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Show C10 SUNDAY Jury 27, TIM HUDSON “Ace is only a name.It doesn't mean that much to me. Ijust want to go out and pitch. . . . Call me whatever you want. Call me ace, call me bum,just let me go out and pitch.” Athietics The right-hander al: lowed one hit in seven shut jut innings as Oakland pounded Kansas City 10-0 uesda: Milestones Jim Thome, Phillies, ssed 1,000 career RBIs |. 2003 JASON SCHMIDT same Schmidt Happens played in his Texas and moved past former catcher Jim Sundberg for most in teamhistory @ TampaBay broke a team recordwith 21 hits and tied a club markfor runs in 4 15-9 win over Boston on Thursday afternoon. The Devil Rays’ seven-runfifth nning matcheda season high and equaled the biggest wed by the Red Sox this season @ Rafael Palmeiro, Rangers, hit 512th ca: reer home runin. ys With Arizona aces Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling missing part ofthis season with injuries, Schmidt has After almost losing his love Jor the gameinPittsburgh, right-hander develops into one ofthe NL’sbest pitchers im San Francisco been the toppitcherinthedivision. “Now he's the bar,” Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti said. “What happens when youget good is you become the measuring stick for other people.” Schmidtis enjoyingit all, that’s for sure. He’s the one responsible for an annoying clubhouse noisemaker — the device makes gastrointestinal sounds that he frequently uses to embarrass the younger membersof the Giants’ pitching staff during postgame interviews. Being around the supportsystem ofhis teammates and the Giants’ staff has been especially important to 115 loss to the Mariners, movingpast Mel Ott into a tie for L4th placeontheall: time list with Ernie Banks ind Eddie Mathews. @ Chin-hui Tsao, Rockies, becamethe ma By Janie McCauLey TheAvsociated Press and won in his debut as Colorado beat Milwaukee 7-3 on Friday night. Tsao allowed three runsoneighthits and extra media credentials, inchiding20for 7 Frank Thomas, WhiteSox, hit his 400th ca reer homerun, becoming the 36th player in major league history to reachthe mark, as Chicago defeated TampaBay 7-2 on Kriday Balls and Strikes @ Ryan Franklin, Mariners, recorded his first career shutout with a twohitter in Seattle's 6-0victory over Oakland on Wednes: day @ Mark Mulder, Athletics, had a seasonhigh 10 strikeouts in seven innings as Oakland beat Seattle 3-0 Thursday ®@ Barry Bonds, hit a game-ending homerun and made a run-saving throw in theninth as San Francisco edged Arizona$2 Thursday @ Tom Glavine, Mets, lostfor the eighth timein his last ninedecisions, al: lowingfour runsin six in as New Yorklost to al 51 Thursday mor. Schmidt beat the Cubs only five daysafter her funeral. AN FRANCISCO Jason Schmidt once told his pitching coach inPittsburgh what a difference it would make when hejoined a winning jors’ first Taiwanese pitcher struck out five in 6 1-3 innings. The Rockies issued 40 Schmidtthis year. His mother, Vicki, died in late April from a braintuAtthat time, Schmidtsaid he wanted to win for her. It turns out, it’s not something he was comfortable talking aboutpublicly. team With the Pirates, Schmidtlost his appreci- “I said that because it’s what everybodywanted to ation for playing baseball. Without winning write,so 1 just kind of wentwith it,” he said. “Everybody looks for that story. I don’t go out there thinking my mom’s here with me and I’m going to point to the sky. WhenI'mon the mound I’m thinking about the game. results, taking the moundeveryfifth daybecamejust job. Everything changed when Schmidt got to San Fran- cisco twoyears ago. The Giants’ right-handeris more confident than ever. He was an All-Star this seasonforthefirst timein his nine-year career, pitching two scoreless innings as the ational League starter, Heis the one teammatescall the ace oftheir staff, and deservedly s I’m not thinking about anythingelse. If I tookall that stuff out there with me I'd set myselfup forfailure.” Schmidt credits his stepfatherforhis interest in baseball. Notall parents would take such aninterest ina child not their own, Schmidtsaid. While watchingthe Seattle Mariners play the Yan- Schmidt has emerged as the armnthe Giants canrely on, even more so this season wheninjuries haveforced kees at the Kingdome whenhe was 9, Bux Maxcon/ The Associated Pros: Aceis only a name,” Schmidt said. “It doesn't mean that much to me. I just want to goout andpitch. That's all l've ever asked to do get the ball every fifth day. 1 get the opportunity to go out and do what| love to do. “Call me whatever you want. Call meace, call me bum, just let me go out and pitch.” Jason Schmidt has become San Francisco's top starting pitcher this season. “Now he's the bar,”’ Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti says. “What happens when you get good is you become the measuring stick for other people.” This week,that choice wasn't his to make. Schmidt (10-4,2.41 ERA) missed his start Thursday with mild tendinitis in his right forearm and elbow area, butis sched uled to pitchagain Wednesday when the NL West. leading Giantsplay a three-gameseries at Chicago againstformer managerDusty Baker. Schmidt developed in the Atlanta Braves’ system, followingin theline of AllStarpitchers such as John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. He wastraded in the middle of the 1996 seasonto Pittsburgh because the Braves wanted a moreexperienced arm in Denny Neagle. “He's one ofthe top pitchers in the National League right now,” Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzonesaid. growingup.