The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 39

C4 The Sun WEDNESDAY, July 4, 1990 San Bernardino manages to hold lead, beat Modesto 4-1 tagged out in a rundown. San Bernardino first baseman Jeff Keitges came up with his own defensive gem in the fifth. Keitges dived to his right to stop Mike Conte's hard smash and flipped to Salkeld covering first. In the bottom of the inning, Shockey again kept the Spirit off the scoreboard. After singles by Manahan and Bolick put runners on first and third, Jones lined a fastball toward left field.

Shockey leaped to glove the liner and threw to first to double off Bolick. Modesto starter Ruben Lardizabal then retired Stargell on a ground out, stranding Manahan. The Spirit squandered another opportunity in the sixth. Ray Williams led off with a double but didn't get past third base. rurfners on base.

Stargell did his part, with an assist from San Bernardino manager Keith Bodie. "I was looking for a fastball, but I hit a low and outside curve," said Stargell of the pitch he hit for a home run. "Keith has been working with me, telling me to think only of hitting the ball hard somewhere. "I'm feeling more comfortable and I'm seeing the pitches a little better." The Spirit, 5-8 in the second half and 44-40 overall, is three games behind Southern Division-leading Riverside. For the third consecutive game, San Bernardino opened the scoring in the first inning.

With one out, Tony Manahan singled up the middle. Frank Bo- By DAVID DOMKE Sun Sports Writer SAN BERNARDINO Now here's news: The Spirit got ahead early Tuesday night and still won. Tim Stargell's three-run homer in the first inning gave Roger Salkeld all the support he needed as San Bernardino beat Modesto 4-1 before 3,756 at Fiscalini Field. Salkeld's complete game his first was the sixth consecutive strong outing by a Spirit starter. The right-hander gave up eight hits, struck out 11 and walked three en route to winning his fourth straight decision.

The one run he allowed was unearned. For good measure, he struck out the side in the ninth after Spirit notes With a starting rotation of Dave Evans, Scott Taylor, Roger Salkeld, Dave Fleming and Kerry Woodson, the Spirit has arguably the top starting staff In the Cal League. And In Calvin Jones, who has ably stepped Into departed Jim Newlln's role as closer, San Bernardino has a hard-throwing finisher. So what's the problem? Middle relief pitching has let down the Spirit recently, a prime example being Modesto's 11-8 victory Monday. The A's scored five runs in the ninth and three In the 10th to overcome an 8-3 Spirit lead.

"It's getting to be very frustrating," San Bernardino pitching coach Chuck Knltfln said. "(Woodson) could have 10 wins by now. He's thrown four real good games his last four and he's got four no-decisions to show for It." Woodson (4-5) gave up three hits and two runs over six innings Monday. "There's no game in the bag, (not even) with a two- or three-run lead In the sixth," Kniffin said. "If we get out to a big lead we need to keep driving away." Modesto and San Bernardino wrap up their three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m.

at Fiscalini Field, with fireworks following the game. The pitching matchup: The A's Pedro Pena (0-2) vs. the Spirit's Dave Evans (7-7). Strawberry, Mets bomb Astros, 12-0 f-nwwip mvm 1 i LJts Xxi''" lick followed with a walk and after Bobby Jones popped out, Stargell homered to left field. Modesto scored in the second.

Two singles and a one-out error by second baseman Stargell cut the Spirit lead to 3-1. San Bernardino pushed the margin back to three on Jones' solo homer to straightaway center in the third. Some clever defense by Modesto third baseman Scott Shock-ey squelched a Spirit threat in the fourth. Roberto Del Pozo walked with two outs and Tow Maynard followed with a high-bouncer to third. Shockey had no chance to get the speedy Maynard, but he motioned nonetheless as if throwing to first base.

Del Pozo, rounding second, fell for the fake and was APWIREPHOTO more with a six-hitter and Jack Daugherty went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles as Texas took a victory home over the Orioles. Witt (5-8) was 0-2 with an 11.33 ERA in his first two outings this season against Baltimore. He struck out seven and walked four in pitching his first complete game of the season. ATHLETICS 5, BREWERS 0: Curt Young and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter as Oakland beat the Brewers at Milwaukee and moved back into first place in the American League West. It was Tony La Russa's 900th managerial victory in the majors and gave the A's a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox.

