Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 42

tf BaseballMotorsports Section Page 4 Star-Telegram Saturday May 2 1998 BaseballMotorsports Section Page 4 I Star-Telegram I Saturday May 2 1998 TALKIN1 BASEBALL Orioles release Ozzie Guillen 7' Abe 4 0 4 4z '1" n) sa r-ifc 7 4 '71 -ss A44" 0t4 4' if 47 -4 hqor 1' z- toe zO -gt 7 fi'd Power vs power Power pitcher Power hitter The 95-mph fastball of rookie Kerry Wood against the prolific home-run stroke of Mark McGwire "I didn't want to get caught up in that" said Wood the Chicago Cubs' 20-year-old right-hander "I have a lot of respect for him he's just a great hitter He's always in the back of your mind but I couldn't put too much emphasis on just McGwire I had to get the other guys out too" Wood the former standout at Grand Prairie High School did that Thursday on a foggy night at Wrigley Field pitching Chicago to an 8-3 victory against the St Louis Cardinals with seven strong innings He struck out McGwire twice but McGwire later hit his llth home run tying him for the major-league lead with tinny Castilla and Ken Griffey Jr "He was impressive just as advertised" Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of Wood The loudest reaction from the crowd all night came when Wood faced McGwire especially in the first after the first two Cardinals reached base McGwire then took three consecutive strikes "The respect everybody has for Mark and the young power pitcher that's interesting to everybody" Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said "Mark is the premier power hitter in the game and any time he comes to the plate the interest is heightened" The 9:17 start of the game delayed 2 hours and 12 minutes by rain was the latest in Wrigley Field history During one stretch in the seventh fog thick who already have pitchers Hideo Nomo of Japan and Chan 1lo Park of Korea this week became the first major-league team to open an office in Asia Acey Kohrogi assistant to former club president Peter O'Malley and a native of Japan will work out of the Fox building in Tokyo as the team's director of Asian relations The move is a sign that Rupert Murdoch the Dodgers' new owner will maintain the fran- chise's global ties Briefly Anaheim Angels outfielder' Tim Salmon who strained a ligament in his left foot running to first base April 22 was put on the disabled list The move was made retroactive to April 23 making: him eligible to play May 8 The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Lance Johnson hitting 115 for the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right hand inflammation and recalled out- fielder Matt Mieske from Iowa of the Pacific Coast League announcement Thursday while the Orioles were in Chicago Stadium decision delayed New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said through a spokesman that any decision on a new home for the team whose Yankee Stadium lease expires in four years would not be made until after this season Finding a new home for the Yankees a simmering issue for years intensified last month when a beam fell in the 75-yearold ballpark The team was forced to play one game at Shea Stadium and swap homestands with the Detroit Tigers while repairs were made Meanwhile the two New York-Anaheim games that were postponed have been rescheduled The April 13 postponement was rescheduled for Aug 24 The April 14 game was rescheduled as part of a separate admission day-night doubleheader Aug 26 Dodgers in Asia The Los Angeles Dodgers From Wire Repons Ozzie Guillen batting only 063 in his first season as a utility player was released yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles Catcher Charlie BASEBALL Greene was recalled from NOTES Triple-A Rochester and will be a backup to Chris Hoiles and Lenny Webster Guillen 34 got only 16 at-bats in 17 games The 14-year veteran joined the Orioles in January after spending 13 seasons as the starting shortstop for the Chicago White Sox The Orioles are obligated to pay Guillen's $450000 salary He was not available for comment After Guillen cleared waivers Orioles coach Ray Miller gave him the option of joining Rochester as a player-coach "He said he'd prefer to become a full-time coach or try to play with another team" said Miller who honored Guillen's request not to make the 1 1 rl rJ The Associated Press