Darryl Kile

St. Louis-- --St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has seen it all in his 28 years as a major league manager, so it's hard to imagine a couple of wet evenings in the Midwest causing him a whole lot of anxiety. He was manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1989, when the earth shook in the Bay Area and put the Fall Classic in true perspective. He was manager of the Cardinals when one of his star pitchers - Darryl Kile - was found dead in the team hotel in Chicago. Into each life some rain must fall, and whoever came up with that cliche was not talking about anything that shows up on Doppler radar.

PHOENIX -- Before last season, Jeff Reboulet arrived at the Orioles' Fort Lauderdale spring training facility without a job and with no guarantees. Next February, he will return with a major-league contract and the prospect of serving as the American League East champion's man for all positions.Two days after the club lost utility infielder Aaron Ledesma to the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Orioles re-signed Reboulet to a one-year, $450,000 contract.Though Reboulet's return didn't hinge on Ledesma's departure, the loss only heightened the 33-year-old's significance to a team that struggled with infield depth for much of last season.

NEW YORK - The thumb on shortstop Mike Bordick's right hand remains a little stiff, limiting his range of motion. The big toe on catcher Mike Piazza's right foot is still sore, the reminder coming each time he runs. Second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo had his left hand wrapped during Friday's workout after being hit by a ground ball. The New York Mets don't know adversity, only minor inconveniences. The St. Louis Cardinals? Now there's a team with problems. Huge, throat-griping problems - the kind that have left them gasping for air in the National League Championship Series.

HittingMike Piazza, Mets: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs.Javy Lopez, Braves: 3-run homer.Jeff Cirillo, Brewers: 3-for-4.PitchingDarryl Kile, Rockies: 9 innings, 1 run, 2 hits.Shane Reynolds, Astros: 8 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 1 run, 12 strikeouts.Kevin Tapani, Cubs: 8 innings, 2 runs, 8 hits.Pub Date: 9/11/98

Hitting Eric Karros, Dodgers: 4-for-5, 4 RBIs.Mike Piazza, Dodgers: 2-for-4, 2 walks, finished April with 8 HRs, 26 RBIs.PitchingDenny Neagle, Braves: 9 innings, 0 runs, 5 hits.Darryl Kile, Rockies: 9 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits.Kerry Wood, Cubs: 7 innings, 1 run, 5 hits.Pete Smith, Padres: 6 1/3 innings, 1 run, 2 hits.Pub Date: 5/01/98

Quote: "Why not when your ERA is 6.34?" - Phillies' Curt Schilling, when asked why he was throwing batting practice It's a fact: Mets left fielder Jason Tyner has not hit a home run in 1,160 professional at-bats. Nor did he homer in 794 aluminum-bat ABs at Texas A&M. Who's hot: The Cardinals continue to be the best draw on the road, averaging 35,566 fans in 29 dates. Who's not: The Pirates have lost six of nine. On deck: The Cardinals' Darryl Kile faces the Padres tonight, going for his 10th victory.

BaseballNL -- Named Colorado's Andres Galarraga the league's Player of the Month for June and Chris Hammond of Florida and Darryl Kile of Houston Pitchers of the Month.Cincinnati Reds -- Placed P John Smiley on the 15-day DL. Demoted C Dan Wilson to Triple-A Indianapolis. Purchased the contract of Indianapolis P Mike Anderson. Transferred P Steve ,, Foster from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.Montreal Expos -- Placed P Ken Hill on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 26. Activated P Jimmy Jones from the 15-day DL.Philadelphia Phillies -- Placed IF Mariano Duncan on the 15-day DL. Recalled IF Joe Millette from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.