The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts • 23

Sports The Berkshire Eagle, Monday, September 3, 1990 D3 Rampaging Mets thump Giants NEW YORK (AP) The Netf York Mets completed a 6-0 home stand and a four-game sweep of San Francisco yesterday, beating the Giants 10-6 despite giving up 17 hits. The Mets, combined with second-place Pittsburgh's 7-6 victory at Houston, stayed a half-game ahead of the Pirates in the National League East Winner David Cone (11-7), who allowed four runs on 11 hits in just five innings, got off to a shaky start as the Giants scored three runs before making an out. Kevin Mitchell hit a two-run single with the bases loaded and Matt Williams added an RBI single. Williams had four hits, and Mitchell, Mike Kingery and Terry Kennedy added three each for the Giants. The Giants hurt themselves with poor base-running as Brett Butler, who had two hits, was picked off twice, Mitchell was caught stealing at third and Williams was tagged out after Robby Thompson missed a squeeze bunt The Mets came back against Paul McClellan, who was making Associated Press Francisco's Jose Uribe applies the late tag yesterday afternoon.

The hot Mets rallied for a 10-6 victory. New York Mets second baseman Gregg Jeffries slides safely into second base with a fifth-inning double as San National League scoring single. King's three-run homer gave the Pirates a 5-0 lead in the sixth after an infield single by Sid Bream and a walk to Mike La-Valliere. Reds 6, Cubs 2 CHICAGO (AP) Jose Rijo won his third straight start and Eric Davis, Bill Doran and Jeff Reed led a 12-hit attack as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2. Cincinnati won three out of four games in the series and has won nine of 12 overall, maintaining a 6V-game lead over Los Angeles in the National League West.

Rijo (11-6) pitched his fourth complete game, allowing nine hits. He has allowed just four runs in his last three starts, and he is 3-0 in three outings against the Cubs this season. Chicago starter Greg Maddux (12-12) lasted just five innings and gaVe up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and four walks. Dodgers 12, Expos 5 MONTREAL (AP) Kal Daniels snapped an 0-for-16 slump with a pair of two-run homers and Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson also homered, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 12-5 victory over the Montreal Expos. Tim Crews (2-4) was the winner, pitching 2 1-3 hitless innings in relief of starter Jim Neidlinger.

Neidlinger pitched 4 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, including Tim Wallach's 18th homer, a three-run shot in the fifth after the Dodgers led 12-2 lead. Expos starter Mark Gardner (7-8), who entered the game with a 5-2 record and 1.47 earned run average at home, didn't survive the first inning as the Dodgers sent 10 men to the plate and scored four times. Harris led off the game with his second homer, Chris Gwynn hit a sacrifice fly and Mike Scioscia and Neidlinger had RBI singles. Padres 9, Phillies 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) Ed Whitson allowed one run in seven innings for his fifth straight victory as the San Diego Padres defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1, snapping a five-game losing streak. Whitson (12-7), the National League's earned run average leader at 2.31, has given up seven earned runs in his last eight outings, during which he has five victories and three no-decisions.

In seven innings yesterday, he allowed six hits and two walks. Braves 5, Cardinals 0 Stieb throws season's ninth no-hitter his major-league debut. New York scored in the first on Darryl Strawberry's RBI grounder and added a run in the third on Kevin McReynolds' 19th homer. McClellan was the 26th pitcher one short of the major-league record to appear in a game for the Giants this season and the 14th to start Trailing 4-2, the Mets scored four runs in the fifth to chase McClellan (0-1). Tim Teufel, who scored three runs, led off the fifth with his eighth homer and Gregg Jefferies followed with a double.

Strawberry tied the score with a single and Francisco Oliveras relieved. After two walks, Mark Thurmond relieved and pinch-hitter Mackey Sasser delivered a two-run single. McReynolds' RBI single gave the Mets a 7-4 lead in the sixth but the Giants came back with two runs in the seventh off Wally Whitehurst on Kennedy's RBI single and pinch-hitter Greg Lit-ton's run-scoring grounder. The Mets put the game away on Johnson's three-run double in the eighth. Alejandro Pena relieved in the eighth and survived for 1 innings for his fourth save.

