The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 8

FhE record THURAy" JUNE 2, "193" Sore Strawberry says rest is best Backman gets most of return to lineup By John Jackson Record Staff Wrrtar By Dav D'AJMsandre Record Staff Writer NEW YORK Don't expect Darryl Strawberry back before the end of the homes tan d. The Mets right fielder, who missed his third consecutive game Wednesday night, suffered an inflamed tendon in his groin while warming up Monday. The injury was supposed to take two to six days to heal, but recuperation might be a tad longer. "I feel better today," a limping Strawberry said Wednesday night. But he wasn't feeling good enough to consider returning before the weekend.

When asked whether it was one of those injuries that would be risky to return too quickly from, he agreed that rest is best. "I think Davey will do that keep me out until it heals," said Strawberry, who is among the league leaders in virtually every offensive category. "You don't want to. take a chance. If you tear it, it's the 15-day disabled list." So Strawberry, who in the past, has been accused of being a slow healer, will miss tonight's series opener against Chicago, and then decide whether to return.

"Maybe Saturday, maybe Sunday," he said. "If not then, I won't play until we go on the road." The Mets selected power pitcher Dave Proctor in the first round of Wednesday's free-agent draft. The 20-year-old right-hander compiled an 8-2 record with a 2.81 ERA for Allen County Junior College of Ioia, last spring. Proctor, the nephew of former Met and Yankee Mike Torrez, has good size: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds. And his other numbers were impressive.

He struck out 86 and walked 33 in 72 innings. "He's a big, strong man who has the potential to be a solid power pitcher," said Roland Johnson, Mets director of scouting. "He throws a fastball, curve, and addd a split-finger fastball this spring. He has a loose, live arm." Mets Bcout Marty Harvat said Proctor, the draft's 21st pick overall, is "consistently around 90 miles an hour" with his fastball. Proctor was chosen by the Dodgers in the 29th round in 1986, but he didn't sign.

Probables for the Mets-Cubs Series: Calvin Schiraldi (3-2) vs. David Cone (7-0) tonight (7:30, SportsChanneL WFAN-AM 1050; Jamie Moyer (2-5) vs. Bob Ojeda (4-4) Friday; Les Lancaster (3i4) vs. Ron Darling (6-3) Saturday, and Jeff Pico (1-0) vs. Dwight Gooden (8-1) Sunday.

WALLY BACKMAN spring training, sprained tendons in his left hand on a check swing May 16 and was placed on the 15-day disabled list a few days later. Backman has played just about every game since and has responded well. In addition to his three hits Tuesday, he had three runs batted in, doubling his RBI output for the year. Backman also had the key hit during a 10th-inning Mets rally that tied the game at 4-4 after the Dodgers had taken a two-run lead in the top of the inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Backman singled to center, driving in Lee Mazzilli and sending Lenny Dykstra to third.

Keith Hernandez followed with a single to score Backman and tie the game. Earlier, Backman had given the Mets a 2-1 lead with a two-run single in the fifth inning. "I feel good at the plate," he said. "I never doubted myself. Never doubted that I could do the job if I got the chance." Others, though, had doubted him.

'Rumors had the Mets trying to trade Back-man, and other rumors had him close to being released. "That was as good a game as I've ever seen him have," Mets manager Davey Johnson said of Backman. "Those were probably as big as any RBIs he's had." Besides the hits, Backman also had to feel good about the positive words from the manager's office. Johnson had been a critic of Backman and said that part of the reason his average dropped 70 points last year was because he had lost his spark. "IH never admit that I lost my spark, like Davey indicated," Backman said.

"But I have to respect what he said. I may not have gotten as many hits last year, but I didn't NEW YORK When Tim Teufel was injured two weeks ago, Wally Backman got the chance he had been waiting for all season. But first he had to sharpen skills dulled by a lack of playing while controlling his competitive nature. That meant not overs winging, the natural tendency of backup players suddenly inserted into the lineup. They try to make up for lost time by getting two hits every at-bat, and to knock the cover off the ball.

But that is not Backman's game. He is at his best when he makes contact and sprays the ball. He is a Punch-and-Judy hitter, with more Judy than Punch. The 5-foot-9, 168-pounder would have to increase his power output by a substantial amount to hit balls to the warning track. Fly balls off Backman's bat are among the most routine outs.

