The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 14

B2 The Ottawa Citizen, Monday, June 17, 1996 Sportsmonday BASEBALL Former RM Hen helps ILyinx tirioooiniplhi over Toledo A i 1 xx 4 fit it -it'; i He lives in Sarasota during the offseason, and his son, Shane, plays baseball at the high school. Mackanin also knew Lukachyk as someone who played for him in 1994, at Double-A Bowie, Maryland. That year, Lukachyk batted .288 and stole 33 bases. So, when Expos director of player development Bill Geivett asked if Mackanin knew any left-handed hitters who could play first base and the outfield, Mackanin suggested Lukachyk, who was signed, sent briefly to Double-A Harrisburg and promoted to the Lynx after the May 30 exhibition game against the Expos. He has been swinging a hot bat since, hitting safely in 11 of his past 12 games and batting close to .400.

"I know it's an old statement, that you don't know what fun you're having until it's gone, but just being home for a whole month gave me a new perspective," Lukachyk said. "It hurt, really hurt, to be cut, but I'm just trying to go out now and have fun every day It's like when you were a kid playing baseball. I don't put any pressure on myself. I'm just trying to be a 27-year-old kid again." The spark Lukachyk has given the Lynx offence was something Mud Hens manager Tom Runnells saw coming. "We didn't want to lose (Lukachyk)," Runnells said.

"We knew what he could do, but the numbers just didn't work out. He hustles, he works hard and he swings the bat well. He's playing well right now and I'm happy for him." So is Mackanin. "Here's a guy sitting at home doing nothing," he said. "I just feel fortunate we were able to steal him away from everyone else.

"I'd love to see him make the majors this year. Now wouldn't that be a sto- 'tC i SAFE: Mud Hens first baseman Kevin Baez makes the catch in an against Lynx runner James Buccheri on Sunday ry tawa Stadium at 9:30 a.m. Alex Agosti-Sure would. no, the Expos' Eastern Canada scout, Missing Lynx: The Montreal Expos will conduct the tryout. Players must will hold an open tryout camp Thurs- provide all their own equipment ex-day for players between the ages of 16 cept baseballs Catcher Raul Chavez, and 21.

Registration will begin at Ot- out since April 17 because of a wrist in Outfielder provides winning margin with two-run triple Lynx 5, Mud Hens 2 By Allen Panzeri Citizen baseball writer The story line behind Rob Lukachyk's heroics for the Ottawa Lynx on Sunday afternoon is an oft-re-! peated one in sports: I Baseball player gets cut by one team. I Baseball player signs with another team. Baseball player returns to beat old team. I That's what Lukachyk did to the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers I farm team that cut him after spring training. He had a two-run triple in the eighth inning to provide the winning margin in a 5-2 victory for the Ottawa Lynx.

The win, before 8,443 fans at Ottawa Stadium, was the first for the Lynx against the Mud Hens (35-32) in 10 tries this year and 12 ties over two seasons. Not to be lost in this win were clutch i performances of outfielder Yamil Ben- itez and starting pitcher Tavo Alvarez, both making strong cases for promo-j tions to the parent Montreal Expos. Benitez hit a two-run homer in the I seventh inning to tie the game, his team-leading 15th of the year, and a run-scoring double in the eighth to seal the win. Alvarez pitched his second straight strong game for the Lynx (27-) 37), giving up 11 hits, but allowing only i one earned run. When he was released in April, Lukachyk, 27, returned home to Sara- sota, Florida.

He began helping out as an unpaid assistant with the Sarasota i High School baseball team. Enter Lynx manager Pete Mackanin. Mystery man mesmerizes Expos batters Reds 7, Expos CINCINNATI (AP) They didn't know his name or his history All the 3 Montreal Expos knew was that Roger Salkeld or whatever he's called did a number on them, Salkeld pitched a four-hitter for his i first career shutout Sunday, a 7-0 victo- ry that ended the Cincinnati Reds' six- game losing streak against the Expos. Salkeld (3-1) allowed just two singles and two doubles. The right-hander walked one, hit a batter and struck out five in his first complete game in 22 major-league starts.

