European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 30, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 26 the stars and stripes saturday july 30,1988 astros defeat padres await dodger series by the associated press san Diego the Houston As Rosare ready and waiting for the first place los Angeles dodgers. Bill Doran s two run Homer sparked Athree run first inning and Bob Knepper and Larry Andersen combined on a nine hitter As Houston Defeated the san Diego padres 3-2 thursday. The astros who Trail the dodgers by5 /2 in the National league West were to open a three game series in los Angele Friday night seven of their next 10 games Are against the dodgers. We re close enough where we can control our own destiny said Doran. We re not in a situation yet where behave to have everyone s help. We still have a lot of games left with them. If Wedo our jobs we can close the margin Down a Little Billy Hatcher led off the first against Eric Snow 7-10, with a ground Rule Dou ble to left Center and Doran hit an 0-2pitch to right for his sixth Homer. It certainly was t anything i was try ing to do Doran said. I was just trying to pull the Ball on the ground to get Hatcher Over to third base. It was a mis take but i la take Terry Puhl then singled and Kevin ass walked. Both runners advanced on a double steal As buddy Bell struck out and Puhl scored on a groundnut by Craig Reynolds. The double steal gave Houston 154stolen bases for the season tops in the major leagues. Knepper 11-3, pitched six innings Al lowing seven hits walking two and strik ing out three. Andersen gave up two hit Sand struck out three in three innings to earn his fifth save. In other games thursday reds 5, braves 2 Atlanta Nick Esasky hit his Sec no Roundup Ond ninth inning game winning Homerin two Days. The Homer Esasky s third in the four tame series came off Rookie John Moltz 1-1, making his second major league Start. With one out in the ninth Eric Davis doubled and Paul o Neill was walked intentionally. Esasky then hit a 1 1 pitch to left for his 10th Homer and14th lifetime at Atlanta. Frank Williams 1-1, pitched one in Ning. John Franco worked the ninth to earn his National league leading 21stsave and 11 the in his last 11 appearances. Davis who went 3 for 4, tied the Gam for the reds in the seventh when he led off with his 17th Home run. Cubs 7, Phillies 0 Philadelphia Calvin Schiraldi pitched a three hitter for his first major league Complete game and Manny trill drove in two runs with a Homer and sin Gle As Chicago snapped a three game los ing Streak. Schiraldi 6-8, struck out four walked four and did not allow a runner past second base. He gave up a single to Juan Samuel with one out in the sixth a Dou ble to Mike Young in the seventh an single to Mike Schmidt in the ninth. Schiraldi who singled in a run in the ninth was making his 121st major league appearance and 26th Start. Shane Rawley 5-12, has lost six straight and is wingless since june 13. Andre Dawson went 4 for 4 to Lead a16-hit attack and has 15 hits in his last 25 at bats. Mitch Webster and dam Jackson each had three hits. Expos 4, cardinals 3 Montreal Pinch hitter Grai Nettles two out single in the 10th inning scored Rex Hudler As Montreal won it fifth straight game and improved to 15-4 a padres Roberto Alomar vaults astros Craig Reynolds in getting off double play throw. In extra inning games this season. The expos stole a season High six bases the most against St. Louis this year. Hudler led off the 10th with a single off Larry Mcwilliams 4-4. He took Sec Ond on Otis Nixon s sacrifice bunt stole third and scored one out later on Nettles hit off reliever John costello. Winner Tim Burke 3-2, the third Montreal Pitcher worked two tied the game for the expos in the eighth when he singled stole his Sec Ond and third bases of the game and scored on a wild pitch by Todd Worrell. Al from Page 21 be in Center of Blue jays storm in 8 a innings As the orioles beat Cleve land. Peraza 25, was a Catcher when designed with the Toronto organization in 1981. Impressed with his Arm but not his.199 average the Blue jays made him a Pitcher in 1983. He made it to the majors this year after Baltimore acquired him in a Trade last summer. I think i have Good enough stuff Buti have to learn a lot yet because this league is Tough Peraza said. He relied heavily on his sinking Fork Ball thursday in his longest Outing yet. Cleveland s Julio Franco went hit Lessin four plate appearances to end his Ca reer High hitting Streak at 22 games. The Streak was the longest in the american league this year surpassing Franco sown 21-game skein earlier in the year. Angels 7, White sox 6 Chicago Brian Downing who earlier had a two run Homer hit a two out Home run in the 11th inning Leadin California Over Chicago. Downing s Homer his 16th of the year marked the eighth time he has hit two homers in one game. Toronto a the new Yankees Are baseball s longest running soap opera. But when they arrive at exhibition stadium for a weekend series they la have to take a Back seat to the Toronto Blue jays. At the Center of the storm is the ques Tion of whether manager Jimy Williams will put petulant outfielder George Bellback in the lineup. Bell and Williams got into a shouting match tuesday in a game in Minneapolis after Bell made his 13th error of the sea son and sixth in seven games. It s the latest Battle in a season Long feud Between them and just part of a season that has seen Little go right for the jays. Bell was benched for wednesday s 4-1victory, and there was no indication thursday from Williams that the 1987american league most valuable player would not remain there. It s the latest chapter in a sad sea$9nfor the Blue jays. Toronto which lost its last seven games in 1987 to hand the Aleast title to Detroit is mired in sixth place with a 50-52 record 10 games be Hind the front running tigers and 9 /2 behind the second place Yankees. The Blue jays Best Pitcher Jimmy key has missed much of the season with a sore Arm. Bell Jesse Barfield and lloy Moseby a most productive Outfield through the 1980s, have struggled All sea son a Mirror of the problems that have beset the team. Toronto fans upset by their team dragged play this season have alternated sides in the Bell Williams Battle. For awhile Bell whose Home run production has dropped from 47 last season to 13 in102 games in 1988, was the focal Point of their displeasure. Then they began razing Williams relentlessly As he made pitching changes. There were rumours of a meeting planned thursday among Bell Williams and general manager Pat Gillick but club spokesman said it did not take place. Instead a War of words broke out. Gillick termed the Bell situation an open wound which Randy Hendricks Bell s Houston based agent suggested could be healed with a Trade. Gillick said Bell is available forthright Price and added it would t bother me if George went Bell who signed a two year contractor nearly $4 million during the off sea son has been feuding with management since Spring training when he Learned of plans to make him a designated la see who lasts longer with the organization him Williams or me Bell said. Williams in turn has been frustrated by Bell s Lack of concentration defensively As Well As his decline at the , who fought the move to do by claiming he was More than adequate inthe Field already has tied a team record for errors by an outfielder. But Williams is stuck with Bell As his left fielder. The do platoon of right handed hitting Cecil fielder and lefty swinging Ranee Mulliniks has been one of the few offensive highlights for the Blue jays. Veteran Catcher Ernie Whitt May Bethe next Blue Jay to go Public with his discontent. Whitt 36, mentioned retirement to announcer Jerry Howarth on wednes Day. Whin s contract runs out this sea son although the Blue jays have an option to renew for 1989 at $800,000. He said he was planning an announcement before Friday night s game. Few players announce their retirement in mid season especially when they con Sider themselves still marketable. Whitt sarm has lost some zip but he s a left handed hitting Catcher a scarce commodity and is considered outstanding at calling a game
