ffilje flatly Star Heel SPORTS Tuesday, April7,1998 11 Triple-A Bulls top visiting Devil Rays in exhibition Steve Cox hit DURHAM two “He asked me after the game, ‘Where while the World Series-champion Pulli after Bobby Jones was called for a which most its five-hit game June 30, home and Scott Montreal, pinged of since 1996, runs Aldred pitched was that all spring?”’ Cox said. “I said, Marlins have lost six straight since an balk for a pickoff throw to first with first veterans to save money, is the only win- against Los three scoreless the Durham Angeles. innings as ‘Come on, give me a break.’” opening-day victory. baseman John Olerud a few'steps from less team in the majors at 0-6 and set a Bagwell had RBI grounder in the Bulls their new parent an defeated club, the Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff, two It’s the Marlins’ longest skid since the base. franchise record for worst start. first and hit his third homer of the sea- expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-2 in fan favorites, played one inning each for they dropped seven consecutive games Baseball rules say pitchers can’t throw Mark Grace added an RBI double for son in the sixth for 9-2 lead. exhibition baseball a Monday. the Devil Rays, who borrowed pitchers June 30-July 6,19%, a streak that ended to unoccupied bases. the Cubs, who series from Jack Howell added two-run, Acrowd of 10,013 swept a an a pinch welcomed Triple- and several position players from the with the firing of manager Rene Keith Osik went to second on the NL team for the first time since Sept. 25- single in a four-run and Derek A to North Carolina seventh, baseball as Tampa Bulls. Lachemann. balk, took third on a grounder and 27, 1995, when took three games Bell went 3 for 5. Bay its affiliate from they visited top en route The Devil Rays, batting .352 during a Cirillo went 4 for 4 with a single, a scored on Tony Womack’s singl e. from St. Louis at Wrigley Field. It was Florida to play 4-2 start to the season, managed just walk and two RBIs. His three doubles Cordova (2-0) allowed five hits and first since vruMox urn wruv mb pni iiifw! the Chicago’s four-game sweep Detroit Baseball four hits offsix pitchers. tied a club record achieved 17 times pre- walked none, helping Pittsburgh avoid a July 15-18,1993, against Colorado. Magglio Ordonez tied The Bulls CHICAGO Tigers. “Our guys were a little bit more viously, most recently by Dave Valle on four-game sweep. Turner Ward backed the score with a sixth-inning homer and had been a Class roundup fir lap—4'a 3 BBSs pace pumped up than they were,” said Bulls July 24,1994, against Minnesota. him witha two-run single in die first and Nauto rwrt singled home the go-ahead run in the A club of the manager BillEvers. “They’ve got a road Florida rookie Mark Kotsay hit his Freddy Garcia homered in the ninth. HOUSTON Jeff drove in the White Atlanta Braves Bagwell eighth Monday as Chicago trip to go and get to business.” first major-league homer with a man on Jones (0-1) gave up three runs and five three runs with a grounder and two-run Sox won their first home opener since since 1980 before Dave Eiland started and got the win in the fifth, but the Marlins, who traded hits in six innings, walked five and homer, and the Houston Astros over- over the Texas Rangers. switching 1992,5-4 over to If for the Bulls, giving up one unearned away many of their high-paid players struck out three. came fivehits by Dante Bichette to beat The smallest crowd for a home open- the International this run in three League season. innings. Aldred, the former during the offseason, were again the Colorado Rockies 13-4 Monday. er in 23 years, 25,358, watched on a Cox’s first homer a shot Gto taka 4 frea ixp was two-run Minnesota Twins left-hander, recorded plagued by poor pitching and shaky Houston, which outhit the Rockies chilly 52-degree day at Comiskey Park in the bottom of the first offlosing pitch- five strikeouts in three innings and defense. CHICAGO Unlike last year, the three of four White Sox Albie 15-13, won games against as the overcame a 4-1 deficit. er Lopez, the only pitcher on the looked sharp. Chicago Cubs are happy with their early Colorado, the Rockies 37-13 Ordonez’s first homer of the avoid mop os, outscoring season, Devil Rays roster to see action. Cox then Pinto Mats season streak. and them 51-38. solo shot off Witt in the sixth, blasted outhitting a Bobby a long, solo shot in the eighth NEW YORK