St Louis Cardinals slugger Mark NIcGwire didn't win the power showdown with Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Kerry Wood striking out twice Thursday night ened so much the numbers on the center-field scoreboard were not readable and outfielders were barely visible THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Gordon grabs pole for California 500 atEsami 1101XambopEERIAMIGID111318 "7-1 Rangers From Page BN' joiiNNY Nut StarTelegram Stall Writer Harsh words Consider Red Sox right-hander Bret Saberhagen among those within the Boston organization who question the mental toughness of II Rangers right-han- der Aaron Se le Saberhagen called Sete "timid" in yesterday's editions of the Boston Herald Se le whom the Rangers acquired with catcher Bill Haselman and right-hander Mark Brandenburg in the Nov 6 trade that sent catcher Jim Leyritz and center fielder Damon Buford to Boston encountered a philosophical and personality clash with Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan during 1997 Saberhagen the Red Sox's starting pitcher last night told the Herald: "Not everyone can play in New York or Boston I don't think Aaron fit that mold Not that he's a bad guy I like Aaron but I don't think he had the toughness to play here and make it advantageous for him to succeed "If Aaron had a tough outing he wouldn't say 'I'm going to go out there and kick some butt next time' Instead it was 'If I go out there and get hit I'm going to get hit again the next time' He was timid" Rodriguez honored The American League made a decision members of the Fort WorthDallas media could not The league selected catcher Ivan Rodriguez over right fielder Juan Gonzalez as its player of the month for April The two players shared the Rangers' player of the month award selected by those who cover the team on a regular basis "I know I wouldn't want to pick just one" Rangers manager Johnny Oates said "I think we've got a team of the month" Rodriguez hit a major-league best 442 (41-for-92) with four home runs and 20 runs batted in and led the league in slugging percentage (707) and on-base percentage (495) and ranked second in hits and doubles (12) It represented the first time that Rodriguez won the league's monthly award Gonzalez hit 351 with seven home runs and established a f) EY -J Class-A Charlotte (Florida State League): The Rangers (15- 7) defeated St Petersburg 11-1 on Thursday Left-hander Doug Davis won his fourth game in five decisions and his 30 strikeouts rank second among FSL pitchers Class-A Savannah (South Atlantic League): The Sand Gnats (12-15) had a 4-0 lead against Macon when the game was suspended because of rain during the second inning Thursday How the runs scored How the runs scored in last night's game between the Rangers and Boston Rangers second: WClark grounded out second baseman Lemke to first baseman Vaughn Rodriguez doubled to center Stevens struck out Elster singled to left Rodriguez scored Alicea flied out to center fielder Lewis Rangers 1 Red Sox Red Sox second: Jefferson flied out to right fielder Gonzalez O'Leary was hit by a pitch Hatteberg singled to center O'Leary to second Bragg homered to center on a 3-1 count O'Leary scored Hatteberg scored Lewis struck Out Lemke sate on Bister's error Garciaparra grounded Out second baseman McLemore to first baseman WClark Red Sox 3 Rangers Rangers third: Goodwin singled to left McLemore walked on four pitches Goodwin to second Greer grounded out second baseman Lemke to first baseman Vaughn Goodwin to third McLemore to second Gonzalez popped out to second baseman Lemke Clark singled to center Goodwin scored McLemore scored Rodriguez lined out to center fielder Lewis Red Sox 3 Rangers 3 Red Sox sixth: Vaughn walked Jefferson struck out O'Leary homersd to center on a 2-1 count Vaughn scored Hatteberg grounded out second baseman McLemore to first baseman Clark Bragg singled to left Lewis lined out to center fielder Goodwin Red Sox 5 Rangers 3 Red Sox 5 Rangers 3 Texas AB BI SO Avg TGoodvan cl 5 1 2 0 0 387 Mclemore 2b 2 1 0 0 0 356 Greer If 4 0 0 0 1 252 JuGonzalez It 4 0 0 0 0 339 WCIarit lb 4 0 1 2 0 337 IRonnguez 4 1 3 0 0 455 Sevens di 4 0 0 0 1 250 Elster ss 3 0 1 1 I 1 236 Alcoa 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 242 Totals 34 3 7 3 3 4 Boston AB A BI BB SO Avg