Rbis

If Ryan Finan could do anything differently this season, he'd add another month of June to the calendar. For the second time in two years, Finan was chosen as the Orioles' minor league Player of the Month for June. A corner infielder at Single-A Frederick, he batted .343 with 10 RBIs and a .930 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). "Maybe the weather starts to get hot," he said. "I don't really like playing in cold weather. I'd rather sweat when I play. But I don't know. Maybe after 100, 150 at-bats, that's when I start to get going.

Quote: "Everyone was on me for staying on 99 for a while. They were wondering if I would ever get it." -- Derek Jeter, whose double yesterday gave him 100 RBIs, just the second Yankees shortstop in history with 100 or more RBIs.It's a fact: The Rangers are the seventh team in major-league history to have six players with at least 20 homers.Who's hot: The White Sox's Greg Norton is hitting .414 (29-for-70) with eight doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs in his past 20 games.Who's not: The Twins' LaTroy Hawkins, who has lost seven of his past nine decisions, gave up five runs -- four earned -- and five hits in one-plus innings of a 13-4 loss to the White Sox on Saturday night.

As the defending regular-season champion and last season's league tournament runner-up, St. Mary's has taken for granted just one of its Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Associated B Conference rivals this spring.Since an 11-0 loss at the hands of Boys' Latin earlier this season, St. Mary's has been all business. The visiting Saints (12-1, 8-1 league) were so again yesterday, routing league rival Mount Carmel, 14-0, at Martindale Park."The one time we didn't come ready to play, we got blown out pretty good," said catcher Mike Mullen, referring to the shutout defeat to Boys' Latin.

HittingMike Stanley, Red Sox: 2 HRs, 6 RBIs.Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays: 2 HRs, 5 RBIs.Shawn Green, Blue Jays: 2 HRs, 4 RBIs.PitchingBlake Stein, Athletics: 9 innings, 0 runs, 5 hits, 1st major-league shutout.Tim Wakefield, Red Sox: 9 innings, 1 run, 5 hits.Jack McDowell, Angels: 7 innings, 0 runs, 5 hits.Pub Date: 8/20/98

HittingDamion Easley, Tigers: 2 HRs, double, 6 RBIs, 2 runs.Lee Stevens, Rangers: 2 HRs, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runsAlex Rodriguez, Mariners: 2 HRs, double, 3 RBIs, 3 runsKenny Lofton, Indians: HR, single, 5 RBIs, run.Travis Fryman, Indians: HR, double, single, 3 RBIs, 3 runs.B.J. Surhoff, Orioles: HR, double, single, 3 RBIs, run.PitchingPedro Martinez, Red Sox: 7 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts.Pat Hengten, Blue Jays: 8 innings, 1 run, 9 hits, 7 strikeouts.Pub Date: 5/21/98

HittingEllis Burks, Rockies: 1-for-4, HR (game-winning grand slam).Jose Hernandez, Cubs: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs.Michael Tucker, Braves: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs.PitchingJohn Smoltz, Braves: 7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits.Mike Hampton, Astros: 7 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs.Ramon Martinez, Dodgers: 8 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 7 strikeouts.FieldingJon Nunnally, Reds: Made over-the-shoulder, diving catch of Jeff Cirillo drive in sixth for third out, saving two runs.Pub Date: 5/03/98

HittingGerald Williams, Braves: 5 RBIs, 2 HRs, including grand slam.Sean Casey, Reds: 4 RBIs, HR.PitchingBrett Tomko, Reds: 7 innings, 1 run, 4 hits.Chris Peters, Pirates: 7 innings, 1 run, 5 hits.Pub Date: 9/12/98

HittingMatt Stairs, Athletics: 6 RBIs, HR, 2 doubles.Ray Durham, White Sox: 4-for-5.Cal Ripken, Orioles: 4 RBIs, HR.Mike Blowers, Athletics: 3 RBIs, double.PitchingMike Mussina, Orioles: 9 innings, 0 runs, 5 hits, 10 strikeouts.Pub Date: 5/10/98

Hitting Mark Grace, Cubs: 4-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs.Sammy Sosa, Cubs: 2-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.Vinny Castilla, Rockies: 5-for-6, 3 runs, 3 RBIs.Dante Bichette, Rockies: 4-for-6, 1 RBI.Barry Bonds, Giants: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, home run five rows deep in upper deck.Eddie Taubensee, Reds: 4-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.PitchingDanny Darwin, Giants: 8 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs.Andy Ashby, Padres: 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run.Pub Date: 5/15/98

With four RBIs last night, Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers became the second player to reach 100 RBIs before the All-Star break. A look at the players with the most RBIs at the break:RBIs, Player, Team, Yr, G103, H. Greenberg, Det '35, 76101, Gonzalez, '98, 8791, H. Killebrew, Min, '69, 9690, Lou Gehrig, NYY, '34, 7390, Tommy Davis, LA, '62, 8990, Tony Perez, Cin, '70, 8890, George Foster, Cin, '77, 89Pub Date: 7/06/98

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is adamant that he has had much tougher stretches in the major leagues, regardless of what the numbers suggest. Markakis went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox and finished the second-to-last homestand of the season 2-for-26 with just one RBI, two walks and six strikeouts. "I'm in a funk right now," said Markakis, whose average dropped to .293. "I think my timing is off a little bit and I'm missing a few pitches. It's baseball. I just got to get myself out of it and finish up strong.