But Backman has listened to his own advice. Slowly returning is the singles stroke that helped him hit .320 in 1986 but deserted him last season, when he hit .250. With his 3-for-5 Tuesday night in the Mets' 5-4, 11 -inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Backman was hitting a season-high .260 (19-for-73) going into Wednesday night's Mets-Dodgers game. A .260 average won't win a batting title, but it is a vast improvement over the numbers he had just a few weeks ago. In a limited number of at-bats in the first five weeks of the season, Backman's bat was as quiet as a silent movie.

On May 11, he was batting just .125 (3-for-24) and his playing time had all but disappeared. But then Backman got a break. Teufel, who had won the second base job during Spraying the ball again lose my spark." Johnson had been one of Backman's biggest supporters perhaps his only supporter in the organization when Johnson was named manager following the 1983 season but Backman thinks he constantly has to prove himself. "I feel I have to go out there and show a little bit more," he said. Teufel was eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, but will likely be out a few more days.

Backman realizes he is likely to return to the bench when Teufel is healthy, but he's not looking ahead. He's enjoying playing everyday too much to do that "I'm going for it," Backman said. "It's a chance to play and a chance to help the team win some games." METS SCOHEBOOfC METS: Dodgers gain respect in ongoing feud From METS Page E-l behind the left shoulder by a Belcher fastball, Rippley believe it or not didn't hesitate: He took three steps toward Belcher, and with a dramatic sweep of his right arm, ejected the pitcher and Lasorda. Belcher left reluctantly after a 10-minute argument between Lasorda and anyone who would listen to him. Right-hander Brian Holton replaced Belcher, and the Dodgers then placed the game under protest.

Was it retaliation? Only La Fernandez seemed to lose his rhythm during the sideshow. Kirk Gibson, showing the speed he had as a football wide receiver at Michigan State, led off the Dodgers fourth with a bunt single, was balked to second, and took third on a warning-track flyout to right by Guerrero. Mike Marshall drove him home with another deep fly to right for the game's 1 first run. Fernandez then walked John Shelby, whom Rick Dempsey sent to third with a hit-and-run single to center. Dave Andersen stepped up, and on the first pitch, Fernandez was called for a balk by sec YAIM1CS: Rocky road Yankees scoREBooK i Dodgers 4, Mets 3 WEDNESDAY NIGHT METS LOS ANGELS Sax 2b MHatcher rf Heep pti ph Orosco JHoweH Gibson If Guerrero 3b Marshall lb Shelby cf Dempsey Anderson ss.

Belcher Holton Sharperson 3b abrabi 5 110 3 0 10 0 0 0 0 10 12 .10 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 3 110 4 0 10 2 10 0 10 0 0 .10 0 0 abrbbi 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Ovkstra cf Backman 2b KAMiller 2b 10 0 0 Hernandez lb 4 1 I 0 McReynolds If 4 12 1 Johnson 3b Wilson rf Innls Carter ph McDowell pr Sasser Lyons Elster ss Magadan ph Fernandei Leach Waller Maiiilll rf Totals 4 12 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 11 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0, CO 0 0 10 10 00 0 0 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 ii in 2 0 10 Tetats mil 000 2M 2e9 4 oo i METS Game Winning RBI Marshall (41, Elster. OP Los Angeles 3. LOB Los Ange les METS a. 28 Hernandez, Sax, Johnson. HR McReynolds (5).

SB Shelby (5). Fernan dez. 5F Marshall. IP ER BB SO Les Angeles Belcher Holton WJ-0 Orosco JHowell METS Fernandez L.2-5 Leach Waller Innis 2 4 2 1 41-3 0 1-3 21-3 Decision expected OAKLAND, Calif. Dr.

Bobby Brown, the American League president, Wednesday reviewed umpires' reports and videotapes of Monday night's dirt-throwing incident involving Yankees manager Billy Martin and umpire Dale Scott. Brown, who was attending a meeting of major league baseball owners in San Francisco, was to return to the league office in New York Wednesday night. A decision on a fine or a suspension for Martin is expected today or Friday. Sources indicated Wednesday that a suspension of five to 10 games is likely. Martin said he expected to be suspended.

