Tapani

Remember Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani when the Orioles last faced him?He was 2-2 with a 7.78 ERA. He allowed 62 hits in 39 1/3 innings. Opponents were hitting .376 against him.Nothing could have gone worse for Tapani as he prepared to start against the Orioles. It did get better, much better for Tapani.Tapani (8-2) promptly threw a five-hitter as the Twins completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles May 15. He faced the minimum number of hitters over the final five innings, and he has yet to slow down.

ATLANTA -- While the rest of the baseball world was captivated this summer by the mesmerizing feats of the New York Yankees and the Bunyanesque home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, the Atlanta Braves quietly dominated their little corner of the national pastime.Last night in prime time, the Braves showed a nationwide television audience what they're made of -- pitching, timely hitting, and plenty of resilience.Given up for dead, they rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, on Chipper Jones' one-out single in the 10th inning and grabbed a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series.

DENVER -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired starter Kevin Tapani and reliever Mark Guthrie from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for three minor-leaguers in a deal completed just minutes before Monday's trading deadline.The Dodgers, who entered last night 3 1/2 games behind the Colorado Rockies in the National League West, sent Triple-A pitchers Greg Hansell and Jose Parra and third baseman Ron Coomer to the Twins."I think it's great," said Dodgers third baseman Tim Wallach, who did little to hide the excitement in his voice.

Quote: "That's just the way I like to work -- throw it over the plate, get it back and throw it again and see who's better." -- The Cubs' Kevin Tapani, who shut out the Diamondbacks for eight innings of a 2-hour, 5-minute game.It's a fact: Mark Grudzielanek, who had fallen into disfavor with Expos fans before being traded to the Dodgers, was booed each time his name was announced.Who's hot: The Mets' John Olerud has an 18-game hitting streak.Who's not: The Rockies' Darryl Kile has given up 16 earned runs in his past 5 2/3 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the biggest game of his life, Kevin Tapani couldn't remember the pitch he threw for the most crucial out. He was just happy to be allowed to throw it.Obviously, the Minnesota righthander doesn't have the samretention as Jim Palmer, the Orioles' Hall Of Famer who remembered every critical pitch he or anyone else threw over a period of 19 years.Tapani was the winning pitcher last night as the Twins beat thBraves, 3-2, to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series, which resumes tomorrow night in Atlanta.

MINNEAPOLIS -- If you can't join 'em, beat 'em.That's what Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani did to the Orioles, leading his surging team to a 5-2 victory yesterday at the Metrodome in the final leg of a three-game sweep.The Orioles headed back to Baltimore carrying their first three-game losing streak of the season and standing farther out of first place (four games) in the American League East than at any other time this year.Tapani, pursued in spring training by the Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, stayed in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Al Newman vividly remembers that night in July 1989 when Frank Viola called him in their New York hotel and asked whether he was interested in going to the ballpark together the next morning. Viola would be going early to clear out his locker. The Minnesota Twins had just traded him to the New York Mets for five pitchers.The Twins had begun a rebuilding phase that would leave the 1987 team in the memory book and pave the way for the 1991 club."We had to do something about our pitching.

Last Sunday, Rick Sutcliffe and Kevin Tapani battled at the Metrodome in a dazzling game, before Sutcliffe and Gregg Olson yielded two runs in the last inning in Minnesota Twins' one-run victory.Last night, Sutcliffe and Tapani went at it again, and although the picture was not as sublime as Sunday, the result was similar, as the Twins earned a 5-2 win before 45,458 at Oriole Park."I'll triple-check the schedule to make sure we don't play those guys again," Sutcliffe said.Neither Tapani (10-5)

ATLANTA -- While the rest of the baseball world was captivated this summer by the mesmerizing feats of the New York Yankees and the Bunyanesque home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, the Atlanta Braves quietly dominated their little corner of the national pastime.Last night in prime time, the Braves showed a nationwide television audience what they're made of -- pitching, timely hitting, and plenty of resilience.Given up for dead, they rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, on Chipper Jones' one-out single in the 10th inning and grabbed a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series.

