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Show Page 6 - THE HERALD, Provo, Utah. Wednesday, May 22, 1985 SboHs A full losers and coming events 76ersr Nuggets But Leaves Paradise to Do It leusehel In Do or Die NBA Disc Playoff Situation By MIKE TULLY UPI National Baseball Writer i .,, ':. Rick Reuschel went from paradise to heaven in two days. Called up from Hawaii on Monday, Reuschel resumed his league career Tuesday night by pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2 victory over the Houston Astros. By COLLINS YEARWOOD UPI Sports Writer The Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets underdogs in the Eastern and Western Conference finals are on the road tonight facing playoff elimination. The Boston Celtics lead the 76ers 1 but must contend with a host of injuries in Game 5 at Boston Garden. The Los Angeles Lakers also are ahead 1 but have an easier task as the Nuggets limp into Los Angeles with seven injured players. Larry Bird floating bone chips in his right elbow, sprained right index finger and sore knee and ankle is the most bruised Celtic. "If I can run and walk and talk and shoot, I'm all right," he said. "If I had a regular job as a major-- 3-- "I'd have stayed there (in Hawaii) all year," Reuschel said. "I 3-- - was having fun. We were winning, and this is one time I was happy to be down there working. I'm still not as sharp as I could be; and the only way to get sharp is to get a lot of work. I was getting a lot of work in Hawaii." . .. -- 3-- Reuschel, signed as free agent to a Pirates' class AAA contract in February and was brought up on Monday. He gave up one run on three hits, walked two and struck out two over 7 3 innings. John Candelaria finished the game to notch his sixth save. "It looked to me that he was much like he was in his great days with the (Chicago) Cubs," said Houston third baseman Phil Garner. "He was in control of the game all the way." "Reuschel pitched very well," Houston manager Bob Lillis said. "He pitched a beautiful ballgame. His ball was moving. He kept it down. He hit the corners. He changed speeds, and he kept the construction worker, 2-- hitters t vv innings. Scott gave up four of those walks in the fifth inning, forcing in Johnny Ray with the Pirates' Sr- 2-- Major Leagues Barrett's Kent Tekulve hurled innings for his second save of the season. Cardinals 6, Braves 3 At St. Louis, Vince Coleman hit k home run his first and Ozzie Smith went night to spark the Cardinals over the Braves despite two home runs by Bob Horner. Danny Cox, went the first 5 3 innings to pick up the victory. In American League games, BosCleve-lai.- d ton stopped Minnesota Totopped Milwaukee Kansas ronto nipped Chicago California City blanked Texas nipped Detroit 1 in 11 innings, in Oakland shaded Baltimore 10 innings, and New York routed 1 3 r, single in the sixth capped ton's scoring and was the first time the Red Sox had come hit in through with a bases-loade- d 25 opportunities. inside-the-par- Tony Armas and Evans snapped out of their hitting slumps with solo homers. Armas, who was entering the 3 4-- game, belted his 11th homer of the season and also smacked an RBI single in the first off starter Ken Schrom, Evans, who was going with a into the game, went single and his fourth home run. The Twins, who lead the majors in hitting, were held to only seven hits by Bruce Kison and Bob Ojeda. It marked only the fourth time this season Minnesota has not collected at least 10 hits. "We were due for a game like this," said Twins manager Billy Gardner. "This is the first game we've been out of in a long time. They were due to bust loose, 9-- 3-- 6-- 4, 5-- 2-- 3-- 2 Seattle 11-- Red Sox 9, Twins 1 The Red Sox took their ailing offense to the Metrodome Tuesday and it proved to be a healing pilgrimage. Boston, which had scored just 14 runs in its previous eight games, exploded for nine runs against Minnesota to win 1 the Red Sox" second victory in nine games. "Hopefully, we'll stop scuffling around and hit like we can." said Boston second baseman Marty with Barrett, who went too." 9-- three scattered seven hits Kison. in eight innings, his longest stint of the season. He was on the y disabled list in April with a pulled hamstring. Indians 6, Brewers 4 At Cleveland, Brook Jacoby homer in the blasted a two-rufifth to lead the Indians. Bryan