| think the biggest thing that happened to himwas being traded to Pittsburgh for Denny Neagle, so hecouldstart pitching ona regularbasis. And then he developedhis gameand ended up with a winning organization. You add all that upandit spells All-Star pitcher.” ‘The Giants thought so highly of Schmidtlast season that they picked him tostart Game1 of the World Series. The Giants won both games Schmidt started against Anaheim, and he got the win in the opener. n Septemberandinto theplayoffs, he was showing he'snotjust a good pitcher but that he could dominate games, andthat has carriedovertothis year,” teammate “His maturity and confidence on the mound, his ability to attack the opposition,it’s all part of the process of midt told his stepfatherthat he wouldoneday be a major leaguer. Ray Schmidt had to take the commentfor whatit was worth first-year manager Felipe Alou constantly to shuffle his rotation “Millions ofkids say it,” said Ray, who coached his. three daughtersinsoftball. “T’ve been around sports long enough to know that’s a dream lot of kids have,” Ray said from his home in Longview, Wash.“I don’t think it was aprediction. He always hadkindofa feel for the game. I never dreamed it would reach this point.” Playing for the Giants has madethe differencefor the 30-year-old Schmidt, a native of the West Coast who nevergot comfortableliving in the East. “It renewed my spirit for the game and myconfidence andI just love going out and being on the moundpitch. ing,” he said. “For four years it was like a job in Pittsburgh. You knew you weren't going to the World Series, It was a job. You collected your paycheck and went out and did the best you could pitching. Colorado managerClint Hurdle refers to Schmidt as ‘a blue-collar, no-nonsense guy.” And that’s exactly what Schmidtstrives for “| always takepride in taking the ball every fifth he said. “I feel like I’m getting back to where I can andfellow starter Kirk Ruetersaid. “You can seehis mindset has changed. do that again. It’s not aneasy thing to do.” © Trot Nixon, Red Sox, neredtwice, including a grand slam, as Boston beat Bay 104 Wednesday cae SeGiiska SeeGievs cneusexcesccene SUR CUBSEMESSHOUMTEREBOASeE EV EEEBEE ESE ceeRoeetosercseresceseseesze rests eneezex sSG5SS50z555 eénGGcereé SSTESUESSERESELE REELS eee eeeRESSS: Seuesueeseeus seer * Seteess ASECESERSESEREREESER SES Seeebesceesse exeres runenene feces ee ieesreresesosusssurreecar seee2txze essSinacen ese38 25s Rieate sts-sRe Fons ~Stne ectexves Cxenneerexseseesesesousereerasrssesses Soteres Seeecteses s = aa SSPELSESSSEES SES SRCPOSRSRRR EBERT 2 Sseeeees E*sssaseaeseereces Sr eeetuuseccscenzerrusasessserc® EUSTERER EEE SE ERE SKESS Seeesteeress eeebeess skenevcssins sinesGs60 é =56a5= SUSoR~se-scu- SSe¥veSS-S2=Erweecestse esr ees e2eeSestseend EERE eee 3SSS EEeECRE PRRECHU SSURCTSSEUE SESE GES zesEecEY SEH ssteseeeeeesss Seeeese Auseeenesieccrscensssoul wourtecescrxess Phillies =ExE Mont SeeTere=F © July 27, 1984 real’s Pete Rose passed Ty Cobbfor the most singles in a career with No, 3,053, against the Philadelphia SeNNNBEUERES ex RoccoBaldelli, Devil Rays, after fan pouredbeer onhis back andtheside of his head during the Devil Rays 7-2 loss to the Chicago WhiteSox on Friday ectestensecss sereasts I didn't changemy uni form. Everybody was telling me I should, but I can play with a little beer on my shirt. SSSZSESTEEtECeHS since2002 in Los Angeles’ 52 victory over Colorado on Tuesday. It is thesecond: longest streak in major leaguehistory behind Tom Gordon, who converted51 in a row from1996-29. wscesces Suresesenemsee eneczettenuesenersesss season and42ndstraight eceEe Ea28 Seueceusesscerasntecuencenetencessoweess cases see yecstsnsieas Saseaneer veSaséseetes S5eeesEEe srNesscs= Fusaeeszs Soo surekecenreceuesesscesccussses -~-258 SRRGGERSHRSEES. @ Jason Kendall, Pirates, went Ofor-4 ina 20 Joss to Houstonto endthe longest current hitting streak in the majors 23 games Tuesday night. As tros starter Jeriome Robertsonhelpedendthe streak, which was within four of matching Jimmy Williams’ 10+-year-old team record. @ Eric Gagne, Dodgers, recorded his 34th saveof the SSS253saRz *S BASEBALL STATISTICS.rouo/sCane Reepee @ AaronGuiel, Royals, homered twice as Kansas City topped Minnesota 83 SESSGASRESSSES Tramp: |