European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 8, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 38 the stars and stripes sports Friday july 8,1994 National league Boston second baseman Tim Nahring Fields a wild throw As the Angels Chad Curtis steals second wednesday Thomas hits no. 31, trails Griffey by one by the associated press Ken Griffey or. May soon be chasing More than Roger Maris. He could be pursuing Frank Thomas. Griffey whose Early season Homer hitting prowess has been baseball a marquee Story this season failed to Homer for the 11th straight game wednesday night As the Seattle mariners lost 5-4 in Baltimore. Just two weeks ago Griffey was not Only Only on Pace to threaten Marisa record of 61 homers in a season but there was speculation that he could hit 70 homers Well that talk has quieted considerably since Griffey has been at 32 homers and holding since june 24, Thomas meanwhile has closed in on Griffey he hit his 31st Homer wednesday night a two run shot in the ninth inning that helped the Chicago White sox rally for a 6-2 Victory in Detroit. Thomas second in the league in batting first in runs scored and now second in homers has hit Thomas four homers while Griffey has stagnated. The White sox were limited to one run and five hits by Don Gullickson in eight innings before scoring five runs in the ninth off Mike Henneman 1-3. Inheriting a 2-1 Lead Henneman struck out Darren Jackson to open the ninth but walked Pinch hitter Warren Newson. Mike Lavaliere singled Newson to third and Ozzie Guillen tied it at 2 with a sacrifice Fly. After an infield single by Lance Johnson Tim Raines hit a Ball just Over right fielder Junior Felix a Glove scoring Pinch runner Norberto Martin and Johnson. Thomas who went 2-for-4, followed by lining a 2-2 pitch into the lower deck in left Field. A we knew we had to do it against their bullpen because Gullickson was outstanding a Thomas said. A the kept us off balance All night. The last three times he has faced us he has been  Dane Johnson 2-1 pitched to two batters in the eighth for the win. In Baltimore Brady Anderson hit a the acc run Homer and substitute starter Mike Oquist pitched six Strong innings As the orioles completed a three game sweep of Seattle. A Brady is a very important part of our bal club a orioles manager Johnny Oates said. A i see a definite correlation in the Way he plays and the Way we play. When american league Brady Doc will we do  Rafael Palmeiro also homered for the orioles who have won 10 of 13 to move within one half game of the first place new York Yankees in the Al East its the closest Baltimore has been to the top spot since May 11. In other games wednesday Brewers 4, royals 3 at Kansas City Dave Nilsson a tie breaking Homer in the eighth inning helped Bob Scanlan get his first win As a starter since 1991. Scanlan 1-5 allowed four hits in eight innings a the longest Outing of his career a for his first Victory since sept. 10, 1993 with the cubs. It was his first win As a starter since a 6-2 Victory Over the new York mets on aug. 10,1991. Nilsson hit a two run Homer his 10th, with two outs in the eighth off Rusty Meacham 1-2. Angels 10, red sox 6 at Boston the Angels hit four homers to score 10 runs for the second straight game against the red sox. Greg Myers two run shot in the seventh gave the Angels a 6-5 Lead and Rex Hudler added a three run Homer in the five run inning against Cory Bailey 0-1. Chili Davis and Chad Curtis hit Solo homers earlier. Athletics 4, Yankees 2 at new York Scott Brosius hit a two run Homer and Troy Neel added a Solo shot As the a a completed a three game sweep. Aldand 13 games Back in the Al West on june 13, has won 12 of 13 and trails first place Texas by three games. New York has lost six of seven. Twins 5, Blue jays 4 at Minneapolis Scott Erickson 8-6 allowed seven hits in Ivi innings and Kirby Puckett hit a two run Homer As Minnesota snapped a five game losing Streak. Puckett followed Chuck Knoblauch a single by hitting his 13th Homer off Todd Stottlemyre 5-6in the first inning. Puckett leads the Al with 78 Bis. Indians 13, rangers 4 a at Arlington Texas Paul Sorrento a three run Homer highlighted a six run first inning and Jack Morris registered his 252nd career Victory As Cleveland won for the sixth time in seven games. A Morris 8-5 moved past Bob Gibson into 36th place on the career wins list allowing three runs and five hits in six innings. To new. Call up Straw by the associated press Welcome Back to the majors Darryl. All you have to do now is Rescue a team that a tied for the worst record in baseball. Darryl Strawberry sex met sex dodger sex slugger was called up from triple a Phoenix thursday and was scheduled to Start in right Field for the san Francisco giants who just got finished getting swept by the new York mets in a three game series in which they scored Only four runs. Their 4-1 loss wednesday night gave them a record of 35-50, tied with the san Diego padres. For worst in the american and National leagues. A a in a looking at a bal club that a struggling right now and its a great talented bal club a Strawberry said wednesday night after going 0-for-3 for the minor league firebirds. Strawberry played three games at Phoenix going 3-for-10 with two homers. Earlier giants officials said Strawberry would t join the team until after the All Star break. But their dire situation a 9vi games behind the dodgers with the season More than Halfway Over a apparently necessitated the move. In other games wednesday astros 7, cardinals 6 Ai St. Louis it did no to take Long for Jeff Bagwell to re take the major league Lead in Bis. Bagwell who missed three games with the flu drove in runs in the first and seventh innings with singles to right Field. He has 79 Bis and is on Pace to break general manager Bob Watson a club record of 110 Bis set in 1977. The astros won their fifth straight and moved within 1 i games of first place Cincinnati. Todd Jones 3-2 got the Victory pitching Lvi innings and John 14 to save. Bagwell Hudek pitched the ninth for his expos 4, dodgers 2 at los Angeles Darrin Fletcher a a former dodger heading to his first All Star game hit a two run Homer in the ninth inning to put Montreal ahead 3-2. Another run scored on Freddie Benavides groundnut a despite los Angeles playing its infield in. Pirates 3-2, braves 1-4 at Atlanta the pirates won the opener with two runs in the Bottom of the eighth off Mark Wohlers 5-1breaking a 1-1 tie. Zane Smith 96 got the Victory and is 2-0 against Atlanta this year. He has allowed the braves Only three runs in the last 26 innings. In the Nightcap Steve Avery 6-2 got his first Victory in almost seven weeks and Ryan Klesko drove in two runs with a Homer and a sacrifice Fly. Paul Wagner 5-7 was the losing Pitcher for the pirates. Rockies 7, cubs 1 at Wrigley Field the wind was blowing out. That was enough to convince Andres Galarraga not to take a Day off As previously planned. Galarraga hit a three run Homer in a five run ninth off All Star reliever Randy Myers. Padres 5, Phillies 2 at san Diego Phil Clark hit a two run Homer and Bill Krueger 1-1 became the first padres left handed starter to get a win since 1992. David West 3-7 gave up four hits and three runs in six innings. Marlins 4, reds 3,10 innings at Miami Pinch hitter Greg Colbrunn hit a two out bases loaded single in the 10th inning to help Florida end its four game losing Streak. Cincinnati lost for the first time in six games