Roberto Alomar

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Roberto Alomar hit a grand slam off reliever B.J. Ryan in the sixth inning, and the New York Mets cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Orioles yesterday in their final game in Florida this spring. Manager Mike Hargrove and left fielder B.J. Surhoff were ejected in the third inning for arguing an interference call on Gary Matthews, who stumbled across the plate as catcher Mike Piazza attempted to throw to second. Ryan gave up five runs, walked two and threw a wild pitch in the sixth.

It's a fact The Dodgers haven't lost a four-game series since Aug. 9-12, 1993, against the expan sion Rockies. Milestone Roberto Alomar of the Mets reached 2,500 hits last week, the 77th major-leaguer to do so. The number 21:58: Pirates' rain delay total in 19 games this season, including 18 hours during or before 17 home games.

On deck Randy Johnson tries to join Diamondbacks teammate Curt Schilling as the majors' only nine-game winners today. He said it "If you don't play the way you're capable of playing, you should be booed." Roberto Alomar, Mets second baseman, who made one of the team's two errors Who's hot Shea Hillenbrand of the Red Sox is hitting .500 (13-for-26) against left-handers. Who's not Jorge Posada of the Yankees went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and is in a 2-for-24 slump. Line of the day Ruben Quevedo, Brewers P IP R H BB SO 9 0 3 2 7

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles manager Mike Hargrove once guided a Cleveland Indians team that featured second baseman Roberto Alomar, shortstop Omar Vizquel, catcher Sandy Alomar and center fielder Kenny Lofton. So forgive him if he tempers his enthusiasm about the current troupe he has patrolling the middle of the diamond. Orioles second baseman Jerry Hairston is a year older, and a year wiser. Shortstop Mike Bordick is mostly recovered from last year's season-ending shoulder surgery.

TORONTO - Perhaps Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken has one more streak to end before calling it quits - consecutive seasons elected an All-Star Game starter. The latest ballot results released yesterday show Ripken falling to third place behind the Seattle Mariners' David Bell and Anaheim Angels' Troy Glaus. Bell has received 612,665 votes to pass Glaus (579,416). Ripken is next at 558,336 heading into the final week of voting. Bell, batting .250 with seven homers and 34 RBIs, is seeking his first trip to the midsummer classic.

American League First basemen 1, John Olerud, Seattle, 576,674. 2, Carlos Delgado, Toronto, 360,069. 3, Jason Giambi, Oakland, 290,638. 4, Doug Mientkiewicz, Minnesota, 279,850. 5, Jim Thome, Cleveland, 216,504. Second basemen 1, Bret Boone, Seattle, 844,829. 2, Roberto Alomar, Cleveland, 703,847. 3, Alfonso Soriano, New York, 184,069. 4, Adam Kennedy, Anaheim, 107,691. 5, Jose Offerman, Boston, 101,136. Third basemen 1, Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles, 429,525. 2, Troy Glaus, Anaheim, 421,827.

Cleveland Indians Record: 90-72, 2nd place, 5 back Runs scored: 950 (2nd in AL) Runs allowed: 816 (5th in AL) Manager: Charlie Manuel Home: Jacobs Field That was then: Cleveland missed the postseason for the first year since 1993 despite posting a major-league-best 46-30 record the second half of the season and despite winning 90 games - more than they won in two of their five straight Central Division-winning seasons and more than the 2000 world-champion...

Their hopes of reaching the playoffs dashed long ago, the Orioles find themselves in a different race. The Orioles lead the American League in stolen bases with 123. Kansas City trails them by three. If the Orioles hold off the Royals, it would mark the first time they have led the league in steals since 1973. They also did it in 1963. Manager Mike Hargrove apparently wasn't aware of his club's stature among thieves until informed by reporters. "Heck, we need to pick up the pace then," he quipped.

BOSTON - Apparently, there is only one way to stop Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez. Tell him to stay home. Major League Baseball figured that out last week, suspending the two-time Cy Young Award winner for five days after he intentionally hit former Cleveland Indians second baseman Roberto Alomar on the backside with a pitch. Of course, Martinez treated the suspension like just another flailing hitter, finessing it to the point where he would be pushed back just one day in the Red Sox rotation.