The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 126

'PH BASEBALL TUESDAY MAY 25 1993 AO INTERNATIONAL EDITION ilD THE MIAMI HERALD NATIONAL LEAGUE From Herald Wire Services Ramon Martinez pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout in almost a year and the host Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0 Sunday for their sixth straight victory Eric Karros broke out of a two-for-26 drought with a tie-breaking single to help the Dodgers sweep the three-game series The Dodgers have won eight in a row at Dodger Stadium their longest such streak since 1986 Late Saturday Mike Piazza and Jody Reed drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with sixth-inning singles as the Dodgers beat the Rockies 4-3 Giants 3 Reds 2 BASES-LOADED WALK WINS IT SAN FRANCISCO Pinch-hitter Todd Benzinger walked with the bases loaded against reliever Greg Cadaret in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead San Francisco The Giants have won 1 1 of their past 13 games while the Reds have lost six of their past seven Barry Bonds and Matt Williams each hit home runs for the first-place Giants Robby Thompson extended his hitting streak to 1 6 games with a leadoff single in the ninth off reliever Bill Landrum (0-2) He went to second on Will sacrifice with Cadaret pitching Williams was walked intentionally to bring up Bonds who walked on four pitches to load the bases with one out setting the stage for walk on The Cardinals took the series two games to one after losing 15 of 18 to Pittsburgh last season With the score tied at 3 following rookie Kevin tying homer in the ninth Ozzie Smith singled with one out in the 10th and moved to third on Erik single off Bias Minor (4-2) Smith acted like he would hold at third on short fly to right then streaked home prompting right fielder Orlando Merced to bounce a six-hop off-line throw to the plate Astros 9 Padres 7 BIGGIO HOMERS TWICE SAN DIEGO Craig Biggio had two homers among his four hits and drove in three runs as Houston beat San Diego to end a five-game losing streak The Astros produced a season-high 16 hits to help Greg Swindell (5-4) snap a personal string of three straight losses Late Saturday Andy Benes (7-3) gave up three homers but still beat the Astros 9-4 Ken Caminiti hit two homers including one inside the park and Jeff Bagwell had a rare homer to Jack Murphy second deck Caminiti recorded the third inside-the-park homer of his career in the sixth when his drive to center field hit the fence and deflected off Derek right leg a 3-1 pitch Phillies 14 Expos 7 DAULTON HAS 4 RBI PHILADELPHIA Darren Daulton drove in four runs to help the Phillies split the four-game series The Phils improved their record to 29-13 tops in the majors The attendance of 32911 increased the total for the series to 160091 the third-larg-est in Veterans Stadium history Braves 2 Mets 1 AVERY ALLOWS TWO HITS NEW YORK Steve Avery (4-2) pitched two-hit ball for eight innings as Atlanta beat New York Avery (4-2) gave up a one-out single to Charlie in the first inning and Bobby leadoff infield single in the eighth He struck out six before Mike Stanton got the last three outs for his 17th save in 17 tries David Justice drove in two runs for the Braves Cardinals 4 Pirates 3 CARDS WIN DESPITE SMITH PITTSBURGH Lee Smith blew a ninth-inning lead for the second time in three days but St Louis rallied twice in the final two innings to win on Rod sacrifice fly in the 10th EAST CARDINALS: The tale of a modem closer When the Cardinals brought Lee Smith into a 0-0 game last Sunday it was the first time since July 14 1990 that he entered a game when his team ahead CUBS: Phil Rogers of The Dallas Morning News: "To the showers with the Cubs for scheduling a one-hour infomercial next Sunday to hawk signed balls and bats What's next? Yard sales at Wri-gley EXPOS: Dennis Martinez 38 says his latest inspiration is the Wayne Gretzky "People said he was too old and he showed they were wrong" Martinez said "I like challenges like that" Montreal has declined to discuss a contract extentkm with Martinez whose contract expires after this season He figures to take a major cut from this salary of $2 million KETS: The Mets finally acknowledge that Craig Ander-aon not Roger Craig as listed in their media guide holds the team record for consecutive losses by a pitcher Craig lost 18 consecutive decisions in 1963 but Anderson dropped 19m a row from 1962-64 The Mets' current loser Anthony Young is 0-18 in 53 