European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 a the stars and stripes sunday october 14,1990pittsburgh came close so close in tight no series ii a m. 4 Psi Dak by Bob Nightengale los Angeles times Cincinnati a carmelo Martinez sat in front of his locker Friday night in the Pittsburgh pirates clubhouse quietly stuffing his clothes into his Duffel bag. Then he grabbed his half empty can of Beer and Flung it across the room. A we did no to do anything tonight a he said a just like we did t do anything the whole series. None of us did  just minutes earlier Martinez was inches away from becoming a Folk hero in Pittsburgh hitting a ninth inning fastball that travelled about 340 feet about six inches Over the right Field Wall. The trouble was Cincinnati right fielder Glenn Braggs Glove was six inches Over the Wall too and when he brought it Back Down the Ball was inside robbing Martinez of a two run Homer. A you know i really did no to think i hit it that Well a Martinez said. A but then i saw him going Back and Back. Then i thought i had a Chance. Then i thought i had it. Then i saw him and i wanted to get  there was a Long pause and then someone asked if Martinez had seen the replay like the rest of his teammates. A no a he said quietly a and to Tell you the truth i never want to see  said pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyck a can you believe it we were so close so close to sending this baby to a seventh game. And i think we would have won. I think we would have gotten to reds from Page 17 used to third when Slaughte a throw went into Center Field for an error. Larkin held at third on hatchery a groundnut to first and Power walked of Neill. Eric Davis then hit a potential inning ending double play to Short but second baseman Jose Lind could not make the relay to first when the Ball got stuck in his Glove As Larkin scored. It was an ugly inning in a series dominated by spectacular defense. During the season the reds were 39-13 when they scored in the first inning. Power who saved game 1, made 40 reds Pitcher Jose Rijo. What two More inches and we re there two More Lousy inches can you believe it a the reds 2-1 winners Are National league champions winning the series four games to two and hosting the opening game of the world series tuesday against the Oakland athletics. A i done to think ill bother watching it a pirates outfielder Barry Bonds said a because its going to Hurt too much. We should have been there. We were the better team All season. No one can Tell me differently. But this series Man i done to know what happened. I hate to say it but they were the better club in this  it will be a series remembered for its pitching with Only 35 runs scored. It will be a series remembered for its spectacular defense with a record Low or seven errors being committed for a six game series. It will be a series remembered for its closeness with four games decided by one run and one other by two runs. But for Pittsburgh it probably will be remembered for its futility at the plate. The pirates hit .194 during the series even with 14 extra base hits in the six games. Their three All Star outfielders a Bonds Bobby Bonilla and Van Slyke a combined for a .190 batting average three extra base hits and five Bis. A really it was a great series a said Van Slyke. A we done to have anything to be ashamed about. That a going to be hard to live with during the  appearances during the season without making a Start. The last Pitcher to Start a postseason game who worked exclusively in Relief during the season was Philadelphia a Jim Konstanty in the first game of the 1950 world series. _ a i wanted to get a few innings out of him a Leyland said. A i wanted to Start a right hander and keep Hal Morris out of the lineup. Ted did a great Job. We did no to get the hits when we needed  Power a former red entered the game with an 0-4 lifetime record and 6.75 Era against Cincinnati. Larkin singled with one out in the third and Smith As originally billed finally got in the game. Hatcher followed with a hit and run single to Send Larkin to third but first baseman Martinez came Home with pirates Catcher Don Slaught and reds Barry Larkin collide in rundown. Larkin was out of Neil a a grounder to Nail Larkin at the plate. Bell bobbled Davis grounder for his second error to Load the bases. Chris Sabo ended the inning when Andy Van Slyke caught his Fly Ball in front of the 404-Mark in Center Field. Jackson hurled perfect baseball until walking Bonds with one out in the fifth. Martinez followed with an rib double to right Field for the pirates Only hit. The reds blew a scoring Chance in the sixth when they left the bases loaded. Of Neill led off with a single and moved to third when right fielder . Reynolds lost Davis sinking liner for a single and an error putting runners at second and third. After Sabo popped out Todd Ben Zinger was intentionally walked to Load the bases. Smith then fanned Mariano Duncan and retired Joe Oliver on a pop to second. Oliver hit three homers off Smith this season. The pirates chased Jackson when Bonilla and Bonds led off the seventh with walks. Charlton came on and retired the Side without damage. Bonds and Bonilla failed to get big hits throughout the series hurting the pirates chances of winning their first no Pennant since 1979. Bonds Bonilla and Van Slyke hit a combined 12 for 63 .190 with five Bis. A we just never got going a said Bonds who was 3 for 18, .167. A obviously this team did no twin because we did no to hit. It sort of spoils the season. People will forget All the Good  a s play. And recover Oakland Calif. On their first Day Back to business the Oakland athletics did the two most important things they Hope to do while they wait for the world series they played and they recovered. The recovery was critical since seven players a All of them starters a Are bothered by injuries that Range from significant to Small. The most severe is a strained ligament in Walt Weiss left knee that might keep the shortstop out of the series which opens tuesday night. Tony la Russa the athletics manager is not Likely to make a decision on the availability of Weiss until monday or tuesday. But Weiss asked Friday if there was any question he would be ready said a yeah there a a lot of question. In a not going to be a fool and go out there if i can to perform Well. There a just no sense doing  neither Weiss nor Jose Canseco who has a jammed Middle Finger in his right hand took part in batting practice Friday although Canseco played right Field in a simulated game at the Oakland coliseum. A year ago during a 10-Day interruption of the world series caused by the Bay area earthquake the a a played simulated games regularly to stay Sharp. Barry Weinberg the a Strainer said it was Likely Canseco would play in the series opener. But he was non committal on Weiss who was Hurt sunday when Ellis Burks the red sox outfielder Slid into him at second base during game 2 of the Al playoffs. While saying that Weiss condition has improved Weinberg also said a we want to get the soreness out and his Range of motion Back before he tries to  Weinberg said several other players were also Hurt Willie Mcgee ribs Dave Henderson knee Rickey Henderson jammed right thumb Harold Baines sore knee and Carney Lansford chronic Back problem Pittsburgh retires Doughty Leyland Pittsburgh apr the Pittsburgh pirates lost a game and a Pennant but general manager Larry Doughty did no to lose his Job. Doughty who feared being fired after a late season roster Shafii and manager Jim Leyland reached terms on new two year contracts just before the pirates season ending 2-1 loss to Cincinnati Friday night. Leyland a current contract signed last year was a two year Deal Worth about $500,000. The pirates manager since 1986, Leyland is now signed through 1993. Doughty whose contract expires oct. 31, wanted three years but agreed to a two year Extension plus an option year and is sighed through the 1992 season. Doughty a status was seriously in doubt in mid Auw in he mistakenly placed top minor league outfielders Julio Peguero Ana Wes Chamberlain on waivers. Doughty thought the waivers could be withdrawn if the players were claimed Only to learn they were irrevocable. The Philadelphia Phillies claimed both but allowed Doughty to save face by including the two in a Trade for outfielder carmelo Martinez