won in relief of starter Clark. Keith Creel, and Rick Thompson innings for pitched the final 3 save. his first major-leagu- e KBI. "We came into the game with four guys under .250. Last year me and Mike Easier were over .300 and Dwight Evans was .2"5 so that's a big difference in hits and runs.'' n i ( bases-loade- d two-ru- n Bos- 4--1, Reds 5, Cubs 2 At Chicago, Dave Parker's RBI double triggered a three-ru- n eighth that lifted the Reds. Tom who relieved in the Hume, seventh, earned the victory while Ted Power hurled two innings to earn his eighth save. George Fra-zietook the loss. Cincinnati's Dave Concepcion extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Expos 6, Dodgers 1 At Montreal, Tim Wallarh drove in three runs with i homer ? sacrif 'C fly and winning ; and pitcher bill Gullickson added a two-ru- n double to lead the Expos. Gullickson. worked 6 innings for the victory. Jeff Reardon finished the game for his ninth save. took the Rick Honeycutt, loss. Phillies 6, Giants 5 At Philadelphia. Glenn Wilson drove in two runs with a single and a double and the Phillies took advantage of three errors. Shane pitched the first five Rawley. innings, walking four and striking out three, to gain the victory. - v&"rrimimmmmrwrmmTimitrmir I Detroit Tigers' Lance Parrish gives California's Ruppert Jones a good look at the ball at home plate after Jones was caught off third base in a forced rundown. run. With two Thompson walked. Madlock then scored on Hendrick s looping single to left and Thompson scored on Pena's line drive single to left for a 0 Pittsburgh lead. ij r third out in the first, Bill Madlock singled and Jason Sunday. "If we go up and get the next one, which we have the ability to do," said 76ers coach Billy Cunningham. "We are talking about a series." seven-gam- e "Any team is tougher at home, I think," said 76ers rookie Charles Barkley, who had 15 points and 20 rebounds in Game 4. "But when you got a great team, you know it s gonna be sold out and you know the place is going to go wild, it makes you (the Celtics) play that much harder." The Nuggets might just as well forget the team bus and arrive in at the Forum an ambualnce Wednesday night. Alex English, a scorer, fractured his thumb in Denver's 6 loss Sunday and is out for the series. The Nuggets are further weakened by injuries to Calvin Natt (right knee cartilage), Lafayette nt 120-11- Lever ( hyperextended knee), Cooper (strained rib Wayne liga- ment), Elston Turner (sore hamstring) and Mike Evans (sore knee) and Dan Issel (deep thigh bruise). Against- the Oilers 2-- 4 sure Should the 76ers win, Game 6 is Friday night at the Spectrum. If necessary, Game 7 is in Boston Kerr Plays the Cad George Hendrick and Tony Pena hit their RBI singles in the first inning off losing starter who suffered conMike Scott, trol problems. Scott walked a six batters and struck career-hig- h out eight, tying his own career high, before he was chased after 2-- 3 I wouldn't stay home with a minor injury like this. So why should I stay home for a basketball game?" Also battered is Boston center Robert Parish, who sprained his ankle Sunday. Cedric Maxwell, gimpy from arthroscopic knee surgery in February, says he's playing at about 65 percent efficiency. And Danny Ainge had to miss part of Game 4 after being smacked in the face. balance." off report and commentary on winners, 2-- 3 Blue Jays 4, White Sox 3 At Toronto, Jeff Burroughs singled home George Bell with the winning run with one out in the ninth, lifting the Blue Jays. Bell doubled and advanced to third on Jesse Barfield's long fly. Burroughs then singled off loser Bob to make a winner of James, Gary Lavelle, Royals 5, Rangers 0 At Texas, Bud Black tossed a PHILADELPHIA (UPI) After missing five playoff games with a knee injury, Philadelphia Flyers' forward Tim Kerr feared he might be rusty. Kerr showed no signs of his layoff Tuesday night, returning to score a goal and an assist to help the Flyers open the Stanley Cup finals with a 1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. "I was worried about my timing," Kerr said. "I wanted to go out and produce for the team." 4-- serGame 2 of the ies is scheduled for Thursday at the Spectrum. Games 3, 4 and 5 if necessary are scheduled for Edmonton, with any remaining games to be played in the Spectrum. Kerr is the