Sacrifice Bunt

TORONTO -- When he started his professional career, it's doubtful if Dave Winfield thought it would take so long to get where he is today.He had his choice of three sports. He was drafted five times by teams in four different leagues before settling on baseball as his chosen profession. He was drafted as a pitcher out of high school by the Orioles, but opted for the University of Minnesota.He was drafted by the NFL Vikings as a tight end, the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz as a combination power/finesse forward (his description)

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Newly acquired left-hander Craig Lefferts just wanted to join in the fun, but he'll have to wait at least until his next start to record his first Orioles victory.Not that his debut yesterday was so bad. It wasn't. He pitched the first complete game of his career, but he gave up a tie-breaking, three-run home run to rookie Chad Curtis that carried the California Angels to a 5-2 victory.The loss ended the Orioles' seven-game winning streak and sent them back to Baltimore 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays, who completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 4-2 victory.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- On a night that Gregg Olson made a rare departure in a save situation and Mike Flanagan picked him up by getting a game-ending double play, Dave Johnson was almost a forgotten winning pitcher for the Orioles.Almost.bTC "That was the best he has thrown in a year and a half," said manager John Oates, after Johnson pitched four scoreless innings in the 8-6 win. "And it was his best four innings in at least a year."Johnson (4-4) needed one break, getting a double play on a long line drive off the bat of Ruben Sierra in the seventh inning, but allowed only two hits in four strong innings.

The Baltimore Orioles are holding a series of giveaway promotions to celebrate their final days and nights at Memorial Stadium, but they were shamed by the generosity of the Texas Rangers last night.The road-weary Rangers made two errors and mishandled two bunts in the bottom of the 12th inning to treat the Orioles to a 4-3 victory in the first game of a rain-makeup doubleheader, then made a couple of costly errors in the nightcap to drop an 8-7 decision.The sweep was the second for the Orioles in two 1991 doubleheaders.

Nearly every Oakland Mills starter contributed to Thursday's crucial, 9-2 victory over Mount Hebron that broke the Vikings' six-game winning streak.But Scorpions pitcher Joe Coughlan undeniably was the game's star, pitching a five-hitter and hitting a home run.In fact, Coughlan has led a surging Oakland Mills team to six wins in its last seven games and back into the Class 3A, Region I playoff picture.Coughlan (5-1) has pitched five straight complete-game victories, including shutouts over Atholton and league-leading Hammond.

BOSTON -- Jose Canseco has been shooting his mouth off again, but the Oakland Athletics earned the right to talk tough Saturday night.They survived six scoreless innings by Roger Clemens. They ran roughshod over an already battle-weary Boston Red Sox bullpen. They scored seven runs in the ninth inning to turn Game 1 of the American League playoffs into a 9-1 laugher.The victory was such that Canseco flirted with what could turn out to be some famous last words."If they can't beat Bob Welch, they might as well forget it," Canseco said.