Sandy Alomar

CLEVELAND -- They used to call it the Mistake by the Lake. Now, Cleveland has a revitalized civic center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, if the Orioles don't figure something out in a hurry, soon will have a second American League pennant in three years.Catcher Sandy Alomar hit a dramatic, game-winning single off Armando Benitez in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Orioles to an 8-7 defeat and push them to the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Orioles' bullpen turned in another clunker yesterday in a 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Ricky Bottalico and Jim Brower the primary culprits. Brower couldn't hold a 3-0 lead after replacing starter Eric DuBose. He allowed a run in the third inning on three straight two-out singles, and an RBI grounder by Bill Mueller and bases-empty homer by Sandy Alomar Jr. tied the game in the fourth. Twins vs. Orioles Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today, 1:05 p.m.

As Sandy Alomar circled the bases after his home run Sunday, it appeared as if he were soaring. And as he thrust both arms up during his home run trot, it was almost on cue that the 43,863 fans at Jacobs Field did the same -- a spontaneous moment of joy that Alomar yesterday was almost apologetic about."

It took more than 18 months, but Mike Hargrove finally got the four victories he needed to reach the 1,000-win milestone in his managerial career. When the Orioles fired him at the end of the 2003 season, Hargrove was stuck on win No. 996. His fourth as the manager of the Seattle Mariners came Wednesday, a 2-1 win over the Royals. He joked afterward that if all of his wins had been as close as that one, "I'd be dead." Hargrove began his managerial career in 1991 with Cleveland and won 721 games with the Indians before being dismissed in 1999.

CLEVELAND -- It's a story of cheers and boos, of love and loss, of family and fraternity.It's the story of Robbie Alomar and Sandy Alomar, brothers and temporary teammates tonight in the All-Star Game at Jacobs Field.They have been American League teammates three times before and combined for 13 All-Star appearances, but never in circumstances so dramatic or emotional.Sandy, the Cleveland Indians' catcher, is having a career year with a 30-game hitting streak and a league-leading .375 batting average; no player will hear louder cheers tonight.

Due to an editing error in yesterday's final edition, a quote from the Orioles' Roberto Alomar was attributed to his brother, the Cleveland Indians' Sandy Alomar Jr., incorrectly stating his free-agent status. Sandy Alomar is signed with the Indians through next season with a club option through 2000.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 7/09/98

Quote: "He bowed to me and I said, `OK, OK, start pitching. Just don't have too many more balls like that."-- Indians outfielder Kenny Lofton, after pitcher Dave Burba turned and bowed to him for leaping above the padding to rob Todd Walker.It's a fact: The Yankees have the same record (23-14) at home and on the road.Who's hot: The Yankees' Derek Jeter has reached base safely in 72 of the 73 games in which he has played.Who's not: The White Sox made two errors to increase their league-leading total to 70.On deck: Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, sidelined since June 21 after surgery on his left knee, said he would likely go to Double-A Akron next week on a rehab assignment.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Orioles' bullpen turned in another clunker yesterday in a 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Ricky Bottalico and Jim Brower the primary culprits. Brower couldn't hold a 3-0 lead after replacing starter Eric DuBose. He allowed a run in the third inning on three straight two-out singles, and an RBI grounder by Bill Mueller and bases-empty homer by Sandy Alomar Jr. tied the game in the fourth. Twins vs. Orioles Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today, 1:05 p.m.

I knew my life had changed when Sandy Alomar arrived at spring training with a stiff back and I wasn't worried.Sandy Alomar is a catcher for the Cleveland Indians, who had a wonderful rookie season, then missed much of the last two seasons with a series of injuries.[From the Associated Press report: Alomar's latest ailment is a strained lower back, the result of his marathon, straight-through drive from Cleveland to Winter Haven for last week's start of spring training. He says it's a minor problem, and the Indians' doctors have shut him down for a week or so only as a precaution.

Athletics: Shortstop Kurt Abbott left the game with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a pitch from Rolando Arrojo in the first inning. The team isn't scheduled to play today and tomorrow, the first time other than the All-Star break it's had scheduled consecutive off days since 1978.Devil Rays: Tampa Bay concluded a 12-game road trip with a 7-5 record and will be off today, ending a string of 19 games in 19 days.Blue Jays: Toronto had eight hits, ending its streak of five games with at least 10. Alex Gonzalez, who struck out in four of his five at-bats Monday, fanned once yesterday.