Garciaparra vs 4 0 0 0 0 303 JnValentin 35 4 0 1 0 2 264 Mllaughn lb 3 1 1 1 2 364 Jefferson dh 3 0 0 1 288 a-Leyalz ph-dh 1 0 1 0 358 O'Leary It 3 2 2 0 289 Hatteberg 4 1 1 0 290 Bragg rt 4 1 2 1 311 DLems cl 3 0 0 2 267 Lemke 2b 3 0 1 0 125 Totals 32 5 9 1 13 Texas 012 000 000 3 7 1 Boston 030 002 00x 5 9 1 a-singled tor Jefferson in the 81h Elster (3) Garciaparra (6) Texas 7 Boston 5 (Rodriguez 2 (14) O'Leary (6) ott Belie Bragg (3) off Sete WCIark 2 (17) Elster (12) O'Leary 2 (14) Bragg 3 (12) TGoodwin (13) McLemore Garciaparra Bragg Runners left in scoring Texas 3 (Greer Jo Gonzalez Stevens) Runners moved McLemorn Greer 2 Texas 2 McLemore and WCIark) (WCIark and 'Rodriguez) Boston 1 Vau hn Garciaparra and MVaughn) Texas IP BB SO NP ERA Sole I 5-1 7 6 1 8 101 272 Gunderson 1 3 0 0 11 075 Boston IP BB SO NP ERA Saberhagen 3 4 1 1 68 277 Lowe 1 0 0 0 8260 Wasdin 3-0 2 2 0 1 27 355 Corsi 1 0 2 1 26 430 Eckersley 4 1 0 0 16 1142 Gordon 10 1 'A 0 0 1 14 220 Inherited Gor on 1-0 Texas IP BB SO NP ERA Sole 5-1 7 6 1 8 101 272 Gunderson 1 3 0 0 11 075 Boston IP BB SO NP ERA Saberhagen 3 4 1 1 68 277 Lowe 1 0 0 0 8260 Wasdin 3-0 2 2 0 1 27 355 Corsi 1 0 2 1 26 430 Eckersley '4 1 0 0 16 1142 Gordon 10 1 'A 0 0 1 14 220 Inherited Gor on 1-0 by Sele (O'Leary) ordon Home Brinkman First Cousins: Second Welke Third Cederstrom 2-37 24169 (33925) Rangers statistics (Through yesterday) Hitting AB 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO Avg Rodriguez 99 22 45 14 0 4 21 10 15 455 Cedeno 914100212444 Simms 1848101713444 Goodwin 93 21 36 2 1 0 3 13 17 387 Mclemore 101 24 36 4 0 2 18 18 14 356 Kelly 35 9 12 4 1 1 4 1 4 343 Gonzalez 115 22 39 10 0 7 36 4 24 339 Clark 95 20 32 3 0 4 17 20 15 337 Greer 103 19 26 1 2 1 18 16 19 252 Stevens 84 14 21 1 1 8 23 6 22 250 Alicea 33 8 8 4 0 0 3 5 4 242 Eisler 89 12 21 5 0 2 12 17 20 236 Haselman 14 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 214 Tans 71 8 14 2 0 0 7 3 19 197 Mangers 959 185 305 53 5 30 174 115179 316 Opp 913 129 248 53 6 26 117 80142 272 Pitching IP ER BB SO ERA Levine 4'A 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 000 Patterson SA 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 000 Gunderson 12 16 1 1 0 5 0 0 075 Wetteland 89 4 1 1 2 11 1 0 104 Sete 43 34 15 13 12 355 1 272 Helling 37 28 10 10 10 23 5 0 243 Crabtree 12 8 5 5 5 8 0 0 355 Pavia( 14 16 8 6 5 8 1 1 386 Balles 7 11 9 5 3 6 0 0 643 Witt 30 44 22 22 14 93 1660 Oliver 22'A 32 21 18 11 7 1 3 715 Burkett 36 45 31 31 11 26 2 3 775 Santana 5'A 7 5 5 4 1 0 0 844 Rangers 238 248 126 117 80 142 18 9 442 060 2335 305 165 174 115 179 9 19 670 Stolen bases Rangers 28 (Goodwin 13 Mclernore Tabs 4 Rodnguez 2 Clark Gonzalez Greer) Opponents Errors: Rangers 11 (Taus 3 Eisler 3 Cedeno 2 kAclemore Oliver Witt) Opponents 23 Doubt plays Rangers 26 Opponents 32 Saves: Rangers 7 (Wetteland 6 Paviiii) Opponet3) Complete games: Rangers 3 (Sete 2 Heiting) fleets 1 Shutouts: Rangers 3 (Sete 2 Helling) Opponents 0 major-league record for RBI before May with 36 Angels left-hander Chuck Finley (4-0 154 earned-run average) received the league's pitcher of the month award over Se le (5-0 200) and the Rangers' Rick He 'ling (5-0 243) Designated hitter Lee Stevens who hit a team-high eight home runs and drove in 23 runs did enough to win the Rangers' award in most months The same could be said of center fielder Tom Goodwin second baseman Mark McLemore Se le and He "Isn't it mind-boggling?" Stevens said Briefly The Rangers who do not play Monday will stay in their five-man rotation Oates said The Rangers signed right-hander Jonathan Hurst to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Double-A Tulsa of the Texas League where he will report May 5 Hurst who was pitching in the Triple-A Mexican League was originally drafted by the Rangers and traded during 1991 to the Montreal Expos for right-hander Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd Hurst who went 1-2 during 10 major-league games with the Expos and New York Mets most recently pitched in the major leagues during 1994 Right-hander David Manning of Double-A Tulsa underwent surgery on his right elbow and is expected to be sidelined several months The Rangers selected Manning during the third round of the 1992 June amateur free-agent draft Farm report Triple-A Oklahoma (Pacific Coast