Pirates 7, Astros 6 HOUSTON (AP) John Smiley held the Houston Astros hitless for 5 1-3 innings and Jeff King hit a three-run homer, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 victory. Smiley (8-7) retired 16 of the first 18 hitters he faced before Eric Yelding broke up the no-hitter and the shutout with an Tigers to six hits over 7 innings as Minnesota beat Detroit 4-3. Erickson (4-4) struck out four fanning Cecil Fielder three times and walked five. Rick Agufiera pitched 1 1-3 innings for his 27th save. Tony Phillips had all three RBI for the Tigers.

He homered off Erickson in the seventh and added an RBI single in the ninth off Aguilera. Jack Morris (11-6), who was unbeaten in his previous three starts, earned his seventh complete game second best in the American League. He gave up seven hits. Brewers 4, Orioles 2 MILWAUKEE (AP) Jamie Navarro took a shutout into the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 for their 10th victory in 13 games. Royals 8, Mariners 0 SEATTLE (AP) Danny Tart-abull drove in five runs to match a career high and Tom Gordon pitched a three-hitter for his second career shutout as the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 8-0.

Tartabull hit a two-run double in "the third and a three-run homer in seventh. The Royals had 11 hits, including three by George Brett. Gordon (10-9) pitched his fourth complete game in six starts. He struck out four, walked five and allowed just two runners to reach third. Tartabull hit his 15th home run of the year in the seventh off Keith Comstock.

Twins 4, Tigers 3 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Greg Gagne hit a two-run homer and rookie Scott Erickson held the I STIEB, from Dl struck out, putting Stieb in a familiar situation. Stieb then walked rookie Alex Cole on- four pitches before Browne lined out to Felix in right for the final out. Stieb first flirted with a no-hitter in 1985, when he pitched eight hitless innings against Chicago before giving up a leadoff home run in the ninth. The Indians didn't come close to a hit, with only seven balls leaving the infield. Seven of this year's nine no-hitters have come in the American League, a record for a major league.

Fred McGriff, who had five hits including a homer in Toronto's 8-0 victory Saturday night, homered twice for Toronto, giving him 31 this season. McGriff homered in the fourth and the Blue Jays made it 2-0 in the fifth on con secutive doubles by Ken Williams and Manny Lee. McGriff homered in the ninth off Jesse Orosco. Athletics 4, Rangers 2 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Harold Baines hit his first home run for Oakland as the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 and increased their American League West lead to 6V2 games.

Mike Moore (12-12) allowed four hits in 6 1-3 innings. Rick Honey-cutt pitched 1 2-3 hitless innings and Dennis Eckersley finished with a hitless ninth for his 41st save. Angels 1, White Sox 0 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Jack Howell, brought back this week after a month in the minors, homered in the fifth inning and Chuck Finley shut down Chicago yesterday as the California Angels beat the White Sox 1-0 to avoid a series sweep. Mets' owner unhappy with city officials RBI triple in the sixth.

Danny Darwin (10-2) was the loser, ending a personal nine-game winning streak. Darwin pitched six innings, giving up five runs on nine hits. Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Andy Van Slyke, and scored again in the third on Bobby Bonilla's run- ATLANTA (AP) Charlie Lei-brandt scattered 10 hits and Ron Gant and Dave Justice each knocked in two runs as the Atlanta Braves beat the St Louis Cardinals 5-0. In contrast to his unhappiness with the city government, Casey said he was impressed by residents' continued support for the team even though the ballclub wasn't as successful as last year's pennant winner. "Our fans proved they aren't front-runners," he said.