"It's not fair, but that's the way things are now," he said Wednesday afternoon before the Yankees' game against the Oakland Athletics. "Even when the umpires are wrong, they're right. I'm telling the truth when I say that Scott lied to me and that he said: 'Go ahead, kick more dirt on "But they league officials just listen to them. They're never wrong." Martin also said that after the incident Scott also told him: "We've got you now. We've got you good." Martin kicked dirt on Scott after he was ejected by the umpire while arguing a call on a ball hit by Oakland's Walt Weiss in Monday sorda and Belcher know for sure, even though Rippley himself seemed certain.

The umpire informed the press box that Belcher and Lasorda were ejected "pursu-. ant to a league directive" regarding beanballs and suspected retaliations. But video replays of the Sax near-miss indicated that there was little reason to retaliate; and that Sax himself would admit to being caught in no-man's land on the bunt attempt. The spectacle yielded nothing for the Mets, however, as Elster was stranded at second after a Fernandez sacrifice. Even worse, hasn't started in three games, is hitting .195, and may not be completely recovered from a wrist injury suffered in April.

Shortstop Rafael Santana has a bruised elbow. Right fielder Dave Winfield has been the most dependable Yankee, missing just one of 49 games. The starting pitching could be in worse shape. John Candelaria has a tender elbow and probably will miss his next start. Rick Rho-den's sore back is not healing quickly, despite his stay on the disabled list last month.

Al Leiter was hit on the pitching arm by a line drive Tuesday night and left the game after throwing just one pitch. In the bullpen, Dave Righetti has reported that he has some pain in his left elbow. Cecilio Guante, who already has pitched five times during this trip, has taken himself off the "able to pitch" list until Friday. Martin apparently felt so strapped in the bullpen Wednesday that he had starter Richard Dotson, whose arm is healthy, pitch in relief. Dotson, who is scheduled to start Monday night against Boston, relieved Hudson after Parker's double.

The score was 3-3. Henderson's homer had tied the score in the seventh, after the Yankees took the lead on back-to-back home runs by Jay Buhner and Jack Clark in the sixth inning. Dotson's first pitch to McGwire was a curve ball behind the bat- Belcher pitched to 1 baiter In the 3rd, Leach pitched to 1 batter In the Orosco pitched to 2 batters ki the 9th. HBP Elster by Batcher, Anderson by Fernandez. BK Fernandez 2.

Umpires Home, Rlopley; Flrsl, Crawford; Second, Harvey; Third, PuW. 3:29. A 29,459. How the runt scored Pidgin hank: Gibson singled to pitcher. On Fernandez's balk, Gibson to second.

Guerrero filed out to right, Gibson to third. Marshall Ml sacrifice hV to right, Gibson scored. Shelby walked. Dempsey tingled to center, Shelby to third. On Fernandez's balk, Shelby scored, Dempsey to second.

Dodgers METS Met! feerfb: 1 lotion pitching. Hernandez doublet! to right. McReyaoias stngted to ft, Hernandez to tftrd. With one out, Wilson grounded Into fielder's choice to second, Hernandez scored, McReynolds to second. Beavers METI Dodgers seveatk: Anderson walked.

With one "but, Leach relieved Fernandez, Sax doubled to left, Anderson to third. Heep omen hit for Hatcher. Waller relieved Leach. Hamilton, pinch hitting for Heep, singled to right, Anderson and Sax scored. Dodgers 4, METS 1.

j. Mets metal Orosco pitching. McReynolds homered to left. Johnson doubled to le Carter pinch hit for Innls. Howell relieved Orosco.

Carter singled to center, Johnson scored. Lyons touted out to first. Mage-dan, pinch hitting tor Enter, walked. Carter to second McDowell ran for Carter. Mazzitl lined into double play, second to shortstop.

Dodgers 4, Mets 1. Caught Stealing: None. Strikeouts: Dodgers-Shelby, Belcher, Holton, Gibson 2, Dempsey 2, Orosco; METS-Wilson, Elster, Miller, Hernandez. on Martin by Friday night's game. Martin also grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at Scott.

Scott told umpiring crew chief Richie Garcia that Martin ajso kicked him in the lower leg during the tirade. Scott denied taunting Martin. Pitcher Al Leiter said Wednesday that his left arm is sore, but that he does not expect to miss his next scheduled start. Leadoff batter Carney Lansford hit a ball off Leiter's pitching arm in the first innine Tuesday nieht. Martin is going with a six-man rotation that changes with each revolution, so the exact date "of Leiter's next start is It could be as soon as Sunday.

