Carlos Baerga

July 13, 1993Oriole Park at Camden YardsThe San Diego Padres have two players on this year's National League squad: outfielder Tony Gwynn and pitcher Andy Benes. However, six former Padres will be playing in Tuesday's game: Gary Sheffield (Marlins), Roberto Alomar (Blue Jays), Dave Hollins (Phillies), John Kruk (Phillies), Joe Carter (Blue Jays) and Carlos Baerga (Indians).

Who's hot Brad Fullmer of the Angels has reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances. Who's not Jimmy Haynes became the first Cincinnati pitcher to lose his first four starts since 1963. Line of the day Carlos Baerga, D'backs 2B AB H R RBI HR 5 2 3 7 2 On deck Roger Clemens of the Yankees goes for career victory No. 296 tonight at Minnesota against Brad Radke. He said it "We're glad we got him. We didn't realize he'd be this good. He's probably the biggest surprise for us."

Here's a list of the eight present and former Padres who went into yesterday's action ranked among the major leagues' leading hitters:Player.. .. .. ..Team.. .. ..Avg.John Kruk.. .. ..Phillies .. .379Tony Gwynn.. .. .Padres.. .. .367Roberto Alomar.. Blue Jays.. .342Gary Sheffield.. Padres.. .. .335Tony Fernandez.. Padres.. .. .333Fred McGriff.. ..Padres.. .. .333Shane Mack.. .. .Twins .. .. .322Carlos Baerga.. .Indians.. . .311

Athletics: Mark McGwire's homer was his 359th, moving him into a tie with Johnny Mize for 43rd place on the career list.Brewers: Ben McDonald, who had never batted in a major-league game, struck out in his only at-bat. The Brewers have lost 15 of their past 19 road games.Indians: Orel Hershiser has a 3-9 lifetime record in the Astrodome.Mets: Edgardo Alfonzo went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.Rockies: Colorado is 1-27 when scoring three runs or less.Tigers: Willie Blair, who missed a month with a broken jaw when he was struck by a line drive in Cleveland on May 4, was hit in the right forearm by a drive hit by Carlos Baerga in the third.

Carlos Baerga, second base, Cleveland IndiansBaerga went 3-for-4 with a homer and drove in two runs last Sunday against Minnesota5+AB .. ..R .. ..H .. ..HR .. ..RBI .. ..Avg17.. ...5.. ..10.. .. .1.. .. .4 .. .. .588Robb Nen, reliever, Florida MarlinsNen earned three saves last week, blanking Atlanta over 1 2/3 innings, striking out two.IP .. ..H .. ..ER .. ..R .. ..BB .. ..SO3.. .. .0 .. ...0 .. ..0 .. ...1 .. .. 3through Thursday's games

It's a matchup between the best-hitting team in the American League and the second-worst -- the Orioles, who have a .255 team batting average. The Indians couldn't be arriving at a more inopportune time for the free-falling Orioles, who have not beaten the Indians in six tries this season. The Indians lead the league in home runs (145) and team batting average (.290) and are second in runs (560). They have five players -- Carlos Baerga (.328), Albert Belle (.305), Eddie Murray (.312), Jim Thome (.332)

Athletics: Mark McGwire's homer was his 359th, moving him into a tie with Johnny Mize for 43rd place on the career list.Brewers: Ben McDonald, who had never batted in a major-league game, struck out in his only at-bat. The Brewers have lost 15 of their past 19 road games.Indians: Orel Hershiser has a 3-9 lifetime record in the Astrodome.Mets: Edgardo Alfonzo went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.Rockies: Colorado is 1-27 when scoring three runs or less.Tigers: Willie Blair, who missed a month with a broken jaw when he was struck by a line drive in Cleveland on May 4, was hit in the right forearm by a drive hit by Carlos Baerga in the third.

Who's hot Brad Fullmer of the Angels has reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances. Who's not Jimmy Haynes became the first Cincinnati pitcher to lose his first four starts since 1963. Line of the day Carlos Baerga, D'backs 2B AB H R RBI HR 5 2 3 7 2 On deck Roger Clemens of the Yankees goes for career victory No. 296 tonight at Minnesota against Brad Radke. He said it "We're glad we got him. We didn't realize he'd be this good. He's probably the biggest surprise for us."