3 "Today I faced a really tough battler," 3 Expos starter Rheal Cormier (3-4) said. "Salkafeel, I think his name is, pitched a real good game." "He's somebody we don't know well," Montreal manager Felipe Alou said. "I think we know him better. We i didn't even come close to doing any- thing." 3 The Expos had little reason to know him. Salkeld hasn't done much since i reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder in 1992, going 2-5 in 16 games with Seattle in two seasons.

The Reds got him in the trade for Tim Belcher last year, and he spent the season in the minors. He has emerged as the Reds' fifth starter this season i and had been impressive in his last four starts, giving up five runs and 21 hits in 36 innings for a 1.25 ERA. "The last four starts, he's been our best pitcher hands-down, without ex-i ception," manager Ray Knight said, i Salkeld was able to settle in after the scored three in the first inning off Cormier, who has had first-inning Schott remains low key during visit to ballpark i ft Pat McGrath, Citizen unsuccessful pick-off attempt jury, was taken off the disabled list. To make room, designated hitter Julian Yan was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a sore arm Yamil Benitez was named Lynx player of the month for May accompanied by employees. Some fans, mostly children, asked for her autograph.

As she left the stadium flanked by employees, Schott did not pause when she saw reporters. Jody Pettyjohn, the director of stadium operations, extended her arm and said, "No questions." There have been a lot of changes in the few days Schott has been gone. Controller John Allen, who is running the team for up to 60 days while a long-term CEO is sought, has introduced numerous promotions to try to win back fans. The Reds have the third-largest attendance drop in the National League this season. Schott does not believe in advertising or marketing, and had repeatedly rejected suggestions for various promotions.

On Friday Allen had a Dixieland band at the stadium and had more upbeat music played on the public address system between innings. On Saturday nine youths were chosen from the stands, given a baseball and allowed onto the field before the first pitch to get autographs from Reds starters. The team handed out helmets and baseball cards Sunday, then invited fans to go onto the field after the game and run the bases. The team has noticed a different mood in the stands. Players and fans had complained about the drab atmosphere under Schott, who did not like loud music or post-game promotions that would force the club to pay employees extra.

i t'W AP photo DIRT DIVE: Montreal Expos F. P. Santangelo dives safely back to first, beating a tag by Cincinnati Reds first baseman Hal Morris in the fifth inning of Sunday's game in Cincinnati. The Reds won 7-0, with the help of little-known pitcher Roger Salkeld. By Joe Kay The Associated Press CINCINNATI Marge, Schott didn't have much to say or much time to spend when she returned to baseball Sunday, four days after stepping aside as the Cincinnati Reds' chief executive officer.

She showed up at Riverfront Stadium in the seventh inning of a 7-0 victory over the Montreal Expos, watched the last few innings from her front-row seat and left a couple of minutes after the final out. It was her first public appearance since giving up day-to-day control through the 1998 season. Her agreement with baseball allows her to retain ownership of the team and to move around the ballpark as usual. She did not stop to talk 'to reporters waiting for her and spent only a few moments with the team on the field as she left. "She just said, 'Good job, honey'," outfielder Eric Davis said.

Schott did not attend either of the first two games of the series. She usually goes onto the field before games with her St. Bernard, watches the first six innings from her booth, then goes down to her front-row seat to mingle with fans. She is allowed to go on the field, in the stands and in her booth, but chose to sit only in her seat next to the Reds' dugout Sunday. She brought her dog, Schottzie 02, but left it in the parking garage under employees' supervision.

There was no reaction as she walked down the aisle to her seat, .4 (11 2 common) For the first time since stepping down Wednesday as the Reds' chief executive, owner Marge Schott attended the game and went down to her front-row seat in the seventh inning. There was no reaction from the crowd as she walked down the aisle, escorted by two employees. After she settled in, a few fans walked down to Schott's seat to get autographs. She left as soon as the game ended. Cormier allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks, and put the Expos behind with another shaky first inning.

The Expos were shorthanded for a third consecutive game. David Segui and Cliff Floyd sustained leg injuries in the series opener Friday night and did not play again. Sherman Obando, who started in right, left the game in the eighth after pulling a hamstring. Toronto victory backs, it seemed a precarious lead. Starter Paul Quantrill (3-7) and reliever Tony Castillo surrendered two homers each, but they were solo shots.