BILL PENNINGTON Bay resigns NEW YORK Rick Bay has resigned as chief operating officer of the Yankees to join a new television group, the Associated Press learned Wednesday. It was the second front office departure the Yankees have suffered this week. Lou Piniella stepped down as general manager on Sunday after less than a year on the job. Bay, formerly athletic director at Ohio State University, was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer shortly before the start of the 1988 season. career high with his seventh consecutive victory, all in a 24-day stretch, and Gerald Perry and Ron Gant hit two-run homers in a six-run fifth inning for Atlanta.

CARDINALS 3, ASTROS 2, 13 Innings (at Houston) Pinch hitter Steve Lake singled home Luis Alicea from second base with two out in the 13th inning, lifting St. Louis. I.PHILLIES 9, PADRES 7 (at Philadelphia) Pinch hitter Luis Aguayo broke a tie with -a two-run, two-out single in the eighth inning, lifting Philadelphia in a game delayed twice by rain!" ond-base umpire Doug Harvey. Shelby was given a free pass home for a. 2-0 lead.

The Mets got one run back in fourth, when Keith Hernandez led off with a double, moved to third 6n a single by Kevin McReynolds, and scored on a slow bouncer to second that Mookie Wilson beat out. It was ruled a fielder's choice and RBI, as Sax attempted to tag McReynolds, and threw late to first. The Dodgers then built a cushion with a two-run seventh, keyed by pinch hitter Jeff Hamilton's one-out, two-run single off Gene Walter. Oakland CVbung 6 6 3 3 2 2 Nelson W.4-2 2 0 0 0 1 1 Eckersley 1 1 0 0 0 1 Hudson pitched to one batter In the eighth; Dotson pitched to one batter In the eighth. Umpires Home, Reed; first, Hirschbeck; second, Garcia; third, Scott.

2:41. A 30771. How the runs scored Athletics first: Lansford walked. Javier grounded to second, Lansford to second. Canseco singled to center, Lansford scored.

Athletics YANKEES 0. Yankees third: With one out, Santana singled to third. Skinner grounded to catcher, Santana to second. R. Henderson singled to center, Santana scored.

YANKEES Athletics I. Athletics fourth: Canseco homered to left. Athletics 2, YANKEES 1. Yankees sixth: Buhner homered to left. Clark homered to left.

YANKEES 1, Athletics 2. Athletics seventh: D. Henderson homered to left. YANKEES Athletics 3. Athletics eighth: Parker doubled to right.

Dotson relieved Hudson. McGwire singled to right, Parker scored. Athletics 4, YANKEES 3. Caught stealing: YANKEES-Winfield. Strlkeevis: YANKEES-Buhner, Clark, Winfield, Ward; Athletics-McGwire, D.

Henderson, Lansford, Parker. Balboni to Seattle The Associated Press SEATTLE The Seattle Mariners, seeking more power from the right side, signed veteran free agent Steve Balboni Wednesday. To make room for the 31 -year-old ex-Yankee on their 24-man roster, the Mariners sent lefthander Dennis Powell to their Triple-A farm club at Calgary in the Pacific Coast League. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Balboni was released by the Kansas City Royals Friday. He cleared waivers Wednesday and was in the Mariners' lineup as their designated hitter Wednesday afternoon against Baltimore.

He went 0-for-3. do as the Cubs dealt his team its fifth consecutive defeat, 6-3, but at least he was sharing the agony with his players in the dugout instead of suffering alone from a seat in the stands. Rose had been suspended by National League president A. Bartlett Giamatti after bumping umpire Dave Pallone twice during an argument over a call at first base April 30. "That's 15 days a shove," said Rose, who says he'll maintain until his dying day that the penalty did not fit the crime.

From YANKS Page E-l on the Yankees," said Charles Hudson (4-2), the Yankees' starter and losing pitcher Wednesday. "I like our chances better." The Athletics were more gracious. Sort of. "If that's the way they think, that's their prerogative," said -Athletics designated hitter Dave -Parker, who started the winning xally in the eighth with a double and scored on McGwire's single. "Everybody has an opinion.