appearances since his last victory PHILLIES: As the Phillies chug toward June atop the heap it may stun you to learn that this could be only the third season in history in which they hold first place on both May 1 and June 1 (The others: 1900 and 1964) PIRATES: Glenn Wilson 34 back in the majors for the first time since 1990 went 0 for four Fnday striking out three times and leaving five runners on Wilson spent parts of nine seasons in the majors He spent part of the 1991 season in Tnple A then retired and was out of baseball before Pirates GM Ted Simmons offered him the chance last winter to play at Triple-A Buffalo Wilson said he didn't miss baseball during his nearly two years away from the game but still felt he could play enjoyed my kids played a lot of golf" he said "I didn't read anything about baseball I didn't miss it a lick" sen The go Rookie Piazza proves he belongs even without his By MARYANN HUDSON Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES If there ever was a reason for the media to stop reporting that Los Angeles rookie catcher Mike Piazza is the godson of Manager Tom Lasorda this is it: EAST BLUE JAYS: Todd Stottle-myre who has a strained muscle in his back below his right shoulder and a strained triceps know until Tuesday whether miss his scheduled start Thursday against the Brewers Stottlemyre was forced to leave Saturday's start after just 2 innings BREWERS: IB John Jaha was struck in the face by a pitch from Baltimore's Alan Mills in the sixth inning Sunday He suffered a bloody nose but stayed in the game INDIANS: Mike Bielecki who left game in the sixth inning because of a tight right elbow will make his scheduled start Wednesday against the Rangers Bielecki underwent surgery on the elbow last July but an MRI exam Saturday revealed no new damage Matt Young who lost Sunday has not won in 45 appearances including 22 starts since he beat Milwaukee for Boston on May 20 1991 ORIOLES: 32nd different lineup of the season featured Leo Gomez batting cleanup for the first time this year The Orioles have used eight different No 4 hitters this season RED SOX: Roger Clement denied pitching coach Rich claim that he has elbow problems Clemens said the only reason he has had two consecutive shaky starts at home is because he been making good pitches "I'm 100 percent he said TIGERS: DH Alan Trammell has hit safely in his past six games although he sat out the three games before Sunday YANKEES: Team special adviser Reggie Jackson who hit a few homers of his own for New York admired OF Danny three-run home run Saturday off Roger Clemens "That ball took off like a Jack-son said "That ball was WEST A'S: Dennis Eckersley has walked almost as many batters in the first six weeks of the 1993 season (six) as he walked in the 1989 and '90 seasons combined (seven) "I guess just a victim of my own success" he said you think I want to be ANGELS: Manager Buck Rodgers says some serious repercussions might occur if owners approve the current TV proposal "You're going to see $10 million $12 million skimmed off the he said "I think the DH will go I think see pay cuts across the board You watch going to see everybody scuffling" MARINERS: Jim Converse 20 is the youngest pitcher and second-youngest player behind Rangers SS Benji Gil to play in the majors this year RANGERS: Nolan Ryan returned to his home in Alvin Texas and will not join the team on its nine-game road trip that begins today in Cleveland Ryan is on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left hip He isn't expected to rejoin the Rangers until they return from the road trip June 4 ROYALS: KC reached 500 Saturday for the first time since finishing the 1991 season 82-80 TWINS: Minnesota pitchers have yet to throw a complete game Detroit is the only other team without a complete game Members of the 1969 Twins beat a team of 1969 Royals 7-5 in a three-inning old-timers game Saturday Mariners Manager Lou Piniella rookie of the year in 1969 for KC doubled off Tom Hall and scored WHITE SOX: 2B Joey Cora has been safe on 42 of his past 49 sto-len-base attempts Compiled from Herald wires by EDWIN MARTIN in there are rookie-of-the-year signs displayed in the crowd He leads the team in batting in every major category and is quickly taking the lead in fan popularity He has silenced many of his critics with his bat and hopes to someday quiet the rest with his defense But his road to the majors been easy even with Lasorda helping him There were roadblocks at every turn some