From Sun News Services There was a lot of scoreboard watching going on at Shea Stadium on Tuesday night. It wasn't the scores the fans were watching, though. Darryl Strawberry hit two of New York's four home runs, including a towering shot off the scoreboard, and Frank Viola became the National League's first 12-game winner as the Mets mashed the visiting Houston Astros 12-0. "The key to this game was Kevin McReynolds' homer in the first inning," Strawberry said. "That got us going." New York started the July 4th fireworks early when Strawberry delivered an RBI single and McReynolds hit a three-run homer in the first off Mark Portugal (2-8).

Portugal, 7-1 last season, allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings. Strawberry made it 5-0 with his 18th homer in the third, but that was nothing compared to what he did in the fifth. Leading off against Xavier Hernandez, Strawberry hit one of the longest home runs in Shea Stadium history, a high, majestic drive that struck nearly 30 feet up on the scoreboard in right-center field. The distance was estimated at about 450 feet from home plate. Viola (12-3) pitched a five-hitter for his third shutout of the season.

The Mets have won 20 of 23 overall and 11 of the last 12 at home. Strawberry has 15 home runsj and 36 RBIs in his last 34 games. PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 1: Philade-. phia reliever Jeff Parrett tried to low key his victorious first major-league start. "It's still the same old thing," said Parrett (3-6) after he pitched five innings as the Phillies beat visiting Atlanta.

"There is a catcher and an umpire and you try to get them out." Parrett gave up one run on four hits, striking out five and walking three. He started in place of Ken Howell, who did not pitch because of pain in his right armpit. The Phillies won for the fourth time in five games since returning home from an 0-6 road trip. NL ROUNDUP fit APWIREPHOTO Mets left-hander Frank Viola delivers during his four-hit shutout over the Astros on Tuesday night. REDS 2, EXPOS 0: Tom Browning retired the first 16 batters and combined with Randy Myers on a three-hitter as visiting Cincinnati beat Montreal, the Expos' sixth loss in seven games.

Browning (8-5), who pitched a perfect game in 1988 against Los Angeles, did not allow a runner until Spike Owen singled with one oiitin the sixth i J- I ANTS 4, CARDINALS 0: Undefeated Trevor Wilson pitched a five-hitter and Robby Thompson drove in three runs as San Francisco beat visiting St. Louis. Wilson (5-0), who pitched briefly for the Giants the last two years, walked two and struck out three in his second shutout of the season. He has allowed only two earned runs in his last 35 innings and lowered his ERA to 1.67. PIRATES 4, PADRES 3: Jay Bell singled home Jose Lind from second base with one out in the 14th inning to give Pittsburgh at win at San Diego, sending the Padres to their season-high sixth straight loss.

From Sun News Services over Chicago The Athletics' Rickey Henderson scores on Mark McGwire's sacrifice fly when Brewers catcher Charlie O'Brien can't handle the throw. Whitaker, Fielder power Tigers to 13-7 win going to full counts on each batter. "The adrenalin was going (in the ninth)," Salkeld said. "The whole game things went my way. I just tried to go with it." Salkeld (5-4), mixing up his fastball, curve, slider and effective changeup, retired nine batters in a row and 13 of 15 in the middle innings.

"I owe most of this outing to (pitching coach Chuck) Kniffin," Salkeld said. "He's done a lot for me. He's really got my mechanics down. I had a slider before this year but it wasn't very good and now it's good. That's because of him." Anything less from Salkeld might have been a problem because the Spirit offense left eight AL ROUNDUP of Chicago's runs were unearned as a result of four Detroit errors, three by shortstop Alan Tram-mell.

TWINS 7, RED SOX 3: Rookie Kevin Tapani scattered seven hits in 7 'a innings in outdueling Roger Clemens and Gary Gaetti hit a two-run triple as Minnesota won at home against Boston. The Red Sox lost for only the fifth time in 18 games and had their American League East lead sliced to 3 Va games over Toronto. INDIANS 9, MARINERS 4: Mitch Webster tripled home a run during a five-run first inning and added two RBI singles as Cleve downs California, 5-2 they try to get it under 10 before Sunday. And even more important to return to playing consistent baseball. "If you're playing well the break is a plus," said Dick Scho-field.