It doesn't mean anything. We're happy to be where we are right ow. I hope they're happy, too." I Told of the Yankees comments, Jpakland outfielder Jose Canseco, man of few words, said: "Tell 4hem to look at the standings. 3iow big is their lead?" McGwire, the fresh-faced boy refused to utter a cross 4 "Why wouldn't they say that?" 'said the Athletics' first baseman. like their team.

That's fine. I think they match up with us ijreat. We were talking before the jame that if we meet into the playoffs, it would be like the '75 iVorld Series. We'd have great Jgames." Z. For the Yankees, at least, talk of postseason play is premature.

Mattingly (muscle strain in his Vight side) cannot return before 3une 11. Catcher Don Slaught "(pulled groin muscle), whose hitting is sorely missed, is eligible to Tome off the disabled list Sunday. 4iut he may not be ready by then. Randolph (sore left hamstring) PETE ROSE First day back In dugout Athletics 4, Yankees 3 WEDNESDAY YANKEES OAKLAND brkM Henderson If 4 0 2 1 Lansfo Meecham 2b 4 0 0 0 Javier Buhner cf 4 12 1 Cansec JCIark dh 3 111 Parket Winfield rf 3 0 0 0 McGw GWard lb 3 0 0 0 Hassei Pagliaruk) 3b 4 0 0 0 DHend Santana ss 3 110 Hubba Washington ph 10 10 Weiss Skinner 3 0 0 0 Crux ph 10 0 0 Totals HIM Tents YANKEES Oakland brkM 2 10 0 4 0 0 0 4 12 2 4 110 4 0 2 1 Lansford 3b Javier If Canseco rf Parker dh McGwire lb Hassey 4 0 10 DHenderson cf 4 111 Hubbard 2b 4 0 3 0 Weiss ss 3 0 10 33 411 4 001 003 etf 3 IN IM I IX 4 Game Winning RBI McGwire (S). Henderson, Pagliaruk).

DP YANKEES 2. LOB YANKEES Oakland 0. 2B Hassey, Parker. HR Canseco (13), Buhner (1), JCIark (10), DHenderson (7). SB Henderson 2 (36).

Weiss. IP It ER BB SO YANKEES Hudson L.4-2 7 4 4 2 4 Dotson 0 1 0 0 0 0 Pern 1 1 0 0 0 0 ter's head. His next pitch also was a ball. "Maybe I should have just walked him," said Dotson, who knew McGwire was the only batter he would face. "There was a left-handed batter coming up Ron Hassey, and we had an open base and a left-hander Hi-polito Pena warming up.

"I figured I'd try to make a good pitch and hope he popped it up." McGwire lined the ball sharply to right field. Winfield had to move to his right to get to the ball. His throw to the plate arrived too late to beat Parker's slide. "Dotson did his best," Martin said. "So did we.

I'm not worried. We're playing hard. That's the way I look at this. Good try, no prize, no excuses." But to Rose, Wednesday was just another day at the ballpark. "I ate the same breakfast I ate yesterday," he said at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

"I just came to the ballpark this morning like I do every day." But to the media who pursued him all afternoon, it was another milestone, another chapter in the life of baseball's Peter Pan. If that be true, Rose would just as soon "just turn the page and get to the next chapter" after completing his 30-day suspension and returning to the dugout Wednesday at Wrigley Field. There was little that Rose could Rose returns, but he'd rather do without all the fuss CUBS 6, REDS 3 (at Chicago) Rose's return to the dugout was not a happy one as the Cubs got another good outing from pitcher Greg Maddux, who became the National League's first nine-game winner. Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs, one off Rutherford's Pat Pacillo. GIANTS 2, EXPOS 1 (at Montreal) Will Clark broke up Floyd You mans' no-hit bid with a seventh-inning home run to power San Francisco.

BRAVES 14, PIRATES 2 (at Atlanta) Rick Mahler equaled his By Robert Markue Special from the Chicago Tribune The scenario certainly was not new for Pete Rose, yet the manager of the Cincinnati Reds seemed a little puzzled that it was being re-enacted at this time, in this place. All those cameras, all those writers with their notepads. Sure, when you're going after Joe Di-Maggio's 56-game hitting streak you expect that. And when you're about to pass the immortal Ty Cobb as the all-time hit leader in baseball, you expect it even more. ijaarfOaJjKrfak aMV!.