Pasadena Star-News from Pasadena, California • 26

rnr ar 4 pTW' C3 SGVN DAC2DALL Monday, June 14, 1998 I Notebook BY MARK LANG1LL tk Worrell reports discomfort in elbow SAN DIEGO Executive vice president Fred Claire said reliever Jodd Wonel has reported discomfort in his right elbow and outfielder Erie Dme sore wrist was X-rayed yesterday morning ti Worrell has appeared in just seven games this season and has allowed, nine runs in five innings since coming off the disabled list May 27. Its just irritated, thats all I can tell you," said Worrell, who said the pain, behind his elbow isn't in the same location as the strained muscle that forced him on the disabled list for six weeks. AH I know is it's a different place." Davis, batting 207 in 48 games, played in only one game during the four-game senes with the Padres. His 0-for4 performance Saturday dropped his road average to J.17, 11 for 94. Davis said he woke up yesterday morning with stiffness, although he didni know if it was related to his two diving attempts in left field.

The X-rays were negative, according to physical therapist Pat Scranar. The Dodgers today get their first look at Denver's Mile High Stadium, and the mile-high earned run averages on the expansion Rockies pitching staff. Colorado entering yesterday's game against Houston with a 5.99 team ERA AH eyes will be on catcher Ka Piazza, who last month in batting practice drove a ball to the second row from the top of the left-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium. Only Pittsburgh's WBSa Stargal has cleared Dodger Stadium dunng a game. Piazza got his first taste of the high altitude with Tripie-A Albuquerque last summer on road tnps to Clevelands affiliate.

I played in Colorado Springs, and it's pretty sick the way the ball carries," Piazza said. But you can't change your swing You have to approach it more or less like just another game. If you get obsessed with the way the ban carries, you wont make solid contact Youll pull away from the balL 1 think It wiH be interesting though. Colorado Springs has an opep-aiw ballpark and this is like an enclosed stadium." Reliever Jim Gott cant wait to arrive in Denver because his brother there. As for the game, Gott isnt scared off by the high-scoring games involving the Rockies.

1 was talking to their manager Don Baylor when they were in Los'. Angeles," Gott said. "Baylor said there isnt that much of a difference tharf Chicagos Wrigley Field on a windy day. "You just have to be able to make adjustments." Matchups for the Rockies series: Tonight Pedro Attack (44, 3.88 ERA) vs. WIKI Biair (2-3.

4.04), 6:05 p.m., Channel Tuesday, Ramon Marttnaz -(54, 332) vs. Butch Henry (2-6, 639), 6.05, Channel Wednesday, Kevin Groaa (54, 438) vs. Armando Reynoao (33, 3.69), 605. Marlins roll on, sweep Pirates, 5-2 Baseball Roundup Earn split three RBIs as Texas beat Cleveland. RED SOX 4, ORIOLES 2 Roger Clemens struck out nine as Boston ended Baltimores 10-game winning streak.

Clemens (7-5) allowed only two hits after the second inning. He has 22 strikeouts in two games against the Orioles this season. BLUE JAYS 13, TIGERS 4 -Tony Fernandez, in his second game back, homered and drove in a career-high five runs. Fernandez went 3 for 6 with a three-run homer and a pair of RBI doubles. In his two games since being traded to Toronto by the New York Mets for Darrin Jackson, Fernandez is 5 for 10 with two doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBIs.

ATHLETICS 7, TWINS 6 Scott Hemond capped the first three-hit game of his career with an RBI double in the ninth inning and Oakland snapped a five-game losing streak. Associated Press Florida Marlins manager Rene Lachemann was trying to be low key about his expansion teams stunning success when the tele phone rang last night Maybe its the president, Lachemann quipped. It wasnt Presidents dont usually call fourth-place teams, but fourth-place teams arent usually as happy with their position as the Marlins are. With home fans chanting Sweep! Sweep!" the Marlins beat the floundering Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 for their first four-game series sweep and their eighth victory in nine games. Theres no way you cant get caught up in it" said Orestes Des-trade.

