Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
Cubs lose 12-4, outplayed and dwarfed by Giants
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Charlie Hayes hit a three-run homer, J.T. Snow and Ellis Burks drove in three runs each and the Chicago Cubs bobbed their way through another ugly day, losing 12-4 to the San Francisco Giants yesterday.
The Cubs, who beat the Giants for the National League wild-card last year, have won just twice in the last 15 games. San Francisco, meanwhile, has won five in a row.
Shawn Estes (8-7) scattered three runs and six hits over seven innings, striking out six. Sammy Sosa broke up his shutout bid in the fourth inning with an RBI double that would have been a home run if the wind weren't blowing in.
Sosa, who leads Mark McGwire 51-50 in the home run race, finished the day 2-for-3.
Andrew Lorraine (1-2) lasted just
3 1-3 innings, giving up seven runs
— six earned—and eight hits. As if that weren't bad enough, a bee stung him on the pinkie of his pitching hand before the second inning began.
The Cubs got off to a bad start when Marvin Benard opened the game with a single after a 49-
minute rain delay, and it got uglier from there. Hayes hit a chopper right at Manny Alexander at second for what looked like a possible double play. But the ball skipped off of Alexander's glove, and Benard got to third on the error.
Barry Bonds drove in a run with a double off the left-field wall, Jeff Kent had an RBI single and Snow's sacrifice fly gave the Giants a 30-lead when the first inning finally ended.
The Cubs didn't look any sharper in the five-run fourth inning. With Scott Servails on first, Bardrew drew
Mark Grace in with a shallow grounder. Grace grabbed the ball, but no one had covered first, so he didn't have a play. It was too late to get Servais at second, too.
That brought up Hayes, who hit a line-drive home run to left-center for the 6-0 lead. Bonds followed with a single to knock out Lorraine. Reliever Steve Rain didn't fare any better, giving up RBI singles to Burks and Snow before Rich Aurilia finally grounded out to end the inning.
San Francisco added three more runs in the fifth with a two-run single from Burks and another RBI single from Snow. Kent hit a solo homer in the seventh.day, losing 12-4 to the San Francisco Giants yesterday.
The Cubs, who beat the Giants for the NL wild-card last year, have won just twice in the last 15 games. San Francisco, meanwhile, has won five in a row.
ATLANTA — Maybe they should roll a few beds into the Atlanta Braves clubhouse and turn the place into a hospital.
The Associated Press
Who would know the difference?
Battered Braves keep fighting
Every day seems to bring a discouraging medical report from the team seeking its eighth straight postseason appearance.
And those are the lucky ones.
Greg Maddux: chipped bone in his pitching hand. Rudy Seanez: stress fracture in his pitching elbow. Kevin Millwood: sore back. Brian Jordan: aching wrist.
Yet, in what may be their most impressive performance since the worst-to-first of 1991, the Braves have remained one of the National League's strongest teams.
Andres  Galarraga,  Kerry Ligten堡, Javy Lopez and Odalis Perez are done for the year, the first two without ever playing a game.
Going into last night's game
against Cincinnati, the Braves had won five in a row and 14 of their last 18 to remain a half-game ahead of the streaking New York Mets in the NL East.
The Braves got an indication of what type of season it would be before it began.
Galarraga, who hit .305 with 44 homers and 121 RBIs last season, was diagnosed with cancer in his back just before the start of spring training. While expected to make a full recovery, the Big Cat had to sit out the year to undergo treatment.
In the early days of spring training, Ligtenberg felt a twinge in his right elbow. Doctors discovered a partially torn ligament, meaning the Braves would have to replace the pitcher who became the first rookie in 12 years to save 30 games.
Lopez, a two-time All-Star catcher who had 34 homers and 106 RBIs
in 1988, hobbled for a couple of weeks on a sore right knee before succumbing to season-ending surgery in late July. The Braves promptly traded for Greg Myers.
The same day Lopez's season ended, the Braves learned that 21-year-old Perez, their fifth starter, would need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left elbow. Like Ligtenberg, he'll be out at least 12 months.
So, at the July 31 trade deadline, Atlanta acquired left-hander Terry Mulholland from the Chicago Cubs. He has been a valuable addition both starting and relieving.
Batting in the cleanup spot formerly occupied by Galarraga, Jordan reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career even though he's been plagued with various maladies.
Seanez wasn't as fortunate. A valuable middle reliever, he underwent a bone scan and learned that he has a stress fracture.