What the Orioles did yesterday: Traveled to Port St. Lucie and battered former Orioles right-hander Pete Harnisch, collecting seven runs and 11 hits in three innings in a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets. Right-hander Mike Mussina went six innings, giving up three runs and four hits. Two of the runs came on a two-out double to center field by Carlos Baerga in the sixth.What the Orioles will do today: Play the Atlanta Braves for the sixth time. Left-hander Jimmy Key will oppose Greg Maddux in another rematch of Game 6 of last year's World Series.

Winners and Losers looks at the other half of the delightful dozen young players tabbed by Sports Illustrated as the future of baseball. In case you're wondering, seven of the 12 are American Leaguers and one (Gary Sheffield) got started in Milwaukee, so the Junior Circuit should remain the best league for the foreseeable future.Royce Clayton .. .. .. Loser .. .. With on base percentage below... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 300 and big strikeout total,.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... Giants shortstop goes to rear.

What the Orioles did yesterday: Traveled to Port St. Lucie and battered former Orioles right-hander Pete Harnisch, collecting seven runs and 11 hits in three innings in a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets. Right-hander Mike Mussina went six innings, giving up three runs and four hits. Two of the runs came on a two-out double to center field by Carlos Baerga in the sixth.What the Orioles will do today: Play the Atlanta Braves for the sixth time. Left-hander Jimmy Key will oppose Greg Maddux in another rematch of Game 6 of last year's World Series.

It was the best team in the American League, but it wasn't quite good enough. The Cleveland Indians won 100 games in a shortened season last year and went to the World Series for the first time since 1954, but general manager John Hart surveyed the competitive landscape three months ago and decided to make some dramatic changes.Second baseman Carlos Baerga -- once thought to be the heart and soul of the Indians lineup -- was traded along with Alvaro Espinoza to the New York Mets for Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino.

CLEVELAND -- The Orioles were going to run away from the rest of the AL East, weren't they? They were going to build on their 11-2 start and create a comfortable margin between themselves and the New York Yankees and they were going to bury Boston before the end of April, weren't they?No, they aren't.The Orioles lost their fifth straight last night, falling to Cleveland, 6-3, and in doing so, they've played themselves back into the pack in the AL East. The '96 Orioles and the 1984 Tigers, who started 35-5, have nothing in common.

CLEVELAND - Emotions ran over all around Eddie Murray in Game 3 of the World Series last night. Anger, in the Indians' pregame meeting. Excitement, when they took an early three-run lead against Atlanta. Fear, when the Indians blew the lead in the eighth. Relief, when they tied the score and played into extra innings.Murray was hitless in his first five at-bats, but after each failure, he would walk back to the dugout and gently place his helmet back in the rack. Emotionless _ until his RBI single off Alejandro Pena in the 11th inning to beat Atlanta, 7-6. Pinch-runner Alvaro Espinoza scored the winning run at 12:42 a.m., the latest game in the history of the World Series.

It's a matchup between the best-hitting team in the American League and the second-worst -- the Orioles, who have a .255 team batting average. The Indians couldn't be arriving at a more inopportune time for the free-falling Orioles, who have not beaten the Indians in six tries this season. The Indians lead the league in home runs (145) and team batting average (.290) and are second in runs (560). They have five players -- Carlos Baerga (.328), Albert Belle (.305), Eddie Murray (.312), Jim Thome (.332)

ARLINGTON, Texas -- They were there and then they were gone, throwing but 52 pitches between them, striking out half of the dozen batters they faced, reducing baseball's best hitters to flailing fodder.Randy Johnson and Hideo Nomo came as advertised last night in the first two innings of the All-Star Game. Imposing. Impressive. Impossible.For a few minutes on a 96-degree evening, they cured an ailing game. Suddenly, the game itself was the thing again. The empty seats at ballparks across North America, the lingering fan bitterness, the low TV ratings, the memories of Bud and Donald's Not-So-Excellent Adventure -- they were yesterday's news.

CLEVELAND -- The Orioles were going to run away from the rest of the AL East, weren't they? They were going to build on their 11-2 start and create a comfortable margin between themselves and the New York Yankees and they were going to bury Boston before the end of April, weren't they?No, they aren't.The Orioles lost their fifth straight last night, falling to Cleveland, 6-3, and in doing so, they've played themselves back into the pack in the AL East. The '96 Orioles and the 1984 Tigers, who started 35-5, have nothing in common.