Souting report: Rangers update The surprising Texas Rangers remain in the thick of the playoff race. They sit 31/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels for first place in the American League West and are three behind the Boston Red Sox for the wild-card lead. Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler was 12-for-26 with three homers and nine RBIs in his past seven games before going 0-for-4 in the series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. In 29 career games against the Orioles, Kinsler is batting .368 with six homers, 24 RBIs, 32 runs scored and seven steals.

New York continues to look like the team to beat in the American League. The Yankees have the best overall record in the majors, a major league-best 31-11 mark since the All-Star break and are a season-high 34 games over .500. They have a league-high six players with at least 20 homers, including first baseman Mark Teixeira (Mount St. Joseph), who has a team-high 32 homers and 101 RBIs and has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the AL Most Valuable Player award. The six players reaching the 20-homer plateau ties a franchise record and is one shy of a major league record shared by three teams, including the 1996 Orioles.

Boston is just 1-5 since the All-Star break and has lost five straight games, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers. After leading the American League East for much of the first half, the Red Sox are now two games behind the surging New York Yankees. Seeking to jump-start the offense, Boston acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche on Wednesday. It would help if outfielder J.D. Drew broke out of an extended slump. He's hitless in his past at-bats, his average dropping to .233.

New York has been depleted by injuries, but despite going 4-8 this month, the Mets remain in second place in the National League East. Longtime Orioles nemesis Gary Sheffield will have an MRI taken on his sore right knee, but he's expected to be the Mets' designated hitter in the series. He's 6-for-13 with two homers and four RBIs in his past three games. All-Star third baseman David Wright has gone 22-for-38 (.579) with seven doubles, one homer and six RBI in his past 10 games. Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has converted 16 of 17 save opportunities.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jack Carey St. Paul's The Wake Forest-bound senior lit up the MIAA A Conference this season. The third baseman batted .509, swatted 16 home runs, scored 42 runs and had an astounding 61 RBIs. "That's amazing," Cardinal Gibbons coach Lee Swartzenberg said. "One game he had six RBIs against us. He cleaned the bases twice. We tried to pitch around him and he still got us." Carey is a four-year starter and one of only two repeat All-Metro performers this season. He holds school records for a season and career for hits (53/168)

The Twins have been up and down this year, but they're certainly glad to have Joe Mauer back. After missing the spring and the start of the season with inflammation in his right sacroiliac joint, the All-Star catcher hit a homer in his first at-bat Friday and is 7-for-17 with three RBIs since returning. Michael Cuddyer is also starting to heat up with two hits in three straight games heading into Tuesday. Former American League Most Valuable Player Justin Morneau has four homers and 11 RBIs during his past 11 games.

Projected lineup Name Pos. Avg. HR/runs RBIs/steals 1. Brian Roberts 2B .296 107 runs 40 steals 2. Adam Jones CF .270 9 home runs 57 RBIs 3. Nick Markakis RF .306 20 home runs 87 RBIs 4. Aubrey Huff 1B .304 32 home runs 108 RBIs 5. Melvin Mora 3B .285 23 home runs 104 RBIs 6. Luke Scott DH .257 23 home runs 65 RBIs 7. Gregg Zaun C .237 6 home runs 30 RBIs 8. Felix Pie LF .241 1 home run 10 RBIs 9. Cesar Izturis SS .263 50 runs 24 steals Rotation ...

Stephanie Speierman allowed three hits and struck out 16 Monday as the Hammond softball team prevailed, 9-0, over host Atholton (1-1). Speierman, who was named one of ESPN's top 25 players in the country earlier in the week, also scored three runs and had an RBI double in the third inning for the Golden Bears (2-0). Freshman Hannah Force went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. GLENELG 13, MOUNT HEBRON 2:: Casey Schmidt pitched a no-hitter and Amanda Segrist hit two home runs as the Gladiators (2-1)

players to watch Patrick Blair * Calvert Hall, shortstop * The Wake Forest-bound senior and last season's All-Metro Player of the Year led the Cardinals in batting (.462), hits (43), runs (35), RBIs (34), triples (five), home runs (seven) and stolen bases (21-for-25). Tim Blair * Marriotts Ridge, pitcher * Coming off a 10-1 season, the senior will begin the season at second base because of injury. The hope is that he will be back on the mound by midseason. Jack Carey * St. Paul's, third base * The Wake Forest-bound senior hit .386 last year after setting school records for hits (49)