that even Lasorda ram So Piazza did it on his own a hard said Eric Karros who won last rookie award thing that is different about their rookie seasons is that he has had to deal with his relationship with Tommy and prove that that is not the reason he is here And done In batting practice recently Piazza hit three consecutive pitches into the upper section of the left-field pavilion When someone mentioned it to Lasorda he looked unimpressed was doing that before he was even signed by the Lasorda said Yet even with clout no team drafted Piazza as a high school graduate said this guy hit Lasorda said shaking his head longtime friend Ron Fraser the former University of Miami baseball coach liked bat and took him as a walk-on But Piazza then a first baseman said the experience was a little overwhelming He was on a team of veterans who had recently won the College World Series and here he Associated Press IN THE BIGS: Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza left played his college ball at the University of Miami and at Dade-North not official godfather is his uncle Lasorda is the godfather of younger brother Tommy take one brother you take them Lasorda said Lasorda who is a distant cousin of father Vince was referred to within their families as godfather long before Piazza made it to the majors Lasorda has said all along that although he is godfather Mike is not his godson No one seemed to get it Call it a cultural thing as Lasorda does families are so close what we call it in Italian he said something happened to parents we he and wife Jo would take him Said Piazza: that in the spotlight our relationship is exploited because doing doing so well in fact that the label is beginning to peel off Every city Piazza plays WEST ASTROS: Houston had won 26 of its past 40 road games before getting swept in a three-game senes at Candlestick Park It continued a trend for Manager Art Howe The Astros are 39-75 on the West Coast since he became the manager including an 8-31 record in San Diego BRAVES: When Greg Maddux won May 15 it marked the first time all season that the Braves' "big four" starters Maddux John 8moltz Steve Avery and Tom Glavlne earned victories in four consecutive games DODGERS: Eric stolen-base streak is at 28 the eighth-longest in major-league history tying him with Lou Brock (1974) Rickey Henderson (1988) and Gary Redus (1988) Vince Coieman holds the all-time record of 50 consecutive steals between 1988 and 1989 GIANTS: Barry Bonds is batting 500 or better against five teams: Atlanta (643) Colorado (529) Florida (500) Houston (500) and Montreal (500) PADRES: SS Craig Shipley (hand) was activated Rookie OF Darrel Sherman was sent to Triple A REDS: The Reds have an OF at Single A Winston-Salem whose name is Motorboat Jones But oT Motorboat is sputtering with only one stolen base after 52 at-bats ROCKIES: IB Andres Galarraga (hamstring) expects to come off the DL Tuesday Compiled from Herald wires by WALTER VILLA But Lasorda done yet He had already had former Dodger catcher Joe Ferguson work out with Piazza to see if he could be converted to a catcher Ferguson liked arm and gave Lasorda the go-ahead sign Finally two months after the draft Dodgers scouting director Ben Wade asked Piazza to fly out from Norristown for a workout at Dodger Stadium Piazza still unsigned paid his own way lot of the scouts were there and I hit about 10 or 15 balls into the Piazza said was shagging balls in the outfield and he asked Ben Wade what do you Wade told Lasorda that he wanted to see Piazza play Tommy asked him he was a shortstop and he hit like this would you need to see him And Ben said yes Tommy asked him he was a catcher and he hit like this would you need to see him And Ben said no Tommy said a Four seasons later Piazza 24 is the pride of the farm system was fresh out of a small-town school in Norristown Pa that played half as many games as the high schools in warmer climates sat on the bench and even make the travel squad so I started studying and lifting Piazza said is when I started taking weights seriously and that had a lot to do with my With his career seemingly at a standstill Piazza transferred to Dade-North He played well there before splitting two knuckles and sitting out most of the season The day his cast came off he was in the batting cage but it was too late to make the scouting reports No team was interested Lasorda trying to help Piazza get a scholarship to a four-year college thought that if Piazza was at