"If not it's to get rest. But you don't want to be down by double digits in August, otherwise it's just all uphill. And even nine down is better than 10 psychologically." Stottlemyre was pushed around for a run and three hits in the third. Wally Joyner drove in Johnny Ray who had a four-hit night with a single to center for his 39th RBI But the Blue Jays pushed right back in the bottom of the third. Junior Felix gave Toronto the lead with a two-run single off Blyleven.

California squared things in the fourth with three more hits. Luis Polonia's double scored Jack Howell, who delivered three hits, but Winfield struck out to end it. The pattern was set. "We just needed one more hit a whole bunch of times and weren't able to get it," said Lance Parrish. "It seemed like only certain guys hit.

I know I left a lot of guys on. And everytime I looked up, guys were on second and third." Seeing as how the Angels were squandering opportunities they left 10 men on base in the first five innings Toronto willfully went back in front in the fifth. Consecutive triples by Felix and Tony Fernandez broke the tie, and Kelly Gruber's grounder to first made it 4-2 Blue Jays. When Georgfr Bell walked and i Lou Whitaker drove in five Vuns with a homer and triple and Fielder had three RBIs with "his 27th homer and a single, leader ing the Detroit Tigers to a wild 13-7 victory over the White Sox in Chicago on Tuesday night. Whitaker hit his 11th home (run with two on in a five-run 'fourth, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, and he tripled itwo runs across in the fifth and scored on a double by Tony Phil--lips.

Fielder, who leads the majors win homers, connected in the first Winning after Phillips singled. Fielder also singled a run home jin the fourth. Sammy Sosa and Carlton Fisk -homered for the White Sox. Five Dodgers! Ninth-inning rally lifts LA. 1 7 7' land won at home and ended Seattle's five-game winning streak.

Cleveland starter Al Nipper (2-1) got his second straight win with his newly discovered knuckleball, giving up three runs and seven hits in five innings. ROYALS 6, YANKEES 1: Bo Jack-son homered, singled and doubled and Frank White moved into second place on Kansas City's all-time hit list, leading the Royals over visiting New York. White's single in the second inning was hit No. 1,978 of his 17-year career, putting him ahead of Amos Otis on the career chart. He also doubled in the eighth.

RANGERS 7, ORIOLES 2: Bobby Witt snapped a personal five-game losing streak against Balti Fred McGriff singled with two out, Blyleven was pulled in favor of Scott Bailes. Bailes surrendered an RBI double to Joe Olerud before bringing things to a close. Rader didn't think Blyleven whose allowed 19 earned runs in his last 22 innings (7.66 ERA) was locating the ball well, but Blyleven did not agree. "I thought the only bad pitch was to Fernandez. It was up," he said.

"Felix hit a good low curve, and so did Manny Lee." But no Blue Jay hit the ball as consistently as the Angels did. Nor did they get as little out of it as California did, either. Angels notes Back spasms forced Chill Davis out of the starting lineup. He was replaced by Max Venable, who along with Devon White went hltless. Donnle Hill's ankle, bruised in Monday's game, was too sore to play on.

Kelruber's wife, Lynn, is expecting their first child and Qruber said doctors will Induce labor today. "They say the first one can be a couple weeks late and I didn't want her to go through that as long as this Is OK," Qruber said. The name will be Cortney If It's a girl, and Kody it it's a boy Doug Rader said he will make some recommendations on Ail-Star selections if asked by Tony La Russa, but so far he hasn't been queried. Chuck Fintey still appears to be the obvious Angels selectee. If La Russa decides on two Angels, Lance Parrish has an excellent chance.

Further fallout from the Flnley search during the second Inning In Cleveland on Monday. "I don't think Mac Is a gamesman," said Rader, on John McNamara having the umpires examine Flnley on the mound for Illegal substances. "If they went through that, he had a suspicion and that's his right. And the forkball, when It works can act like a spitter." Rader added with a smirk, however, "If I had something Illegal I certainly wouldn't hide It In a batting glove." Angels starters have not allowed a home run In their last 43 inlngs, and ditto for the relievers In their last 44 thelr22nd consecutive sellout Tuesday, the Jays set a major league record for reaching two million In attendance in the fewest home dates (44). The old mark (46) belonged to the 1982 Dodgers.

