Game In Cleveland

CLEVELAND -- Mike Hargrove had briefly considered giving Sandy Alomar the night off, given the fact that the veteran catcher was struggling at the plate and had caught every inning of his team's first eight playoff games. The thought passed quickly."In about five seconds," the Cleveland Indians manager said late Sunday afternoon.Good thing, considering what Alomar did in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series and to the Orioles in Sunday night's 8-7 victory at Jacobs Field. While he did it mostly with his bat -- getting three hits, including the game-winner -- he also did it with his savvy.

Matt Stover has been under the microscope before. Having spent 10 years in the NFL, Stover is no stranger to pressure, whether it comes with lining up to attempt a game-winning field goal or having to preserve his job with a potential replacement lurking in the wings.For the past month, Stover has faced the prospect of losing his roster spot to Joe Nedney, whom the Ravens claimed off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals. The Ravens were dissatisfied with Stover's distances on kickoffs, a Nedney specialty.

The Orioles finally are able to team up pitcher Jaret Wright with catcher Ramon Hernandez. It's just not happening in Baltimore. Wright and Hernandez will report to Single-A Frederick on an injury rehabilitation assignment and start tonight against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Hernandez will stay with the Keys an extra day and serve as their designated hitter tomorrow, while Wright rejoins the Orioles. If everything goes according to plan, Wright will come off the disabled list in time to start Sunday's game in Cleveland.

Having made it through two throwing sessions without recurring pain in his left hamstring, Doug Drabek is expected to pitch a simulated game in the bullpen tomorrow. From there, the Orioles' right-hander could go on a rehabilitation assignment before being activated from the disabled list.Drabek has been on the DL since Aug. 1 with a strained hamstring. He threw without pain for about 10 minutes in Cleveland on Friday afternoon, and again for about 17 minutes before Monday's game against Minnesota.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Looking like an impatient man while completing what he considers the most patient phase of his career, Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken concluded two days of rehabilitation work in Florida yesterday, persuading club officials he's healthy enough to rejoin the club.Ripken, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 17 with nerve irritation in his back, went 3-for-6 against the Minnesota Twins' Gulf Coast League affiliate at Lee County Sports Complex yesterday, and played five innings of defense free of discomfort.

Invitations were sent out yesterday for next month's Major Indoor Soccer League All-Star Game in Cleveland with five players representing the Blast. Named as East squad starters from the Blast were defender Sean Bowers and midfielders Denison Cabral and Paul Wright. Defender Lance Johnson and goalkeeper Scott Hileman were chosen as reserves. The game, set for 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Gund Arena, will be the highlight of the inaugural MISL All-Star Weekend. The three-day event will start Feb. 15 and include a skills competition and legends game.

CLEVELAND -- One last time, the sun dropped behind the upper deck in the fourth quarter and a chilling wind blowing off the lake turned the broken-down old stadium into a refrigerator.Up in Section 53, the heart of the Dawg Pound, fans started sawing off their seats.At the timeout for the two-minute warning, a "thank you" message flashed on the end zone scoreboard. It's been a great run, the message said.The fans booed.Another cherry bomb landed with a boom in the end zone, this time forcing officials to move play to the other end of the field.

No matter what happens to Omar Daal today against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he apparently will remain in the Orioles' rotation and take his next turn when the teams meet again at Tropicana Field on Friday. Manager Mike Hargrove indicated yesterday that Daal would receive his fifth start on schedule, even if he continues to struggle. Signed as a free agent in January, the left-hander is 0-2 with an 8.04 ERA in three games. In his most recent appearance, Daal retired the first nine batters before the Cleveland Indians jumped him for seven runs and nine hits in 1 1/3 innings.

CLEVELAND -- As the skies began to turn gray and the stiff winds blew off Lake Erie into Cleveland Stadium for what may have been the final time, the last chapter in 50 years of tradition came to a close.It ended with howls and raging roars from the Dawg Pound, tears and smiles from fans, high-fives and many salutes. Fans cut up small sections of the wooden stands for mementos. Playersjumped into the stands and gave out hugs. Another player cried and then prayed at midfield.And then there was running back Earnest Byner, who ended his long-standing love-hate relationship with the Cleveland community by rushing for 121 yards, and taking one of the longest victory laps in the history of sports.

Cal Ripken, who said his arm wasn't as strong as usual this season, made a few more terrific plays yesterday, but said he hasn't really had to test his arm yet in the postseason.Ripken said he used an accelerated program to strengthen his arm last winter, similar to a program he used in the shortened 1995 spring training, and his arm hasn't really felt right this year because of it.Yesterday he made two plays where he ranged to his left and twirled around before firing in time to retire runners at first.