European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 8, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes May 8,1992 Page 28 mailman posts 30 As jazz rocks sonics inside sports Blackhawk up 3-0 on wings a Page 22 czechs Pound Leblanc team Usa a Page 22 a Stop tigers As Stewart stews a Page 25 Cordero retires As jockey a Page 27 Salt Lake City a the Utah jazz  have chosen a better time to solve their problems at Delta Center against Seattle. The jazz an Aba Best 41-4 at Home in 1991-92, lost twice to the supersonics Here in the regular season. But on wednesday night Utah Rode Karl Malone a 30 Points to a 108-100 Victory in the opener of their Western conference semifinal. Malone who also grabbed 10 rebounds credited the jazz defense. A it was definitely the key for us. Defense wins ballgames a said Malone who scored 16 Points in Utah a 35-Point fourth Quarter. Seattle coach George Karl whose sonics led 74-73 going into the final 12 minutes said his players seemed tired As the game wound Down a despite not having played since april 30, when they finished dispatching Golden state 3-1. Utah last played on monday defeating see Page 22 for related stories the los Angeles clippers in the decisive fifth game of their first round series. A they seemed to have More Energy than we did in the fourth Quarter a Karl Malone  Tyrone Corbin scored 23 Points and Jeff Malone 22 for Utah which plays Host to the supersonics again Friday night in the second game of the Best-of-7 series. Derrick Mckey had 20 Points and Shawn Kemp 19 for the sonics. John Stockton had 16 Points and 15 assists for the jazz. Seattle a Small margin at the beginning of the fourth Quarter was Short lived As Karl Malone hit a Basket and four foul shots in an 8-0 run that started the period. Nate Mcmillan a 20-footer and Ricky Pierce breakaway pulled the sonics to 8178 with 9 02 left but they got no closer. The jazz led by 14 Points in the third Quarter Lead after a 12-4 run. But Mckey scored six Points and Eddie Johnson five As Seattle closed the Quarter by scoring 17 of the last 19 Points for a one Point Lead. Utah led 29-25 after the first Quarter before Johnson a 17-footer and Mcmillan a steal and Layup tied the score 29-29. After Seattle took the Lead 39-38, on Dana Barros Basket the jazz countered with a 17-6 run with Stockton driving the Lane for three baskets. Jeff Malone hit a technical foul shot on an illegal defense Call against Seattle along with two baskets including a 14-footer that gave Utah a 55-45 Lead less than three minutes before halftime. Kempis tip in and a pair of foul shots by Johnson closed the Gap to 57-51 at halftime. Thursday s baseball Rick Mears Chevy skids upside Down along the Indianapolis motor Speedway during wednesdays practice run. Mears survives indy crash Indianapolis apr Rick Mears the four time and defending Indianapolis 500 Champion escaped serious injury in a horrifying crash wednesday during practice for the May 24 race. Mears who never lost consciousness was taken by ambulance to nearby methodist Hospital where his injuries were diagnosed As a fractured left foot and a sprained right wrist. Both were placed in temporary splints and Mears was released. Or. Henry Bock the Speedway medical director said the possibility of Mears driving again this month will be evaluated on a Day to Day basis. Mears was shaking Down one of team Pensker a 1991 Penske Chevrolet a backup cars. He had just completed a Lap at 213.310 Mph when smoke spewed from the engine compartment. As Mears drove through turn 2 on the 2.5-mile Oval the rear of the car running Over water from a broken Une in the engine a team spokesman said slipped and began sliding. It spun nearly 180 degrees slamming the Concrete Wall with the left Side of the car. Pieces flew in every direction As the tub the compartment carrying the 40-year-old Mears momentarily turned upside Down then Slid 730 feet on its Side. The three time indy car series Champion still limps from serious foot and ankle injuries sustained in a crash in september 1984. Another crash wednesday came with about 15 minutes remaining in the session. On turn 4 when japanese Rookie Kenji Momota lost control spun and slammed into the Wall with the right rear of his car which then spun slowly to a Stop on the front Straightaway. Momota bruised his right leg and was taken to methodist Hospital for a rays and evaluation. Teammates Jim Crawford and Roberto Guerrero both driving Buick powered Lolas again were the fastest of the fast As practice continued Kir the indy 500 on May 24. Crawford who set the unofficial track Standard on monday with a Lap of 233.433 Mph got up to 233.239, while Guerrero raised his fast Lap to 231.558. Michael Andretti also improved his personal Best at the Speedway to 231.535, while his father and teammate Mario became the fourth Driver to get above the 230 Mph Barrier hitting 231.124.Swift wins 6th with 4-hitter against cards by the associated press St. Louis a Bill Swift became the National leagues first six game Winner thursday staying perfect with a four hit shutout of St. Louis that Roke the cards four game winning Streak. Matt Williams two run Homer in the fourth off Rookie Donovan Osborne 3-1 accounted for the Only runs. It was the seventh Homer of the season for Williams who entered the game hitting .189 and the first Given up by Osborne in five starts spanning 3614 innings. Swift struck out four and walked one in while see Page 26 for thursday in the no Osborne allowed seven hits and struck out ten in his eight innings. It was the second shutout for Swift who lowered his league leading Era to 1.29 after coming to the giants from Seattle in the Deal that involved Kevin Mitchell. He faced Only 29 batters As the cards hit into the three double plays. The biggest threat he faced came in the first when he got Todd Zeile to ground into a double play with runners on first and third. In the third after Ray Lankford doubled with two outs he got Ozzie Smith to ground out. Swift became the first san Francisco Pitcher to go 6-0. Trevor Wilson started 5-0 two seasons ago. In another Early game monday reds 4, met 2 Cincinnati a Rob Dibble a sensational Relief pitching and two Bis by Reggie Sanders made new York pay for shoddy Fielding. Dwight Gooden 2-3 allowed four hits and four walks Over five innings but took his second consecutive loss As the mets committed three errors in the first three innings to help Cincinnati build a 4-1 Lead. They dropped a throw booted a grounder and botched a Pickoff play to let in two unearned runs and set up the other two. The reds Chris Hammond 3-2 benefited from sensational defensive plays and Good Relief after allowing All three new York hits and both runs in 536 innings. Dibble came on for Scott Bankhead with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh and fanned Bobby Bonilla. He retired All seven batters he faced striking out five to pick up his fourth save