Back Spasms

Athletics: Tony Phillips' walk in the second was his 1,262nd, tying him for 29th all-time with Jack Clark and Ken Singleton.Red Sox: The last time Tim Wakefield faced another knuckleballer was Aug. 16, 1996, against the Angels' Dennis Springer. First baseman Mike Stanley was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms.Pub Date: 5/03/99

On approach, the massiveness of his 7-foot-7 body screams intimidation. When he extends his right hand -- with a grasp so wide he can grip the top and bottom of a soda can between his thumb and index finger -- you wonder if a handshake is really a good idea.Then you watch him on the court just left of the foul line, demanding the ball, catching and shooting in one fluid motion. You can close your eyes and listen to the nets snap -- pop, pop, pop -- and remember his skilled, feathery shooting touch.

Orioles officials said yesterday that outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds is at least two weeks away from returning to the active roster, and also confirmed the suspicion that the muscle spasms in his back are related to a nerve irritation.The Orioles have been reluctant to discuss what they consider to be minor injuries, but with Hammonds out of the lineup since June 2 and still not cleared to begin hitting or throwing since going on the disabled list, it became apparent his condition was more serious than originally thought.

SAN DIEGO -- Mark McGwire's assault on baseball's single-season home run record was put on hold temporarily when he was forced to leave last night's game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres because of a back spasm.McGwire, who has a long history of lower back problems, reached for an outside pitch in the first inning and grounded weakly to the right side, then jogged uncomfortably down the first base line before taking himself out of the game."It's the same thing I deal with every year," McGwire said after the Padres scored a 3-2 victory in the finale of a four-game series at Qualcomm Stadium.

Quote: "I think he's getting better as the years go by. He's smarter. He knows how to pitch. His best asset is that he moves the ball around." -- Wade Boggs on Toronto pitcher Woody Williams, who took a no-hit bid into the eighth. Boggs was 0-for2.It's a fact: The Tigers have homered in 13 straight games, their longest streak since tying the major-league mark with 25 straight in 1994.Who's hot: Detroit's Damion Easley has a nine-game hitting streak, going 14-for-32 (.438). He has reached base in 24 consecutive games.

VIERA, Fla. -- Though manager Ray Miller isn't expected to make public his 25-man roster until after Sunday's exhibition game at Camden Yards, infielder Ozzie Guillen has been given every indication that he has made the club."

BasketballHeat: Waived G-F Todd Day (6.0 ppg, 35 percent shooting). Activated F Dan Majerle.Pistons: Activated G Joe Dumars from injured list. Placed F Charles O'Bannon (back spasms) on injured list.CollegeNorth Carolina State: Agreed to terms with basketball coach Herb Sendek on contract extension through 2002-03.FootballJets: Signed WR-QB Ray Lucas off practice squad. Waived DT Ronnie Dixon.HockeyBruins: Recalled RW Jean-Yves Roy from AHL Providence.Pub Date: 11/23/97

The Orioles placed third baseman Chris Sabo (back spasms) on the disabled list after last night's 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and replaced him on the roster with outfielder Damon Buford.Buford arrived in Baltimore from Ottawa, where Triple-A Rochester was playing, in time to play last night, but the club decided to delay the roster move."There wasn't an urgent need to do it before the game," Orioles manager Johnny Oates said.Why not? Because Mike Devereaux was able to play one night after being hit on the left cheek by a pitch from Cleveland's Chad Ogea.

It does not appear as though Glenn Davis will appear in either of the Orioles' last two games of this abbreviated homestand against the Boston Red Sox."I doubt it," manager John Oates said when asked if Davis would face lefthander Tom Bolton (8-8, 4.88) in the second game of the series tonight (7:35, HTS)."He's on a day-to-day basis," said Oates, "but he's not doing too well right now. He's got a spasm in the back."The problem is not related to the injury in the neck and shoulder that sidelined Davis for almost four months earlier in the season.