"People continued to make their summer plans around the Mets. Night after night, people would come down the ramp past me on their way home and say, 'Thanks for a wonderful That means an awful lot" After losing an anticipated crowd of about 6,000 to rain on opening day, Casey said the Mets regrouped, in part because even more local businesses such as GE Crane Co. and Mead Corp. scheduled group outings to the ballpark this year than last. The parking lot was again dotted with New York and New Jersey license plates as the Mets continue to prove popular with tourists.

Wahconah Park was featured in a full-page column in Sports Illustrated, and ESPN, Newsday of Long Island and the Christian Science Monitor did stories on the team and ballpark. "No other city at this level of baseball gets that kind of recognition," he contended. Casey fears city officials take the Mets for granted because they assume the local ownership won't move elsewhere. That is one of several issues he wants to discuss in the near future. "We want to develop a team relationship with the city like we have with our fans," he said.

"And we want to extend our stay in Pittsfield so we can end all of these rumors. We don't want to move, but if we don't get some support from the city, we may have to." "I realize what the budget situation is here," continued Casey, who added that John Marchesi and the Parks Department have been extremely cooperative in their dealings with the Mets. "But we're bringing dollars into the area. The Chamber of Com merce went out of its way to try to bring the Volvo tennis tournament here in 1989) and that would have been great to have. But we're already here, and we get no respect at all." in the concession areas that the Fire Department has demanded be dealt with.

He asserts that when an oil spill was cleared up at Getty Oil, just outside the ballpark, the Mets were left to repair damage to the field caused by the cleanup. The team also resodded the outfield, which was torn to shreds during the high school football season. Casey also complains that "the parking lot is a disgrace, an eyesore, particularly when we have put so much effort into renovating the ballpark itself." "Before, I used to think it was all the Revos," he said in reference to the owners of the Pitts-field Cubs, who also had difficulties with city government before leaving town. "They the city government tried to entice us to make the move from Little Falls when the city didn't have a baseball team, and we brought them a great organization. But we haven't received any support since the announcement of our move was made.

The only time we hear from the city is when someone complains about a foul ball breaking a window." CASEY, from Dl tion with the ballpark lights. Some burned out lights weren't replaced, other lights that had been blown askew weren't realigned and the outfield lights twice blew out during games. When the Erie manager refused to continue playing during one brownout, the game was suspended in the fourth inning, costing the Mets concession money. Casey said the Mets picked up the $2,000 repair bill. Two banks of lights in center field went out during the second inning of the season finale Saturday night, but play continued and the lights came back on an inning later.

"No one proved those blowouts were caused by lightning," said Casey. "The lights were supposed to be in working order at the start of the season, and there is no indication that they were. Promises were made at City Hall by the city solicitor Paul Cormier and nothing was done." Cormier was out of town this week and unavailable for comment. Casey claims the city has failed to address a ventilation problem Pittsfield wins in 10th on Arredondo's single NL President White threatens to resign ONEONTA, N.Y. Joe Arredondo's single with two out in the top of the 10th broke a 5-5 tie, as the Pittsfield Mets defeated the Oneonta Yankees 7-5 at Damaschke Field last night.

Arredondo's single scored Tim McClinton from third with the go: ahead run, and Nick Davis later came home with an insurance tally for the Mets. The Mets and Yankees conclude the New York-Penn League regular season tonight at 7 in Oneonta. With one out, McClinton doubled and Greg Siberz (3-2) walked Davis. Mets manager Jim Eschen, playing riverboat gambler, called "for a steal play with McClinton arriving safe at third and Davis moving into second. Brian Dunn struck out, and Ar-redondo came up with two outs.

The Mets third baseman bounced the ball through the hole between short and third into left field, McClinton trotting home with the winning run. Siberz then uncorked a wild pitch, and Davis came home with the insurance run. In the home 10th, Tom Wilson (4-4) gave up a one-out single to Brian Turner. But the Met righthander, who pitched four innings, struck out Rick Lantrip and got Adin Lohry on a fly to center to end the game. The Mets, down 4-2 through five innings, tied the score in the last of the sixth on singles by Tom Allison and Tim Buhe, a bunt single by McClinton, which loaded the bases, and a two-run single by Davis.

