Iain Fraser

Determined to find the right equation in time for the playoffs, the Blast did some adding and subtracting yesterday and is not through yet. With a disappointing 13-14 mark that has his team in fourth place in the Major Indoor Soccer League, Blast head coach/general manager Kevin Healey acquired forward Lester Felician from the Harrisburg Heat for midfielder Danny Barber, and also waived 36-year-old defender Doug Neely. The departure of Neely, a 17-year pro who had two stints and seven seasons in Baltimore, will make room for fellow veteran defender Iain Fraser, who, coming from the Sacramento Knights of the former World Indoor Soccer League, was the Blast's first selection in last week's allocation draft.

BaseballBlue Jays: Put P Tim Crabtree on 15-day DL. Recalled P Scott Brow from Triple-A Syracuse. Assigned C Sandy Martinez to Double-A Knoxville on rehab. VP Al LaMacchia took job with Devil Rays.Mariners: Recalled P Tim Davis from Triple-A Tacoma. Optioned P Matt Wagner to Tacoma.Mets: Named Bruce Benedict manager at Triple-A Norfolk and Rick Waits pitching coach at Norfolk.Red Sox: Acquired P Pat Mahomes from Twins for player to be named. Designated P Ken Grundt for assignment.Rockies: Activated P Bill Swift.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Spirit was shut out in the fourth quarter last night, as the Kansas City Attack pulled away with a 17-11 victory at Kemper Arena.The loss was especially painful for Spirit coach Kenny Cooper, who wore an ice pack on his right wrist."I had surgery on my wrist last week and it was bothering a little bit and a loss like that doesn't help any, if you know what I'm saying," he said. "You kind of ache all over when you lose like that."The Spirit, which leads the American Division of the National Professional Soccer League, fell to 24-10.

BaseballBoston Red Sox: Claimed P Butch Henry off waivers from the Montreal Expos.California Angels: Waived C Andy Allanson. Purchased the contract of P David Holdridge from Triple-A Vancouver.Colorado Rockies: Picked up option on P Kevin Ritz. Refused to pick up option on P Joe Grahe. Released P Bryan Hickerson and ex-Orioles C Matt Nokes.Los Angeles Dodgers: Outrighted P Jim Bruske to Triple-A Albuquerque. Purchased P Ramser Correa and added him to 40-man roster.Minnesota Twins: Added IF Tom Quinlan and P Mike Misuraca to 40-man roster.

BasketballDenver Nuggets -- Named Jim Boyle assistant coach.Golden State Warriors -- Traded F/G Terry Teagle (16.1 ppg in 1989-90) to Los Angeles Lakers for 1991 first-round draft choice.Los Angeles Lakers -- Traded C Mark McNamara to San Antonio Spurs for future considerations.Philadelphia 76ers -- Extended coach Jim Lynam's contract two years. Signed Brian Oliver, first-round draft choice from Georgia Tech, to four-year contract at reported $1.6 million.Seattle SuperSonics -- Signed F Mike Higgins.

DALLAS -- Cris Vacarro was virtually flawless in goal last night, allowing just two shots to slip by as the Dallas Sidekicks were practically helpless in their home by the Baltimore Blast, 6-2."Vacarro has been magnificent," Blast coach Kenny Cooper said. "We talked about it late in the game and decided to leave him in to get his goals-against-average down." Rod Castro got two goals, one from a shootout, to lead the Blast. He would have had another but goalie Joe Papaleo successfully defended the shootout.

WICHITA, Kan. -- If a streak is to be broken, why not in impressive fashion?The Baltimore Blast broke a five-game losing streak in the Kansas Coliseum with a 7-5 victory last night over the Wichita Wings behind the play of defender Iain Fraser and leading scorer Domenic Mobilio.Fraser stopped the Major Soccer League's leading scorer, Dale Ervine, and also had a goal and an assist as the Blast won back-to-back road games for the first time since April 1990.With the victory, Baltimore improved its record to 4-4; Wichita lost its first-place standing and entered a three-way tie for the league lead at 5-3. The Blast's last victory in Wichita was by a 2-1 score on April 14, 1990.

Blast defender Emil Dragicevic's best friend is St. Louis Storm offensive star Preki. They are both from Yugoslavia. They played together for two years in St. Louis before Dragicevic joined the Blast.When the Blast is in St. Louis, Preki invites Dragicevic to his home and Dragicevic returns the favor in Baltimore. Many nights, such as Tuesday, they go out to dinner together -- Dragicevic, Preki and their good friend Branko Segota, who is also Preki's teammate.The conversation is usually about home in Yugoslavia, about the civil war there, about family and friends.

For the second straight year, Billy Ronson has been told by his peers in the Major Soccer League Eastern Division he isn't good enough to make the All-Star team.Ronson's fellow players snubbed him yesterday in the voting for the 12th MSL All-Star Game, in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 13.But thanks to Baltimore Blast coach Kenny Cooper, the East's head coach, team, Ronson will make his first MSL All-Star Game appearance.Ronson, who is having a career season in the MSL and leads the Blast in scoring with 25 goals and 26 assists, was one of three players selected by Cooper yesterday to complete the 16-man East squad.

RICHFIELD, Ohio -- Last Friday, the Baltimore Blast used a sixth attacker to pull out an amazing win over the Cleveland Crunch.This week the magic wasn't there as the Crunch (5-8) held off the Blast in the final 5 minutes, 30 seconds to record a 6-4 victory before 3,879 at the Richfield Coliseum.The loss ended Baltimore's road winning streak at four, one short of the team mark, and was the team's second straight setback.It was also the first time in five games the Blast (7-7) lost after leading going into the fourth quarter.