IN THE NEWS: Whoops. Rookie 2B Wilton Guerrero of the Dodgers is ejected from game in St. Louis for using a corked bat. Guerrero shatters his stick while grounding out to lead off the game. Umpire Steve Rippley sees that the bat has been altered and shows it to crew chief Bruce Froemming, who then ejects Guerrero. Guerrero will earn an 8-day suspension and a $1,000 fine. The Dodgers end their eight-game road losing streak with a 61 win when Mike Piazza, Eric Karros and Todd Zeile hit consecutive home runs in the 4th inning. Chan Ho Park (4-2) allows one run in six 2/3 innings for the victory.
In Miami, Colorado rookie pitcher John Thomson bangs his first four major league hits, drives in three runs and earns his first win, 92 over the Marlins.
IN THE NEWS: Chicago scores three runs in the 9th to edge the Brewers, 85. Albert Belle is 0-for-3 with two walks, ending his hitting streak at 27 games.
In Seattle, Randy Johnson fires a two-hitter and Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 25th home run as Seattle tops the Blue Jays, 30. Johnson (8-1) doesn't allow a hit until Alex Gonzalez's bloops a single in the sixth. Gonzalez is caught stealing, and Johnson surrenders a bloop single to Tilson Brito. Johnson strikes out nine to beat Luis Andujar (0-1).
In Atlanta, Padres rookie Heath Murray cops his first major league victory beating Greg Maddux, 54. Maddux (6-2) allows nine hits and all five runs in seven innings.
In St. Louis, Andres Galarraga poles his fifth home run in seven games and knocks in four runs as Colorado beats the Cards, 117. Galarraga's opposite-field, three-run blast in the fifth is taped at 426 feet and gives the Rockies a 6-0 lead. Cardinals starter Danny Jackson (1-1) walks the first two batters before Galarraga unloads.
The Indians waive Kevin Mitchell. The veteran was involved in a fight with Chad Curtis on May 20th that injured Curtis' thumb and put him on the 15-day DL. The Yanks will acquire Curtis in a week.
IN THE NEWS: In St. Louis, John Mabry drives in six runs and Ron Gant has four RBIs to lead the Cardinals to a 154 win over the Colorado Rockies. SS Royce Clayton is 5-for-6 as St. Louis collects 21 hits. The Cardinals hit three homers in a 7-run 5th off Jerry Dipoto.
In Atlanta, the Padres get a little help from the umps to top the Braves, 52. After viewing television tapes, the umps reverse a call and take away Keith Lockhart's a two-run homer in the 8th after Lockhart circles the bases. Lockhart then grounds out to end the inning. The Padres score three in the ninth against Mark Wohlers to win.
Greeting a raucous bell-ringing crowd in his return to Jacobs Field, Albert Belle clouts a 3-run homer and two doubles to lead the White Sox to a 95 win over the Tribe. Belle finishes the game with an obscene gesture to the crowd. The gesture will cost him a $5,000 fine from the league, payable in tickets to underprivileged kids.
In Oakland, Mark McGwire hits his 22nd homer as Oakland rallies for five runs in the seventh inning to beat Detroit, 98. It is McGwire's 10th homer in 19 games.
The annual June amateur draft features two brothers being drafted in the first round. Ignoring J.D. Drew's warnings about not drafting him unless they're ready to pay out, the Phils take the FSU junior with the 2nd pick, while the Indians take his brother Tim Drew, a high school senior, with the 28th pick: it's the first time brothers have been picked in the same first round. In another first, Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, VA, has two players picked on the first round; Michael Cuddyer, a SS, by the Twins with the 9th pick, and pitcher John Curtice, by the Red Sox with the 17th pick. The number one pick overall is Rice University pitcher Matt Anderson by the Tigers, who skip over J.D. Drew because of the anticipated cost. Anderson was the WAC Tournament MVP and the top pitching prospect in the Cape Cod League last summer. Drew, The Sporting News College Player of the Year, is the first Division I player in history to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season.