least drafted by a major league team maybe that would impress some college baseball coach The Dodgers obliged and made Piazza a throw-away pick their 62nd-round choice in the June draft in 1988 got a Mail-gram from the Piazza said smiling even call me It was more or less their way of saying EWCOMER The leading candidates for rookie of the year in the NL two homers power Bosox over Yanks Tigers win six and 10 of their past 13 home run over the glove of leaping center fielder Kenny Lofton put Detroit ahead to stay in the sixth The Indians began the weekend as the second-best hitting team in the league behind only Detroit but Cleveland was limited to three runs in the last two games of the series Winner Mark Leiter gave up two runs and five hits in 6 innings walking one and striking out two Bill Krueger pitched two scoreless innings and Mike Henneman got the last out for his ninth save Albert Belle and Paul Sorrento hit consecutive homers in the bottom of the fourth It was major league-leading 15th homer and ninth Brewers 9 Orioles 1 HIT KEYS VICTORY BALTIMORE Kevin two-run bases-loaded single keyed a three-run third inning against Fernando Valenzuela helping Milwaukee win its first road series this season Hentgen worked 7 innings striking out four as the Blue Jays won for the eighth time in 10 games Duane Ward got the final four outs for his 1 1th save A two-out double by Griffin off loser Scott Erickson scored Darnell Coles to break a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning Coles led off with a single off the left-field wall and moved to second on Darrin sacrifice White Sox 5 4 (10) BELL HITS GAME-WINNER CHICAGO George Bell whose two-run homer put Chicago back in the game added a decisive triple in the 10th inning as Chicago averted a sweep game-winning hit off reliever Rich Gossage was lined to the comer in right field with one out It scored Joey Cora who walked to start the inning from first base Chicago trailed 4-1 when Bell homered in the eighth off reliever Joe Boever A sacrifice fly by Ozzie Guillen off Rick Honeycutt tied the score in the ninth Roberto Hernandez pitched three scoreless innings as the White Sox avoided being swept in a three-game series at home by the Athletics for the first time in 23 years Angels 6 Rangers 2 SALMON DRIVES IN 4 RUNS ARLINGTON Texas Tim Salmon had a career-high four RBI and Julio Valera earned a victory in his first start as California salvaged the finale of a three-game series Valera allowed four hits in six innings in his 12th appearance this season Mariners 10 Royals 7 PINIELLA WINS SOOTH GAME KANSAS CITY Mo Rich go-ahead ninth-inning single helped give Lou Piniella his 500th victory as a manager Seattle added two more runs after hit to wrap up a wild game that featured five lead changes Ken Griffey Jr had a single double and tnple for the Manners From Herald Wire Services Mo Vaughn homered twice and four Boston pitchers held New York to six hits as the Red Sox defeated the Yankees 5-2 Sunday night at Boston Vaughn hit a solo shot over the Yankees bullpen in right field in the fourth inning and another solo homer his seventh of the season to center field in the seventh It was the first two-homer game of his career Vaughn who went 22 days without a homer until Friday homered three times in the weekend senes against the Yankees Both homers Sunday came off loser Jimmy Key who was seeking his 12th victory in his past 13 decisions The runs came on Paul Solo homer in the sixth his third of the year and Dion run-scoring groundout in the fifth Tigers 4 Indians 2 TETTLETON FIELDER HOMER CLEVELAND Mickey Tettleton and Cecil Fielder homered for the AL East-leading Tigers winners of five of AMERICAN LEAGUE Reimer went three for three with the bases loaded and drove in eight runs during the three-game series Reimer and Dickie Thon who had three hits drove in three runs each Cal Eldred ended a personal two-game losing streak allowing seven hits and striking out six in eight innings Valenzuela (1-4) had been pitching well of late including his first victory since 1990 in his previous start But he allowed five runs on eight hits Sunday Late Saturday Harold Reynolds drove home the winning run with a one-out sacrifice fly in the 14th inning to lead Baltimore over Milwaukee 5-4 Blue Jays 2 Twins 1 TWINS LOSE 7TH IN ROW TORONTO Pat Hentgen earned the victory and got offensive help from Alfredo Griffin as Toronto completed a weekend sweep by handing the Twins their seventh loss in a row.