Quote: "He bowed to me and I said, `OK, OK, start pitching. Just don't have too many more balls like that."-- Indians outfielder Kenny Lofton, after pitcher Dave Burba turned and bowed to him for leaping above the padding to rob Todd Walker.It's a fact: The Yankees have the same record (23-14) at home and on the road.Who's hot: The Yankees' Derek Jeter has reached base safely in 72 of the 73 games in which he has played.Who's not: The White Sox made two errors to increase their league-leading total to 70.On deck: Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, sidelined since June 21 after surgery on his left knee, said he would likely go to Double-A Akron next week on a rehab assignment.

Calling it "one of the greatest days of my life," former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar signed a four-year contract yesterday with the Cleveland Indians, giving the club a current or former All-Star at every position and pushing it further ahead of dTC the other teams in the American League Central.The deal is worth $32 million and reunites Alomar with his brother, Sandy, the Indians' catcher."It's real special because I have good family values," said Alomar, who spent three seasons with the Orioles.

Due to an editing error in yesterday's final edition, a quote from the Orioles' Roberto Alomar was attributed to his brother, the Cleveland Indians' Sandy Alomar Jr., incorrectly stating his free-agent status. Sandy Alomar is signed with the Indians through next season with a club option through 2000.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 7/09/98

Due to an editing error in yesterday's final edition, a quote from the Orioles' Roberto Alomar was attributed to his brother, the Cleveland Indians' Sandy Alomar Jr., incorrectly stating his free-agent status. Sandy Alomar is signed with the Indians through next season with a club option through 2000.The Sun regrets the error.DENVER -- For one night, he was the old Robbie Alomar, beating out a bunt single, stealing a base, hitting a home run.Showcase, anyone?This is what happens when Alomar wants to play.

Arthur Rhodes said Orioles pitchers have a "target on our bodies."Lenny Webster said it "was scary" to see Rhodes become the latest Orioles victim of a screaming line drive from a powerful American League hitter."

Athletics: Shortstop Kurt Abbott left the game with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a pitch from Rolando Arrojo in the first inning. The team isn't scheduled to play today and tomorrow, the first time other than the All-Star break it's had scheduled consecutive off days since 1978.Devil Rays: Tampa Bay concluded a 12-game road trip with a 7-5 record and will be off today, ending a string of 19 games in 19 days.Blue Jays: Toronto had eight hits, ending its streak of five games with at least 10. Alex Gonzalez, who struck out in four of his five at-bats Monday, fanned once yesterday.

Day ..... Time .... TV ...... StartersTonight ...... 7: 05 ... 54, 50 .. Jimmy Key (8-0, 1.80).................... ............. vs. Chad Ogea (4-3, 5.91)Tomorrow ..... 1: 05 ... 13, 50 .. Mike Mussina (5-1, 4.31).................... ............. vs. undecidedSunday ....... 1: 05 ... HTS ..... Mike Johnson (0-0, 3.44).................... ............. vs. Charles Nagy (5-2, 3.82)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Indians updateThese teams haven't met since the Orioles shocked Cleveland in the playoffs.

Each year the baseball All-Star starters chosen by the fans generate controversy because of the mix between performance (Cal Ripken) and popularity (Darryl Strawberry). Aside from Strawberry, who has only 183 at-bats due to injuries, Mark McGwire (.201 average) and Sandy Alomar (.205) also made the starting lineups.Because of such questionable picks, we'd like to know if you think the process for choosing the starters should be re-examined.1) Should the fans pick the starters?2) Should the players, managers and coaches pick the starters?

More than a game, more than a loss, the Orioles experienced the most hurtful moment of an already trying season during the sixth inning of last night's 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians.It was then that a line drive off the bat of catcher Sandy Alomar caught Mussina just above his right eye, knocking him to the ground and opening a gash that bled profusely onto the infield grass. What appeared grisly, however, was less than critical.The Orioles' ace suffered a laceration over his right eye, a broken nose and significant swelling.

Jesse Orosco walked up to Armando Benitez in the Orioles' clubhouse last night, placed an arm around his shoulder and whispered to him. Tony Tarasco, whose locker has been next to Benitez's all season, did the same.Eric Davis embraced him. So did bullpen coach Elrod Hendricks and scout Curt Motton. Each gesture, coming one at a time, brought a small smile from the reliever. There were no tears, but who could have blamed him if they had flowed?Fate took hold of Benitez once more and spun him on his heels.