The Anaheim Angels take Troy Glaus, UCLA 3B with the 3rd pick. The Giants, use 4th to take Seton Hall pitcher Jason Grilli, son of former ML pitcher Steve Grilli. Toronto uses #5 on Texas high schooler Vernon Wells. The Mets have the 6th pick and pick Tampa high schooler Geoff Goetz, nixing another Florida pitcher Rick Ankiel because he is being advised by agent Scott Boras: Ankiel goes to the Cards at #72 (2nd round). Number seven is the Royals and they take U of the Pacific fireballer Dan Reichert. Number 10 Jon Garland, considered possibly the best high school pitching prospect in the draft, goes to the Cubs, who will swap him to the White Sox next July. The Reds take Scott Williamson on the 9th round.
The Mariners, picking 19th, take Ryan Anderson, nicknamed "Big Unit II," dashing the Tigers hopes of taking the 6' 10" high school pitcher from Westland, MI. With the next pick, the Cardinals take Adam Kennedy, from Cal State Northridge. Kennedy led the nation in hits for the second consecutive season, the first time an NCAA player to do so. The Yankees gamble at #24, picking high school star Tyrell Godwin, of Elizabethtown, NC. A two-sport athlete, Godwin is committed to North Carolina to play football. The Padres (#27) pick Stetson SS Kevin Nicholson, the MVP of the Cape Cod League last summer. He is the first Canadian ever drafted in the first round. The Athletics appear to have the best draft with Tim Hudson (6th round), Eric DuBose (1st), Chad Harville (2nd), Robert Vaz (7th). Nathan Haynes is selected on round one but will be traded to the Angels for Randy Velarde.
The Brewers lose their one slugger when John Jaha goes under the knife to repair his left shoulder. He will be out for the season.
IN THE NEWS: For the 2nd straight night, Rafael Palmeiro knocks in the winning run to beat the stumbling New Yorkers, as the Orioles whips the Yankees, 97. The Yanks had tied the game at seven apiece on Charlie Hayes' pinch grand slam. The O's Chris Hoiles has two RBIs and Cal Ripken, showing no effects from signing (a major-league record?) 2200 copies of his new book after last night's game, hits a homer. Ripken did not get through with the autographing until 3:01 a.m. The Orioles extend their winning streak to seven games and move nine 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Yankees in the American League East.
IN THE NEWS: Larry Walker bangs two homers, including a two-run shot in the 11th inning, as Colorado belts visiting San Diego, 97. Walker has three hits to raise his average to .411 and Colorado has a team-record six double plays to help Steve Reed earn his 1st victory in relief.
In Detroit, Alex Rodriguez becomes the 1st Seattle player to hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game as the Mariners collar the Tigers, 146. The only other Seattle player to hit for the cycle was Jay Buhner, who did it in 14 innings on June 23, 1993.
IN THE NEWS: Roger Clemens runs his win streak to 11-0, by firing eight scoreless innings to beat Oakland 41. Clemens, leading the American League with a 1.69 ERA, strikes out eight and gives up five hits.
At Fenway Park, Indian C Sandy Alomar ties a major-league record with four doubles in four at-bats and Orel Hershiser allows one run in seven innings to beat Tom Gordon. Alomar is the 38th player to bang four doubles.
Less than 24 hours after announcing one of the stranger promotions for Father's Day, Charleston RiverDogs (Class A) owner Mike Veeck cancels plans to give free vasectomies on June 13th. Catholic Bishop David Thompson, a season ticket holder, led the complaints about the promotion. Veeck, who bought the RiverDogs this season, is the son of the legendary Bill Veeck.
IN THE NEWS: On Dog Day (canine attendance 425) at Comiskey Park, it takes the White Sox four hours 19 minutes to finally edge the Orioles, 10, in 11 innings on Harold Baines' one-out single off Randy Myers.