Seanez was placed on the DL for the seventh time in his career, but expects to return after resting a couple of weeks.
Red Sox trade for veteran pitcher
Two minor leaguers join Cardinal team
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — The Boston Red Sox yesterday acquired veteran left-hander Kent Mercker for their wild card stretch run, sending two minor leaguers to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mercker is 6-5 with a 5.12 earned run average this season in 25 games, 18 of them start. Since July 1, Mercker is 4-2, with a 3.99 ERA. He is also 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in four appearances against American League teams this season.
He was 11-11 in 1998, leading the team in wins in his first season in St. Louis after signing as a free agent. For his career, Mercker is 60-58.
Mercker was expected to join the team today in Minnesota, where the Red Sox are playing the Twins. Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette said the addition of Mercker should strengthen the
team for its stretch drive. Boston entered last night's games tied with Oakland for the AL wild card spot.
"He's a versatile pitcher who has the ability to be effective as a
starter and as a reliever," Duquette said. "He has had success throughout his career late in the season, and
also has extensive postseason experience."
A team representative said it wasn't clear if Merker would initially start or relieve. The Red Sox are a starter short since placing right-hander Bret Saberhagen on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a weak throwing shoulder.
For his career, Mercker is 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in games in September and October, including 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA last September.
Mercker pitched in the playoffs during the 1991-1995 seasons as a
member of the Atlanta Braves. He is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in the post-season.
In exchange for Mercker, the Cardinals got left-hander Mike Matthews and catcher David Benham.
Matthews, 25, is a career minor leaguer with a lifetime 43-48 record. He began this season with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate. He was sent to Double-A Akron in June and was traded to the Red Sox organization Aug. 3, pitching for Double-A Trenton. Overall, he is a combined 0-5 with a 7.47 ERA this season.
Matthews was the Indians' second choice in the 1992 amateur draft. He went 7-0 with an Appalachian League-leading 1.01 ERA his first season but missed the entire 1993 season with an injury.
Benham, 23, was drafted by the Red Sox in the 12th round last June. He is hitting .238 with three homers and 11 runs batted in in 33 games for Class-A Sarasota.
The Cardinals assigned Matthews to Double-A Arkansas, and Benham to Class-A Potomac.
Little league team vies for second title
The Associated Press
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Little-used pitcher Chris Fontenelle struck out nine batters in four innings yesterday and celebrated with suhi after defending champion Toms River, N.J., advanced to tomorrow's U.S. championship with a 3-1 win against Brownsburg, Ind., at the Little League World Series.
Fontelli, who mostly plays shortstop and idolizes Derek Jeter, had pitched only two innings in 21 playoff games before the series, but took the mound to keep the team's No. 2 starter, Eric Campesi, available for tomorrow. Either Campesi or Casey Gaynor will likely pitch tomorrow against a U.S. opponent that had not been determined.
rhenix City, Ala., played Boise, Idaho, last night. Fontenelli awaited his traditional postgame meal, delivered by the mother of third baseman Dave Cappello.
"We like sushi. We always have it after a game, and Dave's mom is bringing some down. So maybe it is good luck," said Fontenelli, who has played baseball since his mother started hitting him ground balls at age 4.
Campesi and Steve Bernath finished the game.
Toms River (3-0) is trying to become only the second U.S. team to win consecutive world series. A Little League team in Long Beach, Calif., won in 1992-93, but the first was by forfeit at the series for
11- and 12-year-olds.
Brownburg starter Zach Mills shook his head, spat and then wept when manager Gary King took him out of the game after two walks to start the third. Mills joined the team during the central U.S. playoffs when another player was injured.
"He's a tough kid," said Mill's father, John. "I'm sure he really wanted to stay in there. But it's high pressure. Coach made the right decision. You've got to get the batters out, and he wasn't getting them out."
Brownburg has been unable to use its best player, Nick Shipley, for anything but pinch-hitting because of a torn muscle in his throwing arm. Fonteenli struck him out in the third.
"He's a good pitcher, and he pitched for his team during the season," the elder Gaynor said. "He just doesn't get a lot of work because we have Casey and Eric and Zack (Del Vento, the winner on Monday)."
Also yesterday, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, (2-0) came close to clinching a berth in tomorrow's international final with a 3-1 win against Osaka, Japan. Jorge Colon hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.
Colon also scored in the fourth on a single by Nelson Hernandez. Right fielder Juan Rivera saved at least two runs and maybe three with a diving, twout catch in right field in the top of the fifth with the score 1-1 and the bases loaded.
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