Indians: Cleveland designated hitter Eddie Murray played in his 2,821st game, moving past Hall of Fameer Reggie Jackson and into 13th place on the career list.White Sox: Pitcher Kevin Tapani, who left the game early with a slight groin pull, isn't expected to miss his nest start.Pub Date: 4/04/96.

Indians: Cleveland designated hitter Eddie Murray played in his 2,821st game, moving past Hall of Fameer Reggie Jackson and into 13th place on the career list.White Sox: Pitcher Kevin Tapani, who left the game early with a slight groin pull, isn't expected to miss his nest start.Pub Date: 4/04/96.

Most trade deadlines come and go with few deals of significance. But this year. . . . Wow. Lots of intrigue, lots of action.The Prey: Mets pitcher Bret Saberhagen.The Winning Predator: The Colorado Rockies.Why: Rockies owner Jerry McMorris agreed with the assessment of his baseball people that Colorado needed one more solid pitcher to hold off the Dodgers in the NL West. The Rockies ignored the medical report (small rotator cuff tear) and the big money concerns ($4.3 million) that scared off other teams.

DENVER -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired starter Kevin Tapani and reliever Mark Guthrie from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for three minor-leaguers in a deal completed just minutes before Monday's trading deadline.The Dodgers, who entered last night 3 1/2 games behind the Colorado Rockies in the National League West, sent Triple-A pitchers Greg Hansell and Jose Parra and third baseman Ron Coomer to the Twins."I think it's great," said Dodgers third baseman Tim Wallach, who did little to hide the excitement in his voice.

Remember Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani when the Orioles last faced him?He was 2-2 with a 7.78 ERA. He allowed 62 hits in 39 1/3 innings. Opponents were hitting .376 against him.Nothing could have gone worse for Tapani as he prepared to start against the Orioles. It did get better, much better for Tapani.Tapani (8-2) promptly threw a five-hitter as the Twins completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles May 15. He faced the minimum number of hitters over the final five innings, and he has yet to slow down.

MINNEAPOLIS -- If you can't join 'em, beat 'em.That's what Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani did to the Orioles, leading his surging team to a 5-2 victory yesterday at the Metrodome in the final leg of a three-game sweep.The Orioles headed back to Baltimore carrying their first three-game losing streak of the season and standing farther out of first place (four games) in the American League East than at any other time this year.Tapani, pursued in spring training by the Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, stayed in Minnesota.

Last Sunday, Rick Sutcliffe and Kevin Tapani battled at the Metrodome in a dazzling game, before Sutcliffe and Gregg Olson yielded two runs in the last inning in Minnesota Twins' one-run victory.Last night, Sutcliffe and Tapani went at it again, and although the picture was not as sublime as Sunday, the result was similar, as the Twins earned a 5-2 win before 45,458 at Oriole Park."I'll triple-check the schedule to make sure we don't play those guys again," Sutcliffe said.Neither Tapani (10-5)

Quote: "That's just the way I like to work -- throw it over the plate, get it back and throw it again and see who's better." -- The Cubs' Kevin Tapani, who shut out the Diamondbacks for eight innings of a 2-hour, 5-minute game.It's a fact: Mark Grudzielanek, who had fallen into disfavor with Expos fans before being traded to the Dodgers, was booed each time his name was announced.Who's hot: The Mets' John Olerud has an 18-game hitting streak.Who's not: The Rockies' Darryl Kile has given up 16 earned runs in his past 5 2/3 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The alignment of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation raised doubts about the arm strength of 20-game winner Tom Glavine, but he said yesterday that he is rested and ready to face Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani in Game 2 tonight."

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the biggest game of his life, Kevin Tapani couldn't remember the pitch he threw for the most crucial out. He was just happy to be allowed to throw it.Obviously, the Minnesota righthander doesn't have the samretention as Jim Palmer, the Orioles' Hall Of Famer who remembered every critical pitch he or anyone else threw over a period of 19 years.Tapani was the winning pitcher last night as the Twins beat thBraves, 3-2, to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series, which resumes tomorrow night in Atlanta.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The alignment of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation raised doubts about the arm strength of 20-game winner Tom Glavine, but he said yesterday that he is rested and ready to face Minnesota Twins right-hander Kevin Tapani in Game 2 tonight."