Oneonta got the lead back in N.Y.-Penn League the seventh off Wilson on an RBI single by Luis Gallardo. But the Mets retied it in the bottom of the eighth when Allison scored from third on Davis' two-out single. The Yankees stole eight bases in nine attempts in the contest half of which were recorded by Jalal Leach. METS NOTE: Tim Buhe was' chosen the Most Valuable Player and Ed Vazquez was named the Most Valuable Pitcher as- the Pittsfield Mets booster club presented its awards for Saturday night's home finale at Wahconah Park. Buhe, a hard-nosed infielder, was batting .263 with 35 RBI going into last night's game at Oneonta.

Vazquez, who will pitch tomorrow night's season finale, is 9-2 with a 2.41 ERA. Nick Davis was presented a plaque for leading the team in homers (six going into last night) and runs-batted-in (47). He actually shares the homer title with Jeromy Burnitz, who was sent up to Port St. Lucie, two weeks ago. Kyle Washington was cited for leading the team with 31 stolen bases.

Todd Douma, who has since been promoted to Jackson of the Class AA Texas League, was named the top pitcher in the month of August Catcher Brian Dunn and outfielder Ed Perozo, now at Port St Lucie, were named the top players for the first half of the month, and Buhe was given the award as the top player for the second half. point, he said he felt he had no choice but to set the record straight. "I didn't want Joe West to lie and set policy for National League umpires," he said. Now, White said, his reputation is on the line. "I think that people who have known; me all these years know they can trust me," he said.

Phillips repeated his account of the meeting for the Inquirer Saturday, but he said the situation could be a misunderstanding on White's part. "He may be confused, giving him the benefit of the doubt," Phillips said. "Is there room for the fact that there was a misunderstanding here? I say perhaps. Bill may have meant to communicate one thing and communicated another. "It has escalated far, far beyond what anyone imagined it would," Phillips said.

Vincent could not be reached for comment. He met with White, on Friday The Phillies also claimed that West has been too rough with players. For example, during a bench-clearing brawl in a game against the Mets in New York, WM threw Phillies pitcher Dennis Oqok to the ground. Whitevdidn't comment on the meeting after if'ended, but West said White told him he handled the Hayes situation correctly. He also said White was considering telling umpires to stop trying to break up fights between teams.

After learning about West's comments, White issued a statement saying he had told the umpire he did not approve of the ejection of Hayes and that he had ordered only West to refrain from touching players while trying to stop fights. White said he wanted to resolve the Hayes dispute quietly and tnat he told West not to discuss the meeting. He said he didn't learn about the umpire's comments until he read them the next day in a newspaper. At that Richie should resign. "If I have lied I shouldn't be allowed to hold this office.

If he has lied, then in my role as president of the National League, I can't deal with him. Our jobs should be on the line. "I'm willing to put my word up against his in any way they want to do it go before the NLRB National Labor Relations Board, take lie detector tests, anything." White, in his second year as league president, met last week with West and Phillips. Afterward, West and White gave contradicting accounts of what was said. Phillips accused White of "an Unprecedented lack of support for umpires" and asked Vincent to step in to resolve the matter.

Incident involving Phils The meeting focused on an Aug. 22 incident in which West ejected Phillies outfielder Von Hayes for criticizing another umpire during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. PHILADELPHIA (AP) National League President Bill White threatened to resign if Commissioner Fay Vincent doesn't give him full support in his dispute with the league's umpires, according to a published report. "I want the commissioner to get the facts, and then I want a statement from the commissioner. This is a time to take a stand, to find out who's right and wrong, who's telling the truth and who's lying," White said in yesterday's final edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

If he doesn't receive the full support of baseball's highest officer, White said, "It's goodbye. I'm going home." He also challenged Richie Phillips, the head of the umpire's union, over their contradicting accounts of a meeting last week with umpire Joe West "If Richie is right and I'm lying, I should resign as president of the National League," White said. "If I'm right and he's lying,.