In the NCAA championship in Omaha, the 2nd-seeded LSU Tigers jump on top-ranked Alabama, scoring six runs in the first inning, and coasting to a 136 win. It is LSU's 4th win in seven years. LSU SS Brandon Larson is named the Most Outstanding Player of the Series after hitting .368 with three homers.
In an IL game, Syracuse and Pawtucket combine for 10 hits, eight of which are home runs. The other two are a single and double, as Syracuse wins, 73.
Toledo Mud Hen (IL) OF Kimera Bartee swipes six bases against Columbus. With Detroit last season, Bartee stole 20.
IN THE NEWS: Tom Lampkin, Royce Clayton and Delino DeShields homer as the visiting Cardinals whip Los Angeles, 93. For the second time in four days, a Dodger starting pitcher mixes it up with manager Bill Russell in the dugout. Starter Pedro Astacio, starts the discussion on the mound with Russell in the 4th inning and then, after the 3rd out, sprints to the dugout and slams his glove against the bench before resuming the argument. On Thursday night, Ismael Valdes argued with Russell after being lifted for a pinch-hitter.
In Detroit, Randy Johnson, overwhelms to Tigers, striking out 15 and not allowing a hit until the 8th inning, as the Mariners win, 20. The Big Unit extends his scoreless streak to 29 innings. Johnson (9-1) gives up a leadoff single to Phil Nevin in the eighth to hand Brian Moehler the loss.
IN THE NEWS: The Mets Bobby Jones singles in a run and cops his eighth straight win, beating the host Reds, 42. Jones has won 11 games faster than any pitcher in Mets history and is the first National League pitcher to win 11 this season.
Mike DiMuro, the 1st American to umpire in Japan, announces he is returning home following an altercation when a batter poked him in the chest and a crowd of angry players surrounded him during the game. DiMuro had been invited to Japan to teach correct officiating.
IN THE NEWS: Kevin Brown fires the season's first no-hitter, with just a hit batter preventing the Marlins' ace from a perfect game. Florida stops the Giants, 90. With two outs in the eighth, Brown's 1-2 pitch nicks Marvin Benard on the right leg. Giant starter William Van Landingham also takes a no-hitter into the seventh, but Charles Johnson's two-run homer with one out opens a 7-run deluge.
In Kansas City the Angels win 62, to move ahead of Seattle in the American League West. Center fielder Jim Edmonds makes a sensational catch in the fifth inning and then drives home the go-ahead run with a double in the 6th. Rookie Jason Dickson (8-2) retires 11 of the first 12 batters and allows two runs in seven innings.
Despite turning five DPs, and throwing three runners out at home -- all by CF Damon Mashore -- the A's lose to the Tigers, 64.
IN THE NEWS: The Mariners Jeff Fassero stops Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays, 51, handing the Rocket his first loss after 11 victories. Fassero allows five hits and one run, and strikes out seven. Clemens gives up all five runs, four earned, in seven plus innings.
Boston IF-OF Wil Cordero is arrested and charged with assaulting his wife. Police say he slapped her, hit her on the head with a phone, and threatened to kill her.
IN THE NEWS: In the first-ever regular-season interleague game, the visiting SF Giants defeat the Texas Rangers, 4-3, behind the pitching of Mark Gardner. SF OF Darryl Hamilton gets the 1st interleague hit, OF Stan Javier the 1st home run, and Rod Beck the 1st save. Glenallen Hill has the distinction of being the first National League DH in a regular season game.
In a surprise move, the Dodgers ship Todd Hollandsworth, the 1996 National League Rookie of the Year, to Albuquerque and call up power-hitting OF Karim Garcia.
IN THE NEWS: Randy Johnson proves he can bring it in either league as the Big Unit strikes out 12 Rockies in eight innings to give the Mariners a 61. Johnson (101) holds baseball's highest-scoring team to just two hits and the Mariners sweep the two-game interleague series.