Flyers' leading playoff with nine in 10 games, including the game-winnagainst the Oilers. Kerr was responsible for drawing Edmonton into the minor penalties that gave the Flyers a two-ma- n advantage in the first period. best-of-sev- goal-scor- er er In Baseball Regionals 0. three-hitte- BYU and George Brett r drove in lour runs with two homers to help Kansas City snap a three-gam- e losing streak. Angels 2, Tigers 1 one-o- ut pitched 2 3 Angels. Moore, innings in relief of starter Kirk McCaskill. who pitched 6 3 innings of hitless ball. A's 3, Orioles 2 At Oakland, Mike Boddicker walked Dwayne Murphy with bases loaded in the 10th to force run and home the lead the A s. The victory went to who pitched the Jay Howell, 10th, giving up a hit and striking out one. Yankees 11, Mariners 1 Ron At Seattle, three-hittand a threw Guidry Rickey Henderson had four RBI in the Yankees' seventh victory 3-- 1, left-hand- er in eight games. Guidry, struck out six and walked one 4-- in eight innings. this season. The Wildcats 14-- 1 defeated CSU 15-and 16-19-3 while BYU won 23-and 18-- 1 and lost 2 to the Rams. Arizona won 16-- 8 and 13-- 3 and lost 14-- 7 to Grand Canyon, while 5 BYU took and 7 decisions from the Antelopes and lost 2 and The winner of this will face the winner of the Central Regional Saturday, June 1, at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Canyon By DOROTHY KNOELL Herald Staff Writer At Anaheim, Calif., Ruppert double scored Juan Jones' Beniquez from second base in the bottom of the 11th to lead the Opens Thursday 6, 6, 25-1- 6-- 13-1- The WAC Champion BYU Cougar baseball team left today for the NCAA Regionals at Fresno State. ranked 21st in The Cats (43-2ESPN-Collegia- Baseball poll) te will face Arizona (44-217th) in the opening game of the West II Regional at 2 p.m. (MDT) Thursday. All BYU games will be broadcast on KXYC Radio (1400 AM). ranked 7th) Fresno State (41-2(44-2takes on 18th) in the second game a 8 p.m. The Cougars will send their junior lefthander Mark Beavers (14-3.15) to the mound against the Wildcats. Arizona will counter with junior southpaw Joe Magrane ( 12-- 3.83). "It's no secret we'll go with our best (pitcher) to open this thing and Arizona will do the same," said BYU coach Gary Pullins. Both BYU and Arizona have played Colorado State and Grand All-WA- C 5-- 2, 9-- 4, 16-1- 21-1- 8-- 7. 5-- Weil II Regional (all times MDT) Thursday Game 1. BYU vs. Arizona. 2 p.m. Game 2. Cal vs. Fresno St .. 8 p.m. Friday Game 3. Thursday losers. 2 p.m. Game 4. Thursday winners. 8 p.m. Saturday Game 5. "winner Game 3 vs. loser Game 4. 2 p.m. Game 6. (championship game! winner Game 4 vs. winner Game 5. 8 p m Sunday Game 7, i if BYU isn't in championship game and a second game is necessary i rematch of Game 6. Monday Game 7, (if BYU is in championship game and a second game is necessary) rematch of game 6. 2 p m. i Jury Still Out on future of College Baseball Pitcher A one act play. A trial is in progress. The courtroom is the BYU baseball field On trial is the fate of a young man named American College Baseball Pitcher (ACBP) who is shackled to the mound. The witnesses are American Colleee Baseball Hitter (ACBH) who stands at home base swinging a metal but, and Old Time Baseball l'la (OTBPS). The prosecuting attor- ney is a sportsu nter. He is nattih dressed in sport coat, slacks, loafers, bow tie and hat with a press card stuck in the band. The defense , attorney is an umpire tlightly overweight emphasized by shirt and slacks. the tight-fittinHe has a whisk broom in his back pocket and has a handbag filled with baseballs strapped to his belt The judge and jury are 6JHH) mm and women fans sitting in the grandstand and bleachers It i.v a beautiful spring day, the diamond and the dugouts is with young men in are filled uniform. As the curtain opens the prosecuting attorney speaks to thv g well-groome- d judge and jury: college baseball. 