European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Astros Nab sole Lead in no West Houston apr the Houston As Iros Are taking a Page from the Story written by the twins and braves last season. Last in the no West in 1991, the astros moved into sole Possession of first place monday night by beating san Francisco 3-2 As Mark Portugal pitched seven Strong innings and Craig Biggio homered. The astros who have won five straight were last alone in first place on june 12, 1989. Houston 8-5, has two games left in its season opening 15-game Home stand. Of course there is a Long Way to go. A i did no to want to put a lot of pressure on this team Early a manager Art Howe said. A but opening up at Home 1 wanted us to get off to a Good  see Page 26 for other no games Portugal 2-0 gave up one run and five hits while striking out five and walking one. Doug Jones pitched the last two innings for his fifth save allowing two hits and one run. Portugal is 9-2 lifetime against the giants with a 2.39 Era and 7-0 at the Astrodome with a 1.24 Era. �?o1 can to explain it a Portugal said �?o1 wish i could pitch that Way against every club. I like to pitch against this  a the key to beating this club is getting ahead of hitters and not letting the first two hitters on base so will Clark and Matt Williams can t drive them  Biggio led off the Bottom of the first against loser Dave Burba 0-2 with his first Home run of the season. Pete Incaviglia added an rib single in the inning. Biggio extended his hitting Streak to four games and is hitting .500 in the last nine games 16 for 32. San Francisco which entered the game tied for first with Houston made it 2-1 in the fourth when will Clark doubled and scored on Kevin Basso single. The astros added a run in the sixth when Jeff Bagwell led off with a walk moved to second on Incaviglia a single advanced to third on a Fly Ball and scored on Eddie Tau bin see a single. The stars and stripes april 22, 1992 Page 28tears of a Champion Ibrahim Hussein wipes away tears alter winning his third Boston Marathon monday. Hussein a native of Kenya was timed in 2 08 15. Stars grab 2-0 Edge on wings Home ice by the associated press the Minnesota North stars last years Surprise finalists Are following an old script with a slight twist. Jon Casey whose Brilliant goal ending led the North stars into the finals last year put on another Superb performance on monday night at Detroit to Lead the North stars to a 4-2 Victory Over the Detroit red wings and a 2-0 Lead in their Norris division semifinal series. The twist Minnesota never led 2-0 last year when it shocked the nil by advancing to the Stanley cup finals. A there is just no Way we could have thought we could win two in Detroit a Minnesota coach Bob Gainey said after the North stars won their second straight game at Joe Louis Arena. In the other Norris division series St. Louis pulled even with Chicago with a 5-3 Victory in game 2. In the smythe division it was Vancouver 3, Winnipeg 2 and los Angeles 8, Edmonton 5. Both series Are 1-1. Last year Minnesota ousted Chicago and St. Louis in six games then beat Edmonton in Casey five before bowing to Pittsburgh. The North stars opened each series on the Road last year by winning the first game and losing the second. This time Detroit the division champions and third Overall in the nil with 98 Points out shot the North stars 31-20 a but Casey was equal to the task. Minnesota got Power play goals from Mike Modano and Dave Gagner in the first period sandwiched around an even strength goal by Detroit a Paul Ysebaert then took a 3-1 Lead on Derrick Smiths second nil playoffs Alan Kerr scored 41 seconds into the third period but Casey preserved the Lead until Gaetan Duchesne hit the empty net with 7 seconds left. Blues 5, Blackhawk 3 Chicago a Jeff Brown broke a 3-3 tie late in the second period As St. Louis downed Chicago. Brown a defens Emen sneaked in from the right Point took Bob Bassen a pass out and beat de Belfour Low to the Glove Side from the lower right Circle at 16 42. The blues preserved the Lead until Dave Christian scored into an empty net with 21 seconds left in the game sending the series Back to St. Louis on wednesday All even. Chris Chelios had a pair of Power play goals As the Blackhawk took a 3-2 Lead after one period. Brett hulls shorthanded goal tied it before Brown put the blues ahead. Canucks 3, jets 2 Vancouver British Columbia a Jyrki Lummes tie breaking goal at 8 47 of the third period gave the canucks a series tying Victory. Igor Larionova a Cross ice pass found Lumme who beat goaltender Rich Tabaracci for his first goal of the series. The jets trailed 2-1 after two periods but tied the score at 2 53 of the final period on Aaron Broten a goal. Kings 8, oilers 5 los Angeles a the oilers past outplayed their present As the Kings evened the series. Wayne Gretzky had four assists and four other members of the oilers dynasty had goals for los Angeles. Paul Coffey scored twice and Marty Mcsorley Charlie Huddy and Jari Kerri each had one goal As the sex oilers combined for five goals and eight  hobbling stars before playoffs by Bill Barnard a basketball writer How Are you feeling that a the question for Michael Jordan in Chicago Larry Bird in Boston Clyde Drexler in Portland Chris Mullin in Oakland and David Robinson in san Anto Aba Nio. Injuries the great playoff equalizer Are popping up nearly everywhere in the Days before the Aba postseason schedule begins thursday night. Jordan who strained his lower Back while scoring 32 Points in sunday s sea son finale against Detroit underwent 45 minutes of treatment after the game. The six time scoring Champion predicted he will be Fine by the time the bulls face the Miami heat in game 1 of their Best-of-5 series Friday night. The news was equally Good in Portland where Drexler sat out the last four games of the regular season because of a sprained right knee. He went full Speed through a workout monday and said he was ready. The Trail blazers top seeded in the Western conference face the los Angeles lakers who overcame Long Odds to make the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. The series starts thursday one Day less than Jordan has to recover. A thursday is Fine. I can to wait to get started Quot said Drexler who averaged 25 Points this season. Bird who missed the last eight games of the season a All celtic victories As they earned the no. 2 seeding position in the Eastern conference a is doubtful for Bostons opener against Indiana thursday. The team had an off Day monday and spokesman Jeff Twiss said Bird was expected to attend today a workout although it was not known if he would be Able to take part because of continuing Back problems. Mullin whose 25.6 average was just ahead of Drexler a injured his right leg sunday against Seattle the warriors opponent in a series starting thursday. Warriors team physician or. Robert Albo on monday said Mullin should be healed in time. Albo said the All Star Forward suffered a sprained right ankle and strained right calf. Definitely out for the first round of the playoffs is Robinson san Antonious Allstar Center who missed the last 14 games of the season and underwent surgery for ligament damage in his left thumb. The spurs play at fourth seeded Phoenix beginning Friday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers who matched the Best regular season in franchise history with a 57-25 record will face new Jersey thursday with several top players nursing nagging injuries. Mark prices right thigh and left knee Are encased in bandages. Craig Ehlow a left knee is strapped in a Bulky Brace. Brad Daugherty winces at the pain in his lower Back each Lime he sits Down or stands up. Besides Chicago Cleveland and Boston the other Eastern conference series Start inside sports final Aba statistics playoff slate a Page 24 Walker s summer olympics bid hits snags a Page 25 mariners Johnson Blanks twins a Page 26 Bronco sues Hob Over nudity on film a Page 26 in new York on Friday night when the kicks play Host to Detroit. In the West in addition to the lakers at Portland and Seattle at Golden state on thursday night and san Antonio at Phoenix on Friday night the los Angeles clippers Are at Utah on Friday