League): The Red Hawks (11-9) defeated Las Vegas 2-1 on Thursday Second baseman Bret Barberie drew a bases-loaded walk during the top of the ninth inning for the game-winning run Right-hander Terry Clark pitched six scoreless innings Left-hander Larry Thomas (1-0) won in relief and right-hander Eric Moody earned his third save Double-A Tulsa (Texas League): The Drillers (14-13) lost to Jackson 2-1 on Thursday Right-hander Ryan Glynn (2-2) took the loss and second baseman Warren Morris went 0-for-2 to snap his hitting streak at 18 games ti other people" Those in Boston painted Se le (5-1) as an underachiever without the mental toughness required to play in Beantown and suggested the 27-year-old needed a change of scenery Right-hander Bret Saberhagen the Red Sox's start ing pitcher last night called Sele "timid" in yesterday's editions of the Boston Herald "Sabes is a professional and considered him a good tearn- mate" said Sele whose bid to become the major leagues' first-- six-game winner went awry after surrendering home runs to right fielder Darren Bragg and left fielder Troy O'Leary in an othetwise solid performance "I'm A quiet guy and I pitch with poise on the mound I don't go aroundZ pumping my fists A lot of people misconstrue that as timidness" Sele did not pitch timidly during his first appearance at Fenway I Park since the Rangers acquired him Nov 6 Sele allowed only six hits and: one walk and recorded eight strikeouts during his seven-inning appearance but a three-run ond-inning home run by Bragg-and a two-run sixth-inning home run by O'Leary prevented a tri- umphant return "I thought Aaron did outstand- ing" Oates said "It was not an easy situation I've seen guys pitch a lot worse and give up a lot less" Sete made the home runs more damaging by hitting O'Leary with a pitch during the second inning and by issuing a walk to first baseman Mo Vaughn during the sixth Bragg's home run cleared Fen- way's fabled "Green Monster" in left field Sete called it a "320 foot fly ball" but he recognized his mistake of allowing O'Leary and Vaughn reach safely without putting the ball in play "You can't do that in any park" he said Sele downplayed his return claimed to possess "no extra incen tive" to beat the Red Sox Rangers first baseman Will Clark witnessed nothing to contradict that "His composure out there on the mound" Clark said "was the same as it has been the other five starts" The Boston media swooped upon him afterward in the visiting clubhouse and Sete dodged controversy "We've heard all the comments about how it's a better defensive club and how double-play balls get turned" Vaughn said "I guess we took personal offense to that This team has always been a team to play hard for everybody It deli- nitely gave us a little extra vation to win this ballgame" Sele claimed none track so much On Thursday Gordon became the first driver honored at the speedway's Motor Walk Hall of Fame He placed his feet in cement and signed his name next to his footprints just outside the speedway which is just about 45 miles away from the original Walk of Fame in Hollywood But other drivers are trying to get their name and their feet on the Motor Walk too especially some of the Ford drivers who thought they had good enough cars to knock Gordon off the pole "We were off today We had some good lap time but we also had a lot more" said Mark Martin who qualified third with 180248 mph in his No 6 Ford Taurus "1 was afraid we could have wound up back around 20th to 25th" Two drivers didn't wind up anywhere on the qualifying list after crashing into the wall during their runs Dale Jarrett and Brett Bodine both spun and hit the wall between turns 3 and 4 They were released from the infield care center without injuries and plan to attempt to qualify during second-round qualifying today Lineups PAGE IOC the quality of the competition The changes come after two racing seasons featuring complaints by drivers and race teams who said the speedway's design discouraged side-by-side racing and created too much of a safety risk At the inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup race at the speedway the Interstate Batteries 500 in April 1997 14 cars wrecked on the opening lap on the frontstraight Several drivers blamed the track's design including Rusty Wallace who said the speedway would