1 think the problem has already been solved. don't think there is a pitcher in college baseball today. Whatever the reason. think the talented pitchers among our young players go directly into organized baseb.''' leaving only the culls lor colli play. believe the case against the ' pitcher is so strong that will need a few of minutes only your time and I will not bother to produce a witness I think the case stands on its statistical merit The brilliant minds that have directed baseball to its esteemed place as America's Sport, some years ago dramatically pointed out the devaluation oi the pitcher in baseball These great minds removed the pitcher from theoHene by establishing a designated hitter to take ins place at the plate thus regulating the pitcher to a role solely on defense. And. ask you. what has be done in this idle'1 Look at the record A new high lor home runs in one season. 14.V The old high was 131 Scores of in 1 1 1 1 27-t- are common among the college teams 21-2- and gentlemen we inhere today to solve a very simple problem' l,f future of the pitcher PA-Ladi- 18-1- 18 17, . Irom one coast to the other. 1 say the pitcher is at this time vanished American. So. I plead with you today, demand his banishment in person 1 suggest we do away with, the pitcher and use. instead, a Designated hurler. a mechanical pitcher. Think of the possibilities: a machine that can fire the ball at the batter at speeds up to 100 mph and with accuracy. Immediately, we challenge the batter. Gone will be the double digit scores. Back will come the duels of yesteryear. and I told you it was simple. I ask you to demand abolishment of Uie pitcher in college baseball. You can reach no other verdict. DA-- 1 call a witness. Will the ACBP please face the judge and jury. Young man. you are a college baseball pitcher? ACBP-Yes- , sir. -you please describe our duties: ACBP-throw a fastball clocked at 88 mph and also throw a slider, last hall a curve, a and a change up. try to strike the batter out. or get him to ground out to an infielder or fly out My purpose is to keep the hitlers ofl the bases vou been successful'' 2-- 2 DA-WU- 1 1 split-lingere- d 1 DA-H.iv- c a ACBP-No'si- r You are excused. Thank you. now call the ACBH to the stand. Young man, are you a hitDA- - DA-- I ter'' sir. My average is and I have 19 home runs and I can't count the triples, doubles and singles. I'm a hitter. I just wait for the pitcher to get the ball in the strike zone and then I swing. mav step down. My final witness is the OTBSP. Will you take the stand. Now. sir. you are an old time baseball player and scout. Will you tell us why college pitchers are in trouble and give us a solution other ACBH-Ye- s, .560 DA-Yo- u than establishing a . designated pitching machine (DPMI. OTBSP-l- t is my privilege. As you have regulated the know thc-pitcher out of the otfense. They have also regulated him out of the defense in college baseball. that. OTBSF' Gladly. The problem is the strike zone and the metal bat. When 1 was growing up in the 1930 and 40s. the strike zone went from or letters, if you the arm-pits- , prefer, to the knees. The present strike zone in college ball is from the navel to the knee. That isn't much of a target. The young pitch- - mm. f rlin ,j Marion Dunn Herald Sports Editor y -- ers have trouble getting their breaking stuff over the plate in that narrow zone ro the hitters lay back and wait for the fast ball or for the hanging curve in the zone and. blamo. the ball is gone. how about the metal DA-Oka- bat'.' OIBSP-That'- s the big weapon. The metal bat is bigger and lighter than the wooden bat used in the major leagues. And it doesn't break. The sweet spot on the metal bat is some 18 inches. That means a hitter can get the ball on any part of that sweet spot and knock it a mile. You can't do that with a wooden bat where the sweet spot is about 4 inches and the baf s breakable. I don't think the young pitchers we have today are worse than before. They are handicapped with the strike zone and the metal bat. And now some college baseball men are talking about approving a graphite bat. You know what whip the graphite golf club, fishing pole and tennis racket have. Imagine what it can do to a baseball. you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I beg you not to take the pitcher out of college baseball, but to bring him back. Let's go back to the high strike. The metal bat is cheaper and here to stay in college ball. We have to face that fact. But let's not compound the damage by legalizing the graphite bat. Let's bring the high strike back into baseball. If you want pitching duels with occasional high scores, it is that simple. If you want, mostly leave things the way they are. DA-Tha- high-score- It is up to you. |