Baseball's two best teams deal their aces and once again Jimmy Key bests Greg Maddux, this time in the regular season instead of the World Series. Key gives up five hits in six 2/3 innings and the Orioles score four runs in the sixth inning for a 43 interleague victory over the host Braves.
Tiger P Omar Olivares hits the first triple by an American League pitcher in 24 years, but Henry Rodriguez bangs a two-run homer as Montreal beats visiting Detroit, 43. Olivares loses despite going 2-or-3.
In Pittsburgh, former Pirate Jeff King hits a two-run homer on the first pitch to him, but ex-Royal Joe Randa answers with a tying homer, a triple and three RBIs. The Pirates flush the Royals, 53. Tony Womack hits a tie-breaking homer in the 6th off reliever Mike Williams.
The Cardinals and Indians set a baseball firstthe first inter-league rainout. After nearly five hours of rain, the opener of the three-game set between the Central Division champions from both leagues is postponed.
Baltimore OF Eric Davis undergoes surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his colon.
IN THE NEWS: At Wrigley, the Cubs beat the Brewers, 43, to take the interleague series, 21. Frank Castillo allows five hits in six 1/3 innings and K's seven to win. The teams draw 112,690 for the three games7,638 shy of the Wrigley Field record of 120,328 for a three-game series, set in 1994 against Cincinnati.
The host Expos drum the Tigers 102 as Henry Rodriguez drills a homer off the rim of Olympic Stadium, only the second player to do so. The Expos sweep three to extend their winning streak to nine. With the score tied at one apiece Rodriguez homers off Brian Moehler (4-6) leading off the fourth. The ball rebounds off the 160-foot-high rim and lands on the field.
IN THE NEWS: In the first game of the Subway Series, the Mets Dave Mlicki pitches his first career shutout, stopping the Yanks, 60. Mlicki records his first complete game as well.
In the first regular-season meeting between Ohio's two teams, Cincy rookie Brett Tomko pitches seven 1/3 shutout innings as Cincinnati beat Cleveland, 41. The win is costly for the Reds who lose Barry Larkin when he ruptures his heel running out a double.
At Comiskey Park, the lowly Cubs earn bragging rights in the Windy City, beating the White Sox, 83. The Cubbies tally 14 hits in the first official game between the two rivals since the 1906 World Series. Both teams wear replicas of old-fashioned uniforms; the Cubs in their 1908 outfits, the White Sox in replica 1917 garb. Evanston native Kevin Foster records the win, allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings.
The Twins lose their first game to a National League team in the Metrodome as the Pirates win, 86. The Twins swept eight home games from St. Louis (1987) and Atlanta (1991) in their two World Series championships. Bucs' DH Mark Smith homers and Kevin Polcovich adds his first ML homer.
At Baltimore, the Expos tie a club record with their 10th straight win, beating the Orioles, 64.
IN THE NEWS: Omar Vizquel, Cleveland's #9 hitter, belts a three-run homer and drives in all five runs as the host Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1.
At Detroit, Bobby Bonilla's leadoff home run in the 9th inning clears the right field roof and gives the Marlins a 32 win over the Tigers. Bonilla's homer is just the 33rd to clear the roof at Tiger Stadium and the 3rd this season.
Ramon Garcia allows one hit in five innings and Luis Gonzalez's bases-loaded single helps the Astros to a six-run fifth inning, as Houston beats the host Royals, 102. Gonzalez stretches his hitting streak to 21 games, the longest of the season in the National League.
Playing before 44,249, the largest regular-season crowd at Comiskey Park, the White Sox score early to beat the Cubs, 53. Doug Drabek. with help from Roberto Hernandez in the ninth is the winner. Ex-Cub Dave Martinez hits a two-run homer in the first for the Sox. Chris Snopek adds another.
Colorado CF Ellis Burks strokes five hits, including a 9th-inning home run, but the Rockies still lose to the Rangers, 10-8, in 11 innings.
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