need a "total reconstruction" There were more complaints this year when another early multiple-car wreck marked the race Initial reaction to the changes from the racing community has been positive "The changes they are making to the Texas track will make it very similar to the Atlanta and Charlotte tracks" said Brian Barnhart Pep Boys Indy Racing League director of racing operations "Since we have run at both of those tracks we're comfortable with what Texas is doing" Winston Cup officials could not be reached for comment yesterday The current reconstruction project which will cost an estimated $2 million also features installation of a new water drainage system intended to avoid the track seepage problems that plagued April's Texas 50(1 A drainage-and-pipe system has been installed along with waterproofing material intended to carry underground water away from the track David A Markiewicz (817) 390-7375 dmark(Ovtar-telegram( am BY it LIET CUR The Orlando Sentinel FONTANA Calif When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series comes to sunny Southern California the No 24 Chevmlet shines Last year Jeff Gordon won the inaugural California 500 at California Speedway Yesterday he rekindled that success in the No 24 Monte Carlo by winning the pole for tomorrow's race It's no wonder the speedway has become one of Gordon's favorite stops of the season "I'm a pretty happy Jeff Gordon right now California has been good to me and California Speedway has been good to me" said Gordon the defending Winston Cup champion "The guys did an awesome job getting this car ready back at the shop and the guys here tuned on it just right all day long" Gordon had the fastest lap around the 2-mile D-shaped oval by going 181772 mph Jeremy Mayfield went 180659 mph in his No 12 Ford Taurus to earn his second front-row start of the year It will be Gordon's 17th career pole in the Winston Cup series in his 166th race but that's not only reason he has grown to likes the TMS From Page I throughout the turns tapering down to the apron of the racetrack The change speedway officials said yesterday will increase from about 50 feet to about 58 feet the width of the track in the turns thereby increasing the raceable surface area for drivers This should improve the potential for "side-by-side" racing a NASCAR trademark "It gives us more racing surface" said Sarona Winfrey director of public relations for Texas Motor Speedway The elimination of the 8 degree bank means the speedway will not have to knock out walls along the upper bank to widen the race track The chosen method is less costly and less time consuming speedway officials said The higher bank was designed to accommodate 3400-pound stock cars while the lower bank was designed for lighter open wheel Indy-style cars However in last year's IRL race at the speedway drivers used the higher bank and speedway officials said they don't need the lower bank after all In another major renovation the 24 degree banking will continue farther down into the front straightaway coming out of Turn 4 and pick up sooner after the startfinish line heading into Turn This change should allow drivers a more gradual descent out of Turn 44 and ascent into Turd I minimizing driver risks and improving ON DECK TEXAS RANGERS AT BOSTON RED SOX 12:05 pm at Fenway Park Fox Sports Southwest KRLD1080 AM KMRT 14801AM1067 FM (Spanish) ir 4 1 Today: Right-hander Rick Halting (5-0 243) opposes Red Sox right- hander Brian Rose (1-1 570) It will F- be interesting to see how He fling 11 trt responds after his 135-pitch appear- 0 ance Monday during the Rangers' 9-4 rnk 4 victory against the Twins Rose a third round selection in the 1994 draft went 17-5 at Triple-A Pawtucket BEWNG of the International League in 1997 ROSE Tomorrow: 12:05 pm at Boston Red Sox Darren Oliver (1-3 715) vs Pedro Martinez (2-0 228) Monday: Idle Tuesday: 7:35 pm vs New York Yankees John Burkett (2-3 775) vs David Cone (3-1 716) Wednesday: 7:35 pm vs New York Yankees Bobby Will (3-1 660) vs David Wells (3-1 461) TV: Fox Sports Sotithwest KXTXChannel 39 Radio: KRLD1080 AM KMRT1480 AM1067 FM (spanish) "I don't think any of us see'7 what's going on inside of Oates said "Some people bear their emotions on their s1e6u'2 Others are going to keep it inside" Johnny (8) 390-7760 jpau102Pstartelegratncom.