Closer

Talks yesterday between General Motors Corp. and striking workers at its Baltimore minivan assembly plant brought the two sides no closer to ending a three-week walkout, negotiators said."

Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts would be bolstered under legislation that received preliminary approval from the Maryland House of Delegates yesterday. Legislators decided to move the bill that creates the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund to a final vote, which is expected today. The House and Senate approved legislation in recent days, setting aside about $50 million for the fund, and the House bill being considered would govern how that money is used. The General Assembly is meeting in a special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley to close a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit.

Several weeks ago, Jesse Orosco mused over his career, expressing the hope that sometime, before he retired, he would get some chances to finish some games. He loved saving games when he pitched for the New York Mets.Lo and behold, Orosco has been given that opportunity; on the night Cal Ripken played in his 2,130th consecutive game, Orosco picked up his first save in almost two years, and last night, he saved the Orioles' 6-5 win over Boston, before 40,282 at Oriole Park.Mark Smith's bloop single scored Harold Baines with the winning run with two outs into the seventh inning, and the Orioles staved off elimination for one more night (the magic number for the inevitable is one)

AS THE market value of Orioles pitcher Jose Mercedes continues to increase, so does the team's need for a closer. One might eventually lead to the other. Mercedes and Orioles outfielder Melvin Mora are two names being bandied about in a possible trade package through which the team might fill one of its most pressing needs, either a closer or a power-hitting outfielder. But to make the deal more attractive, the Orioles need for Mercedes (4-9) to get on a roll like last season, and he put on quite a show yesterday.

The chances of the Orioles bringing back Kevin Brown as a starter are poor at best. But how about as a closer?Orioles general manager Pat Gillick discussed the possibility with Brown's agent last night, an idea first suggested by ex-manager Phil Regan in the final months of the season.Should the Orioles sign left-hander Al Leiter and re-sign Ben McDonald and Scott Erickson, they will be relatively rich in starting pitching -- especially since prospects Jimmy Haynes and Rocky Coppinger may be ready to join the rotation.

Saturn owners who couldn't make the trek to Spring Hill, Tenn., needn't feel left out this weekend.A local homecoming celebration, sponsored by Saturn of Ellicott City and Saturn of Glen Burnie, has been scheduled for noon to 7 p.m. tomorrow at Sandy Point State Park, just west of the Bay Bridge off U.S. Route 50.Bryan Mears, general manager of Saturn of Glen Burnie, which opened in July 1990 as the area's first Saturn dealership, says they realized it...

That's twice now that Orioles manager Ray Miller has lifted Armando Benitez in save situations. It's not a major concern for team that is 10-2, but the Orioles don't have a closer, and might not all season."

Fallston rode an early Beth Rappold goal into the state girls soccer semifinals last night, holding off visiting North Harford, 1-0, in what became an evenly matched Class 1A-2A East Regional championship game.The victory sends No. 2-ranked Fallston (15-0) into the semifinals against Liberty on the Carroll County team's home turf Saturday at 3:30 p.m.Liberty (13-2), the area's No. 9 team, defeated Catoctin, 2-1, in over time Tuesday to win the West region and advance to the semifinals.Fallston had won the regular-season game at home against North Harford, 4-0, although Hawks supporters say it was closer than that.

When looking to fill hotel rooms, many hoteliers have responded to the recession by seeking business closer to their own backyards.In these days of travel-phobia and corporate penny-pinching, downtown hoteliers have responded by concentrating their sales efforts closer to home. Stung by a steep drop in leisure travel, the hotels are trying to lure more group and corporate business from other mid-Atlantic states.An informal survey of sales and marketing managers of Inner Harbor hotels reveals a collective shift in sales strategy over the last several months.

NEW YORK -- Orioles closer Randy Myers reiterated his disapproval of being removed from Wednesday's 3-2 loss, and manager Davey Johnson defended the move yesterday.Myers walked the first two batters with a one-run lead in the ninth inning, then got the first out before being replaced by Alan Mills. Myers told reporters after Wednesday's game that he believes it is the closer's job to get three outs before allowing a run, and Johnson did not give him a chance to do that.Yesterday, Johnson defended his insertion of Mills, who had retired 18 straight batters, and said he "did not take kindly" to Myers' questioning his decision.