third base. Moments later, what proved to be the winning run was hotly disputed by Nolan, who claimed he made the tag on Scott Fletcher after Carlton Fisk's fly to short left field. That argument, which also involved Altobelli, merely fueled the Orioles for their later beefs with Hendry over his strike calls, particularly a called third one on Jim Dwyer in the eighth inning.

The big loser on the night was Mike Flanagan, who pitched superbly for six innings only to lose his second straight since coming off the disabled list. "The last time I pitched, I held back a little bit. I was somewhat tentative," said the left-hander, "but this time I decided to let it all out, and see what happened." After four relatively easy innings, Flanagan's only problem developed immediately after a walk to John Lowenstein and a By J.Pat Carter-Evening Sun Staff DECISION TIME FOR AURELIO RODRIGUEZ Oriole veteran can report to Rochester or be released double by Ken Singleton had given the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Lamarr Hoyt (15-10), now the winningest pitcher in the major leagues. Vance Law drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Fletcher's single. Julio Cruz then dropped a bunt no more than a foot in front of home plate and Nolan had an easy play at third, or so it seemed, and possibly even a double play.

But Todd Cruz, Julio's former teammate at Seattle who is still learning his new position, was caught too far off the base and was backpeddling and searching for the base while trying to catch the ball. He found the base, but lost the ball, leaving the bases loaded. Dave Stegman, playing his first game after being summoned from Denver by the White Sox, lofted a sacrifice fly to right field, with Fletcher going to third. Fisk then followed with a very shallow fly down the left line that Lowenstein caught. His throw was wide to the foul side and Nolan had to go after the ball and then dive at the leaping Fletcher.

Hendry said no tag, Nolan leaped in the air furiously and was quickly joined by Altobelli. "He was out," Flanagan said calmly. "I had the perfect position and I could hear the tag. But what do you do? You either go crazy yelling, or you go back after them. I haven't seen a decision changed yet.

I think a lot of it the numerous arguments is the frustration coming out. You have to let loose somehow." At the moment, that's about the only way the Orioles are letting loose. They're struggling, can't catch a break and are convinced they haven't gotten a call in a week. That's the way it goes on a downer. The amazing thing is that, even though the seven straight losses have dropped them to fourth place, the Orioles are still only one game out of first.

Milwaukee and Detroit share the top spot, with the Yankees a half game behind, and the Toronto Blue Jays just 1 li games behind the Orioles. LAUREL (AP) Veteran trainer-driver Wayne Smullin, Maryland's winningest harness rider in 1983, died last night of injuries suffered in a three-horse pile-up at Frees-tate Raceway the day before. Doctors at the Prince George's County Hospital Shock Trauma Unit said Smullin, 41, died late last evening. The perennial harness racing victory leader had been kept alive by life support systems for most of the day. Smullin, who earlier this year posted his career victory, suffered severe head and chest injuries in the accident in Thursday's ninth race and never regained conciousness, Freestate Raceway spokesman Ross Klavans said.

According to Klavans, Smullin was driving Sir William in the ninth race when his horse suddenly broke stride near the track's clubhouse. Smullin was pitched from his cart and the horse fell on top of him, setting off the three-horse collision. Smullin posted more than 90 victories this year to lead all Maryland harness drivers despite missing a portion of the season with a broken leg, Klavans said. Here's a vote for the ladies vs. stuffy Mount Olympus As a guy once said, the only thing wrong with amateur sports is they're run by amateurs.

Imagine a bunch of women athletes having to file a lawsuit to force an organiza fans who, no doubt, have had a lot of problems with dive-bombing pigeons in Boston over the years. Don't forget the $30,000 U.S. National Hot Rod Summer Truck and Tractor Pull Cham- pionsnip piays tne rj Phil Jackmaim tion (the International Olympic Committee) to right a wrong that has existed for decades. Of course women can run distances and perform any other track and field event that the men do, and Cap Centre Sept. 16-17.

Ten-four? It wouldn't surprise me if they called the NASL the Beach Boys League next year. The singing group has drawn a couple of crowds in excess of 50,000 when linked with NASL Games and 4 more than 100 full plans this week. It might not have been a bad idea if they cancelled the remainder of the exhibition season and just fed. off the win over Houston. Of course, they've got a long way to go since the total number unloaded to date is still shy of 24,000.

The individual game sale starts Aug. 23 and, no, the John Elway game vs. Denver is nowhere near a sellout. Next time someone hints the men who own baseball teams know what they're doing, remind himher that they got rid of their titular head with no successor in mind, and now will embarrass themselves for months arguing about who will be next in the position. Dave Winfield hitting and killing a seagull with a thrown baseball, which led to his arrest on a cruelty to animals charge following a Yankee-Toronto game the other night, reminds of a scene witnessed several years ago.

It was Fenway Park and, on a throw from right field to third base during a game, Hal Peck felled a pigeon in flight over second base. As the Red Sox rinner slid into third, the ball and bird fell dead at the keystone. Peck wasn't arrested, he was cheered by the Laurie MacGill, former Catonsville High standout, is in the mixed doubles final of the U.S. National Amateur hardcourt championships in New York this weekend. Laurie won amateur satellite tour stops in Norfolk, and in Hawaii this summer Mel Proctor, the voice of the Washington Bullets, will be doing NFL games on the Mutual Broadcasting System this fall.

He draws Jack Hamm as a booth partner One of the collegians on the ABC tour touting the network's schedule of games this fall is Terry Hoage, a defensive back from Georgia carrying a 3.85 grade point average in genetics. "As every student athlete knows," explains Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie, "that's the study of genes: Jordache, Sasson, Calvins." It turns out that an identity crisis was the only problem Joe Don Looney ever had. The former Colt from Oklahoma says, "Life has always been a Catch-22 for me. After all, all I ever wanted to be was God." Onward and upward: Jim Valvano, coach -of the NCAA champion North Carolina State basketball team, commands $4,500 ('plus expenses) per speaking engagement. It wasn't long ago when Valvano, coaching at Johns Hopkins, would spring for the Cokes if you showed up and listened to him expound.

following the latest Blue Jay defeat World amateur champion Floyd Favors of Hillcrest Heights was one of the fighters qualifying at the box-off last weekend in St. Louis for the Pan-Am Games in Caracas If you've got $2,800 burning a hole in your pocket, you might be interested in signing on at one of the adult baseball camps being run by Art Sham-sky this fall. Shamsky's staff will include a bunch of guys from the '69 Miracle Mets and the question is: What could those lucky stiffs possibly show anyone about baseball? -h The Colts continue to do a land office business getting rid of season tickets, selling DAVE WINFIELD JIMVAIVANO and 1Q.K in next year's Olympics in Los Angeles. Presently, the gals jump from a 3-K to a marathon. Stupid.

The Team America soccer team might have been the recipient of the ultimate insult the other night at RFR Stadium. The Cosmos, town for an 8T'clock game, didn't even Vother to come out and warm up before taking the field and going on to win, 2-1. figure to do even better when they concert after the next Cosmos home game There has to be a question of just how much excitement Hall of Famer Joan Marichal's heart can stand. Just days after being inducted into Cooperstown, Big Apple Mayor Koch gave the brilliant pitcher an official New York City tie..