Francisco Cordova Pitcher Mark Clark hit a go-ahead Colorado, 35-45 on the road last sea- tied it4-all. after the Devil had closed to Rays 4-2. MIAMI Jeff Cirillo tied a club struck out eight in seven innings and the single with two outs in the sixth, and the son and 47-34 at Coors finished With the 4-all in the “I the ball felt Field, score eighth, saw and I good, but it record with three doubles and the Pittsburgh Pirates, with some help from Cubs won their sixth straight Monday, 3- their first road trip 4-3 and play their Frank Thomas and Albert Belle doesn’t count,” said Cox. “It’s lot Milwaukee singled a more Brewers completed their first a disputed balk, beat the New York Mets 2 over the winless Montreal Expos. home opener St. Louis on doubled for his third hit in 20 at- fun the against only whenever big guys get to see ya.” series sweep in the National League, 4-2 Monday. Chicago, which lost its first 14 games Tuesday night. bats. Robin Ventura was Cox said he received the Florida intentionally some good- beating Marlins for the With New York trailing 2-0, Mets last season, is an NL-best That’s the Bichette was 5 for 5 with two RBIs, walked Pavlik to load the natured after the from fourth 6-1. by Roger (0-1) ribbing game consecutive time Monday, 8-5. manager Bobby Valentine was ejected in fastest start for the Cubs since they matching his career high for hits and bases, and Ordonez singled to center. Tampa Bay manager a Larry Rothschild. Milwaukee has won five in row, the fourth inning by crew chief Frank began 1985 7-1. raising his average to .531. It was his first FROM WIRE REPORTS Smith recommends Ford for Texas job Courier’s win leads U.S. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ing an unnamed unhappy players met with Dodds. Durham native, also received an Texas past Russia in Davis Cup AUSTIN, Former North source close to the Majerus led the Utes to the champi- endorsement from a prominent UT Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith selection commit- onship game of this year’s NCAA tour- booster, according to the American- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS double match point As the return sailed called Texas athletic director DeLoss tee, reported nament. Last week, he rejected a seven- Statesman. STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. Jim for beyond the court, Courier sank his Dodds on behalf of UNC assistant Phil Sunday that figure offer from Arizona State. Dodds declined to name to his top can- Courier saved the United States from knees and mobbed by captain Tom Ford, recommending him for the open Majerus will meet Majerus, 50, makes about $1 million didates. was Davis Cup elimination. Gullikson. Soon, and the rest of head coaching job, the Austin with UT officials annually at Utah, with about half com- “I’vegot real strong about Agassi feelings He rallied from the brink of defeat the team piled American-Statesman reported yesterday. about the job. ing from endorsements. some coaches I want to talk he said. U.S. on. to,” today to beat 18-year-old Marat sat slumped in his courtside The opening came when coach Tom The panel met Dodds has said UT will not its “We have Safin 0- Safin pay a long list, but I guess you can 6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, the United chair, consoled Russian Penders resigned last week. Saturday to begin basketball coach than say my giving by captain next more the in mind there’s a short list where States a dramatic 3-2 over Russia Shamil and Kafelnikov. Utah’s Rick Majerus is reportedly a the search for $750,000 made new football coach we have real interest.” victory Tarpischev by a serious in the first round. The Americans have won Davis leading candidate to take over at Texas. Penders’ replace- UNC assistant coach Mack Brown, who left UNC last year. UT DeJuan “Chico” 31 guard Vazquez, Andre Agassi was beaten in straight Cup more than any other country. Other top candidates on the UT’s list ment. Penders PHIL FORD Penders had received $550,000 a adviser to the titles, annually. player screening com- sets by Yevgeny Kafelnikov to even the Their last title came in 1995, when a reportedly include Rick Barnes of resigned after is a candidate Ford and other coach interested mittee, met with the group one Saturday. best-of-5 series earlier in the Then Pete team beat the Clemson, Bob Bender of Washington three weeks of for the in the job have received strong that would like day.