Then Mike Timlin retired all four men he faced for his 11th save. "They've got a good team," said Timlin, who hadn't worked since last Monday and had only watched as the Angels roughed up his fellow relievers. "But you can't pitch apprehensively You can't twinkle-toe around there. You've got to go right at them." The end of the Angels' streak of comebacks victimized Jim Abbott (1-10), who dropped his sixth straight decision since beating Oakland on May 2 for his only win of the season. Abbott allowed eight hits and five runs in 5 innings.

He is winless in eight starts. "But I did feel I had better command, a better slider, and threw some good fastballs on the inside part of the plate," he said. After J.T. Snow's homer in the second, his eighth, made it 2-1, Sandy Martinez hit an RBI single in the fourth. Salmon led off the sixth with his 14th homer to chase Quantrill, then Chili Davis hit Castillo's first pitch for his 13th homer, making it 5-3.

Salmon led off the eighth with his second homer to make it 5-4 but Alex Gonzalez's RBI single in the ninth gave the Blue Jays a two-run cushion. 0 mt First-inning Carter homer holds up Lumber Specialties problems all season. "There's nothing better than pitching with a lead," Salkeld said. "Your stress level drops. You just go do it.

"My legs got a little wobbly Other than that, I was fine. They didn't even ask me if I wanted to come out." Cormier almost didn't make it through the first and wound up leaving after failing to retire a batter in the fifth, his shortest outing since April 11. The left-hander has given up 15 runs in the first inning this season and opponents are hitting .400 (22-for-55) off him in the first. Barry Larkin and Reggie Sanders homered in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. It was the first time the Reds have beaten the Expos since the season opener.

Montreal is 6-2 against Cincinnati this season and 23-9 against the NL Central. AP photo ANGEL IN INFIELD: Jim Abbott is lifted from Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Abbott has pitched only one win for the Angels this season. eluding four homers and 11 RBI in that streak. He is hitting .301 with 60 RBL "We need Joe Carter to remain hot for the rest of the year" Toronto manager Cito Gaston said.

Ed Sprague, Toronto's other veteran bat, also hit a two-run homer, his 17th, to give Toronto a 5-1 lead in the sixth. Given the Angels' streak of come 'fx 48ft 1x6 72fi 1x8 wo-n i 1 iio 1.50k I 4 iw 1.80 185ft.Setect Fencing "2.46 54 6 Setect Decking (8 or Iff) 78 26 Premwn Oeckjog M.OOfl. 6 ft. Clw Kiln Dried Foldrig Hcntc TablM Reg. $200.00 (Umrtotf Quanta) '1 28.00 Western Red Cedar A 14 30 2x6 90 16- 87" 2x8 i.20 ia 80" ikio ...90 212 2.20 38 44 M.20 86 4.0 Cedar Siding IMIonguaaOoowaSlk 43 ft itfnoMtaacoMSik 70 ft 70" ft.

Itf Tbngut I QnxM Ow "1 .1 0 ft 88 n. 11164 flousr. FaoaChmtf 78' ft iiibiiowMyEdg 1.12ft rjTWfffyiafff'f 26 i jXi 2x8 Jays stay steady disnap losing streak 'at Anaheim Stadium Blue Jays 6, Angels 4 -jv-ANAHEIM, California (AP) Joe Carter hitting an early-game home rjjj as he did Sunday, is nothing new. 7rtr for his homer to hold up in a "Toronto victory over California, now vtfiat's something special. had four leads here, and we finally get one win," Carter said after 'fhft two-run homer in the first inning 'started the Blue Jays to a 64 win.

homer gave Carter 16 for the and was his third in as many games. On Friday night, his three-run shot Hf the first gave Toronto a 4-0 lead. On furday night, his three-run homer in the fifth gave the Blue Jays a 5-2 lead. The Angels overcame those leads, coming from behind in both games to stretch their winning streak to sevea Sunday, the Blue Jays finally held firm, to snap a six-game Anaheim Sta- dium losing streak despite two solo home runs from California's Tim Salmon. i "That's indicative of this club.

We 3 aren't going to give up," said Carter. Carter is bearing a lot of the load. Hp has hit in nine straight games, in- f' sTiect Kiln-Dried Hardwood not pa ft. 6 IP ft. kttctkt) IMS I MM I Bird, I M.pk I Chcm Q.Q 0.70 LsJ 1.33 M.80 i 1.BO 1.40 3.40 1 2.2S 3.00 i.

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