European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 b the stars and stripes saturday May 23, 1992 giants squeeze past pirates 1 -0 by the associated press san Francisco John Burkett did no to have his Normal support from the san Francisco giants. Luckily he did no to require a Tot. Burkett 4-1who was backed by 48 runs in his first eight starts yielded two hits Over seven innings and posted his fourth straight Victory a 1-0 decision Over the stumping Pittsburgh pirates the giants swept the three game series and tied the pirates for the Best record 23-16 in the National league. Quot that s probably the finest game Burkett has Ever pitched Quot manager Roger Craig said after the giants won for the eighth time in 10 games and lowered their league leading earned run average to 3.01, a a it a unbelievable a he added. A no matter who you put out there does the Job. Burkett threw 77 pitches and he had great command on All of  Burkett who struck out four and walked none yielded singles to Andy Van Slyke in the first and fourth innings. After the last hit he retired 10 consecutive batters before being lifted for a Pinch hitter. A i pitched Well earlier too but i was making mistakes a Burkett said. A a in a not making them now. In be definitely hit my stride the last two games. I was putting the fastball where i wanted and mixing in sliders and  right hander Mike Jackson retired All six batters for his second save and the giants overcame longtime Nemesis Bob walk 1-3 for their first sweep of the pirates since july 25-28,1985, walk who lost on a two out wild pitch in the seventh inning Hadnot been beaten at candlestick Park since july 21, 1987, and Hadnot lost to anyone on the Road in 24 games since june 8, 1990. Quot Heck it was the first time in be pitched on the Road this season a walk said following the pirates sixth consecutive defeat. Kevin Bass scored from third base on the wild pitch with two outs in the seventh. Bass who snapped an o-for-19 slump with a triple in the second opened the decisive seventh with a double and went to third on Rookie Jim Mcnamara a bunt single. Royce Clayton lined into a double play with Bass holding third. Mike Felder batted for Burkett and walk committed the wild pitch with a 1-2 count. Walk yielded four of five san Francisco hits in his seven innings. In the Only other game thursday mets 8, padres 3 san Diego a Sid Fernandez struck out 10 in seven innings and resurgent Bobby Bonilla and Eddie Murray Hom cred to Lead a 14-hit attack. Murray had four hits including a three run Homer to help Fernandez 3-4 to a 7-1 Lead in the first four innings. Bonilla who had two homers on opening Day and then none until connecting tuesday and again thursday doubled his total and drove in seven runs in the three game series. A cts outfielder Howard Johnson robs padres Darren Jackson of extra base  bring out lumber Belt tigers by the associated press Detroit a the Milwaukee Brewers who Pride themselves on being a running team took a Page from Detroit a Book and beat the tigers with the Long Ball thursday night. Milwaukee used four homers including a three run shot by Scott Fletcher to beat the Detroit tigers 7-3, gaining a split in the four game series. A a that a the new Milwaukee Brewers right there a a Giddy Phil Garner shouted in the managers office. A toe to toe and slug it out. And we re sending Scott Fletcher up there to muscle them  Paul Molitor homered twice and Kevin Switzer once for the Brewers. �?o1 could Tell during baiting practice the conditions were right to hit a few out a Molitor said. A Tiger stadium on a warm night. Then when i saw How Kevin a Ball jumped out of the Park i knew it was  the Brewers who Lead the american league with 57 stolen bases had hit just nine Home runs in their first 18 games in May but they hit two in the first inning and had three after three innings against Scott Aldred 1-4. A sixth inning double by Pante Bichette drove in Greg Vaughn to break a 3-3 tic. John Doherty relieved Aldred and issued an intentional walk to Pinch hitter Franklin Stubbs. After Dave Nilsson grounded out Fletcher hit the first pitch into the lower deck in left for his first Homer since april 15, 1991, at new York when american league he played for the Chicago White sox. A i guess the Home run Isnit supposed to be our game Quot Fletcher said. A but it worked out that Way  Edwin Nunez 1-1a former Tiger got the win with l2a scoreless innings in Relief of Dan Plesac. Aldred who was 2-0 against the Brewers last season gave up five runs on seven hits in 5v6 innings. The Brewers have not lost a series to the tigers since april 21-23, 1989, at Milwaukee. They Haven to lost a series at Detroit since May 24-26, 1988. Switzer and Molitor homered on successive pitches in the first inning. It was suit Zero a second and his first Ever against Detroit the Only Al team against which he had never homered. A is that right i did no to know that a said Switzer who has just 35 homers in his six seasons in the major leagues. A it was a change up that i hit. I knew i hit it Good. But i did no to think it was Good enough to get out. Quot this win was a sign of character. Especially after we lost on a three run Homer in the ninth inning last night then blew a 3-0 Lead tonight. We kept plugging away. We be done it All  it was the second time this season the Brewers had hit successive homers. Vaughn and Robin Yount did it May 1 against Toronto. Molitor who did no to Start the previous three games because of a sore left hamstring gave Milwaukee a 3-0 Lead in the third with his fourth Homer. A Well i did no to have to run too fast after the homers a Molitor said joking. A i could handle that Speed. They told me not to overdo anything. That did no to bother the hamstring at  in the Only other game thursday royals 7, rangers 5 Arlington a Mick Macfarlane hit a three run Homer off Jeff Russell in the ninth As the royals ruined Nolan Ryan a bid for his first Victory of the season with a Victory Over Texas. Ryan left the game with a 5-1 Lead after seven innings. He had retired the final 18 batters. But the bullpen for the third consecutive Start blew Ryan a attempt to earn the 315th win of his career. With one out in the ninth Kevin Mcreynolds reached on a Fielding error by shortstop Dickie Thon. Jim Eisenrich doubled and Jeff Russell replaced Kenny Rogers. Russell gave up Macfarlanee a Home run to left Field on an 0-2 pitch. Rogers 0-2 gave up four runs three earned in 1w innings. Rusty Meacham 2-0 pitched one inning of witless Relief for the Victory and Jeff Montgomery worked a scoreless ninth inning for his eighth save. Ryan walked two and struck out eight in his longest Outing of his 26th major league season. The Only hit he gave up was Gregg Jefferies Bloop double in the first that fell in thanks to a rain soaked  Nixon goes High tech in base Hunt by Tom Saladino Atlanta apr when Otis Nixon steals a base its because of what s in his computer database. The Atlanta Brave outfielder who for years has kept a notebook on the Pickoff moves of opposing pitchers has gone High tech by entering the data into a personal computer. The Quot Otis Nixon Pilcher database a was set up by his Friend Mike Carter a computer Programmer. Quot i want to be the Best base stealer in the league and this gives me an Edge on the Competition a said Nixon. A i think All this research Means 10, maybe 15 stolen bases a year. A the main reason is just in Case 1 lose my Book. Heck in be got everything else on my personal computer so i figured i try  Nixon began transferring the data from the notebook to the computer during the Winter and expects to Complete it by this weekend Nixon missed the first 16 Days of the season because of a drug suspension but is among the no leaders with 13 stolen bases in 21 games. He a stolen 277 in his career. Nixon has data on How Long a Pitcher takes from delivery to the plate his move to first his variations in the throw to first and details on his Fielding ability. Quot i also have a special notes Section on each Pitcher what Type of pitch they throw in steal situations and How hard they throw Quot he said. He would not reveal any of his information on current pitchers but did allow a look at the data on former Pitcher John Tudor a left hander with the St. Louis cardinals and los Angeles dodgers. A very High leg kick but different from most left handers. Throws Over to first 34 times. Can steal third base easily because of his big leg kick and does no to have spin