Were out there and all the people are standing up and yelling; Sweep! The victory gave the Marlins sole possession of fourth place in the NL East and left them 30-31. BRAVES 9, REDS 2 Steve Avery cruised to a career-high seventh consecutive victory, and Mark DODGERS Continued from Cl Claire has been encouraged by Strawberrys work ethic during his rehabilitation, but wont let Strawberry make his own rules. Strawberry completed yesterdays and was available to be a pinch-hitter against starter Greg Harris, 6-7, and relievo Gene Harris. Theres simply a program that must be adhered to, there will be no exceptions," Claire said. Darryl said he felt ready to play, but were placing this demand on him for his own good.

Ive been told if he doesn't stay with the program, hell start to slip. Im not going to look the other way and I'm not going to let him look the other way." Strawberry reportedly was 3D minutes late for Saturdays 3 p.tiL workout, in which he took fly balls in left field, a position Strawberry has told Lasorda he doesnt want to play. If Darryl is so uncomfortable with left field. Ill move, Snyder-said. I just want to be out there contributing every day." Yesterday's incident proved a' bonus for Hershiser, who savored Snyders play in right field after a strong throw to relay man Jody Reed helped cut down Billy Bean after his oneout double in the thtnT inning.

ANGELS Notebook BY JOE HAAKENSON HAVE THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY NEWSPAPERS; RACING TAB DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME. Lemke hit a three-run homer as the Atlanta beat Cincinnati It was the Braves third straight victory after a team meeting prior to Friday nights game. PHILLIES 5, METS 3 Anthony Young lost Ids 21st straight decision as Philadelphia recorded its first sweep of a four-game series at Shea Stadium in 13 years. The Phillies have won five in a row and 11 of 13 games. Philadelphia (44-17) now leads the last-place Mets (19-41) by 24 games in the NL East EXPOS 3, CARDINALS 1 Dennis Martinez pitched well, and Montreal handed Rene Arocha his first major-league loss while averting a four-game sweep by St Louis.

GIANTS 5, CUBS 3 John Burkett became the National Leagues first nine-game winner and Barry Bonds hit his 17th home run, 'ings. The Marlins began yesterday in fourth place, 3 games out erf second (14 out of first); 9 above last place. Tve got a lot of confidence in our pitching, manager Rene Lachemann said. Our starting pitchers have given us a lot of quality starts. They usually get us to the sixth or seventh inning with a chance to win the game.

Associated Press giving San Francisco a three-game sweep over Chicago. The Giants won their fourth in a row and completed their first sweep erf the Cubs since they took a four-game series at Candlestick Park from June 20-23, 1991. ROCKIES 9, ASTROS 1 Colorado swept a series for the first time with a franchise-record third straight victory. With a crowd of 60,349, the Rockies eclipsed the previous attendance record for an expansion dub in a season. In 30 home dates, the Rockies have drawn 1,719,566.

YANKEES 9, BREWERS 5 Bemie Williams drove in three runs as New York beat Milwaukee for its third win in the four-game series. RANGERS 5. INDIANS 1 Roger Pavlik allowed only four hits over eight innings and Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run homo- and had ANGELS Continued from Cl It hasnt been very crisp," Rodgers said The Angels found themselves in a hole early yesterday after the Mariners scored three runs in the second inning and six in the third to knock out Angels starter Julio Valera (36). But it wasnt all Valeras fault The Mariners got their share erf bloop hits, while the Angels defense committed two errors in the third that led to four unearned runs. Angels first baseman J.T.

Snow committed the first error of his major-league career in that inning, but the real error should have been given to first base umpire Jim Evans. The Mariners Dave Valle hit a dribbler up the third-base line that was fielded by Valera. Valeras throw pulled Snow off the bag, but the first baseman had time to lunge and tag the base with his glove. Evans initially gave the out sign, but changed his call when he saw Snow had dropped the balL But Snow lost the ball after touching the base, meaning it should have been the third out erf the inning. Instead, the Mariners scored four more runs to go up, 9-1.

