Sam Horn

When Bobby Bonilla signed a five-year contract worth $29.5 million in late November, it set a salary standard for top-name free agents. It also guaranteed that this would be another record year for salary arbitration.Baseball executives winced when they heard the value of the package, but not just because the price of free agency had gone up again. The effect on the free-agent market was predictable -- and free-agent signings are, after all, voluntary. The major aftershock will be felt in arbitration, where a number of front-line players will be able to use the contracts signed by Bonilla and Danny Tartabull to help justify their own salary demands.

DETROIT -- The Baltimore Orioles dealt a severe blow to the pennant hopes of one team Thursday, and last night they put another on the canvas.After rallying for a dramatic victory over the Boston Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader, the Orioles rode a five-RBI outburst by Cal Ripken to a 9-7 conquest of Detroit and left the Tigers' elimination from the American League East pennant race almost a foregone conclusion.Whatever faint chance the Tigers nurtured in the race disappeared when Ripken knocked home two unearned runs in the eighth inning and pushed the Orioles into a three-run lead.

When the Orioles season opened, a lot of people thought manager John Oates was whistling Dixie when he said he didn't have to worry about any department as long as he had the kind of pitching the club showed this spring.Two weeks into the American League season, it looks as if Oates might be right. This club, 6-5 and three games behind first-place Toronto in the AL East after three straight wins over Detroit, may have the pitching to carry it.The O's are getting one impressive performance after another -- from Rick Sutcliffe, then from Mike Mussina, yesterday eight strong innings from Bob Milacki in the 3-2 win over the Tigers here.

If anybody expected the Orioles to mail in their makeup game Thursday afternoon, right fielder Nick Markakis made it fairly clear how much they want to have an impact on the outcome of the American League East race. Markakis leveled New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli in the seventh inning in an attempt to dislodge the ball and score the potential tying run. Cervelli held on to the ball, but he was holding on to the ground for a couple of minutes after the collision.

When Bobby Bonilla signed a five-year contract worth $29.5 million in late November, it set a salary standard for top-name free agents. It also guaranteed that this would be another record year for salary arbitration.Baseball executives winced when they heard the value of the package, but not just because the price of free agency had gone up again. The effect on the free-agent market was predictable -- and free-agent signings are, after all, voluntary. The major aftershock will be felt in arbitration, where a number of front-line players will be able to use the contracts signed by Bonilla and Danny Tartabull to help justify their own salary demands.

Wings left-hander Moyer finds comfort zoneROCHESTER, N.Y. -- If Jamie Moyer gets any more comfortable on the mound, he'll be lounging in a La-Z-Boy and delivering the pitches by remote control.The Rochester Red Wings left-hander has won his first two starts and has a 1.42 ERA. Moyer, 30, never known as a strikeout pitcher, has struck out 11 in 12 2/3 innings.He has pitched four of his 10 professional seasons in the majors. The Opening Day starter on a veteran pitching staff didn't let his few weeks in big-league camp distract him from his real purpose this season.

Baseball Baltimore Orioles -- Signed 1B-DH Sam Horn to a one-year, $687,500 contract. Basketball Los Angeles Clippers -- Fired coach Mike Schuler. Named Mack Calvin interim coach.

Steve Ruiz recalls it clearly, shopping in a sporting goods store with his son, Jett, and another 13-year-old who played on Jett's baseball team. Jett rushed down the aisles, handling the bats and gloves. But his friend hung back. Ruiz approached the youngster. "Get whatever you need, Adam," Ruiz said. "Really?" Adam Jones' eyes grew wide. His choices that day were practical ones - a jockstrap and cup. Clutching his purchases, Jones turned to his benefactor. "I'm gonna pay you back, Mr. Ruiz," he said.

CHICAGO -- She sat in Suite No. 450 at Comiskey Park, her 2-year-old son munching a hot dog, her 2-month-old daughter letting out an occasional cry.Now came the true test for Frank Thomas' wife.All right, Elise, White Sox or Orioles?The question might seem ridiculous, considering that her husband is one of the biggest sports heroes in Chicago, with a contract that could keep him in a White Sox uniform through the year 2000.But let's talk roots.Elise Thomas is formerly a Silver, a Rochester Silver, a Rochester Red Wings Silver.

BaseballOrioles -- Waived P Sid Fernandez for the purpose of giving his unconditional release.California Angels -- Optioned OF Orlando Palmeiro to Triple-A Vancouver.Chicago White Sox -- Optioned C Chris Tremie to Triple-A Nashville.Detroit Tigers -- Signed P Mike Drumright and assigned him to Single-A Lakeland.New York Mets -- Recalled P Jason Isringhausen from Triple-A Norfolk. Optioned P Pete Walker to Norfolk.Oakland Athletics -- Recalled P Don Wengert from Triple-A Edmonton.Philadelphia Phillies -- Waived P Norm Charlton for the purpose of giving his unconditional release.