Angels: Toronto Continued fromC1 fifteen hits, equaling the season high set on May 26 against Milwaukee. That day California had 10 runs. But this time 13 runners were left on base. Twelve of the hits were singles and none came in the clutch, pointing up another serious glitch. In their last three games the Angels are 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position and two out, and are 2-for-24 in the past five games.

On the season they are batting .201 collectively (63314) in those situations. A home run would have helped. But California hasn't had one of those in its last four games, equaling a similar streak May 4-7. "There's no need to overana-lyze it," said manager Doug Rad-er. "We just dn't make the pitches when we had to or get the hits Jvhen we had to.

We got 15 hits put it wasn't good enough." Bert Blyleven (7-5) was the guy who didn't pitch good enough. He lasted only 4 innings and was charged with all five runs on seven hits. Stottlemyre improved to 9-7. Tom Henke, who got the last two puts in the ninth, earned his 14th save. i "You can hang a lot of laundry In the Sky Dome tomorrow because there were a lot of ropes left out there," said Stottlemyre, Who gave up 10 hits and both runs.

"They got me out before someone got hurt." At the moment it's the Angels who are hurting. They're now down ll'i games to Oakland as the season reaches the halfway point.t would seem imperative Continued fromC1 ed only three hits over the next seven innings. Which should have made it a lock. The Dodgers had entered the ninth trailing 34 times this season and had lost all 34. But Bielecki walked Mike Scioscia to start the inning and then Samuel unloaded his sixth home run of the year to pull L.A.

within one. "I wasn't the tying run, so I was just trying to get on base," Samuel said. "I got a good pitch to hit." Apparently. He crushed it. Paul Assenmacher took over for Bielecki and immediately walked Alfredo Griffin.

The Dodgers' first bit of good fortune then happened when the Cubs elected to have third baseman Domingo Ramos hug the line, guarding against the extra-base hit. Pinch-hitter Mike Sharperson bounced a hit into left, past where Ramos would have been playing. Lenny Harris' sacrifice bunt moved up the runners and brought up Gibson, who had already struck out twice, with the infield in. Gibson fell behind 1-2 to Assenmacher and then tried to check his swing. His bat appeared to cross the plate, but the Cubs' appeal to third base umpire Fred Brocklander went for naught.

"That's a tough call," Assenmacher said. "I didn't get the call, but you have to come back and make the next pitch." Gibson then hit a grounder to the right side between Mark Grace and Ryne Sandberg for a hit. Both runners scored and the Dodgers had done something they hadn't managed all season. "I haven't had a lot of luck," Gibson said. "That was a lucky at-bat.

I wasn't swinging good, but I battled. Sharpy bounced one through, too. That's called fate.V That's called take It anyway you can get it. The Dodgers had been on the other end of these before, three times losing games in the ninth they had led, and knew what the Cubs were feeling. "This is the toughest loss of the year," said Cubs shortstop Shawon Dunston.

The victory kept the Dodgers 10Va games behind the Reds in the NL West, still in third place. The position just felt a little sweeter now. "We have the kind of club that can come back," Sharperson said. It just took 77 games for it foshow. APWIREPHOTO Terry Wells throws a pitch in his major-league debut for the Dodgers on Tuesday night against Chicago.

Wells looked good and bad in his debut. He threw hard and fired the ball by several hitters, but gave up a pair of home runs and threw two balls away to first for errors. "He did a good job," said manager Tommy La-, sorda. "He showed us he can get the ball by hitters. He had a little trouble with his breaking ball, which we knew." Wells said he bruised his hand during batting, practice and was unable to get his normal firm grip on the ball to throw effective breaking balls.

"I didn't feel I had anywhere near good stuff," Wells said. "I had trouble squeezing the ball. I was throwing fastballs all night. I got away with it most, of the time. "Now I'm really looking forward to my nexti chance." Dodgers notes Outfielder Stan Javier may have been the Dodgers' hottest hitter i lately, but he's back on the bench with the semi-healthy return of outfielders Kirk Gibson and Kal Daniels.

Javier has hit In 18of his last 19 games, batting .412 (28 for 68). Javier, however, has been bothered by a sore index finger. A precautionary X-ray taken Tuesday showed no fracture. The Dodgers were the only organization In baseball to have all four of their farm teams finish the first half above the .500 mark. Catcher Mike Scioscia returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore calf.

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