European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. August 7.1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports Oakland moves to the top by it associated press Oakland Calif fresh rum the minors Jose Rijo pitched 5v Strong innings made one hallelujah catch and helped put the Oakland athletics in fir i place this late in the season fur the first time in six years. Rijo allowed Only five hits reliever Gene Nelson threw jew innings of no hit Ball and Jose Canseco hit his 23rd Homer wednesday As Oakland beat the sail in mariners 3-1, the Victory nudged the a s a few percentage Points a Roundup ahead of the Minnesota twins who lost 6-1 to califor Nia. Oakland and Minnesota were to Start a four game series in the Melr dome on thursday. This was special to me not just because i won but because i came Here and put the learn in first place said Rijo brought up from Tacoma of the Pacific coast league for his third stint with the a s this year As replacement Foi injured Joaquin Andujar. I think i can do the Job the rest of the year Rijo said. Of i of Back one More time i think Lilicy won t have to pay for a plane ticket. The airline will give me a free  the last time the athletics were in first place late in the season was Cpl. 26, 1981. In inc second half of that strike shortened season. The last time they were in first place in August of a full season was 1975. When icy last won an american league West division title. Rijo 2-5, walked four and struck nut four before leaving Wilh a 2-1 Lead. Nelson picked up his second sea Al on Page 26 to Jackson houses a football to Mark Gubicza far right As teammates relax in the royals dugout. I m going to try to get it done Jackson seeks same status As Thorpe Kansas City to. Map to Jackson says the Kansas City royals have a Surprise coming if icy think one season with the los Angeles raid ers will get football out of his system. They probably said Well we should let him try then hell see it in t for him,"1 Jackson said. Thai was one of the reasons i got the of to play football and baseball. They have a right to think what they want. Let them think thai Way that s  Jackson stunned the royals july 11 by announcing thai he would sign a contract Wilh the raiders to play football after the baseball season was Over. He has signed a contract reportedly Worth $7.4 million Over five years. Jackson has declined to confirm the figures. Jackson refused to say whether he would have left Kansas City if the royals had insisted he choose Between the two sports "1 Don i Deal with hypothetical questions he told the Kansas City Star from Detroit where the royals ended a three game series with the tigers on wednesday. Anything can happen. I wish i could Sec that far Down the Road but i can t. Well just have to see what  Jackson said he is surprised by the commotion his signing Wilh the raid ers has caused. People still talk about Jim Thorpe and a few others that played two sports in i hair lifetime he said Well i wanted to be remembered As one of those people. 1 have the Opportunity to do it and i m going to try to do it. And Good or bad i m going to try to gel it done. I just refuse to be average on the Field or off. I Don t want to be seen As an average athlete or anything else. 1 am not an average Man. Why should 1 be criticized for that Jackson was batting .256 with 20 Home runs and 49 runs batted in after tuesday s game. He had struck out 139 times. He is booed in Ever at Bai in Kan Sas City where the raiders Are consid ered the most hated rivals of the Kan Sas cily chiefs. "1 would have played for them the chiefs in a second Jackson said. If the chiefs had drafted me i would have said let s go for it to Tell you the truth i would have played for any team that s committed to winning. 1 was out there for anyone to Lake and the raiders were the one who took a shot. Life is constant Gamble. The raid Cis took one. And now i m taking  reds Down Valenzuela dodgers 6-3 by the associated press Cincinnati Dave Collins and Dave concepeion hit run scoring infield singles that sparked a four run Sish in Ning against Fernando Valc Nucla and carried the Cincinnati reds to a 6-3 Vic tory wednesday night Over inc los an Geles dodgers the reds batted around in the Smith against Valc Nucla 9-9, to snap a 2-2 tie no Roundup and give the Victory to Ron Robinson 5 3, who scattered five hits Over six innings. John Franco pitched the final in Ning for his 19llisavc. Valenzula has struggled against the reds losing seven of his last 10 Deci Sions against Cincinnati and failing to win at riverfront stadium since june 13, 1983. He is 6-8 lifetime against the reds. Eric Davis led off the reds sixth with his second walk of the game and look third on Dave Paiker s single. Collins infield single scored Davis. To Din advanced the runners with a sacrifice before Nick Esasky Drew an intentional walk. Concepeion s bad hop in Field single off third baseman Jiff Hamil ton Lloyd Mclendon s sacrifice Fly and Barry Larkin s single to right produced three More runs. Walks also led to iwo Cincinnati runs in the first when buddy Dell and Davis Drew bases on balls with one out a throwing error by shortstop Mariano Duncan let in the firs run and to Diaz s single scored the other. The dodgers tied in in the fourth. Pedro Guerrero and Mike Marshall opened the inning with doubles for one run and Marshall moved to third on Mike Scioscia s ground out. Mickey Hatcher singled to left through a drawn in infield to score Marshall in other games wednesday pirates 10, cubs 0 Pittsburgh Brian Fisher shut out Chicago for the second Lime this sea see no on Page 26 Niekro gets 10-Day suspension new York a knuckle Baller Joe Niekro of the Minnesota twins Drew a 10-Day suspension wednesday for pitching a defaced baseball against the California Angels on monday night when he was found to have an Emery Board in his pocket. American league president Bobby Brown announced the suspension based on a report by the umpiring Crew examination of five baseballs from the game the Emery Board and a videotape of the game. The league said Niekro had informed it through the twins that he would Appeal the suspension which would be held in abeyance pending a hearing. Llu after wednesday s game with California Niekro said he May not follow through with an Appeal if a hearing Dale might jeopardise his . Niekro said thai if a hearing were scheduled for late August and his suspension upheld he might be Ost Lac roster on sept. 1. If i m not on the Rosier sept. I i May pol be Eligi ble for the playoffs a Ekro said. Well just have to wait and  asked whether he would feel compelled to accept the suspension if such a scheduling conflict occurs Niekro said i d have to really t just Hae 10 Wail and talk to twins executive vice president Andy Mac 1 Hail. I really Haven t found out what was in the report Nickroo said. We re going to talk Wilh Macl Hail to Morrow find out How the rotation goes and when the hearing will  the 42-year-old right hander the fire player to he suspended for do cling has Halls since Gaylord Perry was suspended for 10 Days ill i9s2, is scheduled to Pilch Friday night against the a s in Minneapolis. Niekro. Whose older Hru Lher Phil pitches for the see Niekro on Page 26