I touched the bag with my glove, Snow said, but I rolled over and the ball came out of my glove. He said I didn't have possession. But if you watch the videotape, I had it" With his defensive streak over, Snow hopes his fortunes at the plate are changing, too. He has endured a slump that lasted nearly six weeks; he hit only .134 (15 for 112) since May 1. But he had three hits and an RBI yesterday to raise his average 12 points to .224.

Snow said he believes its just coincidence his slump and the Angels have coincided. I dont feel he-said. Thats a little much to put on one guy in his first year. I firmly believe if nine guys are doing theft-job, the team is going to go right Me, personally, I want to do my job to help out If Im not hitting, I want to play good defense and have a good attitude around the guys." No Angels trade interest, for now ANAHEIM As the San Diego Padres continue to shop high-pneed stars like Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield, trade rumors circulate throughout the league. But the Angels arent interested in trading for McGriff or Sheffield or anyone else.

For now anyway. "We can't get momentary kicks and destroy everything we're trying to build, our long-range plan, Angels manager Buck Rodgers said. If we're in the same position (in the standings) on the first of August we're talking a new situation and we might say Let's "But you don't say that in the middle of June. You don't go out and sell your soul to the company store." So long, Joe Vu. Joe Vu, an ugly, voodoo-type miniature statue, was Luis Polonlas good luck charm for the last couple years.

But with Polonia hitting only 270 this year, well below his lifetime mark of .299, Polonia decided to go out on my own." Polonia burned the rubber doll to a ensp after Saturdays game. "(Former Angel Gary) Gaettl will be happy," Polonia said. He always said Joe Vu is the one. He believed there were demons in him since last year." Gaetti is a born-again Chnstiaa Edgewood High School product Larry Gonzales made his major league debut yesterday with the Angels, catching the ninth inning. "The first couple of pitches I was a little nervous," Gonzales said.

Then I settled down a little bit" In the bottom of the ninth, he was on deck when Torey Lovullo made the final out of the game, so Gonzales still is looking for his first major league at-bat "I was hoping I'd get up there and get that first at-bat," he said. Get it over with, actually." Rem Gonzales had X-rays taken on his right thumb yesterday after aggravating it Saturday night X-rays were negative. Gonzales originally hurt the thumb May 31 diving into second base. The Angels and Texas Rangers will begin a four-game series tonight at 7:05. Pitching matchups for the series: Tonight Mark Langston (7-1, 2.26 ERA) vs.

Todd Bums (0-2, 3.70); tomorrow (7:35) John Farm (2-7, 6.41) vs. Charlie Lelbrandt (6-3, 2.94); Wednesday (7:05) Chuck Finley (6-5, 2.93) vs. Kevin Brown (54, 2.42); Thursday (7:05) Scott Sanderson (7-5, 3.35) vs. Kenny Rogers (4-5, 6.40). When it comes to pitching staff, first-year Marlins have more than respectable one For only $5 per week, you can get home delivery of the Racing Tab, along with -a subscription to the Pasadena Star-News or San Gabriel Valley Tribune or Whittier Daily News.

20 pages of the most complete racing information you will find in any Los Angeles area daily newspaper. It's all here entries, charts, scratches, morning line and analysis. Plus news of the world and local politics, sports, business and It's an offer that cannot be beat. i Call circulation at 1-800-788-1200 and sign up today! San Gabriel Valley Newspapers Pasadena Star-News San Gabriel Valley Tribune Whittier Daily News Highlander MIAMI Who says an expansion team can't have a solid pitching stall? The Florida Marlins appear to have five consistent starters, experience and potential among the middle relievers, and one of baseballs best closers. If that sounds more like a contenders pitching staff than an expansion team's, look at the stand-.