Belle Shuns Schott, Then Beats Reds

L.A. Times Archives

June 14, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

An interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox--the first meeting between the teams since the 1919 World Series--was just a typical night for Albert Belle.

Belle sneered at Red owner Marge Schott when she tried to say hello during batting practice, hit a game-deciding two-run homer and then snubbed reporters following Chicago’s 3-1 victory Friday night at Cincinnati.

Schott tried to introduce herself and her dog before the game, hoping to exchange pleasantries and have their picture taken. Instead, Belle sneered, shook his head, waved her off and walked away muttering, “The hell with her.”

The White Sox were leading, 1-0, on Ray Durham’s game-opening homer when Belle came to bat in the sixth inning with two out and Mike Cameron on first. Starting pitcher Pete Schourek (5-5) went to a full count before throwing a down-and-away sinker that Belle lined over the right-field wall for his 15th homer.

“[Schourek] tried to throw the ball off the plate, but it didn’t get there,” Red Manager Ray Knight said. “Those kinds of things happen. They’re not machines. He had no intention of getting it near the strike zone. It seems like great hitters always capitalize on mistakes.”

Said Schourek: “I guess that’s why he gets $10 million. I was trying to make him swing at a bad ball or walk him, but it just didn’t get there.”

Wilson Alvarez (4-6) gave up seven hits in 7 2/3 innings, including Barry Larkin’s run-scoring double in the eighth, as the White Sox snapped a four-game losing streak.

“I love the strike zone here,” said Alvarez, who struck out three and walked three. “Everything around the plate, they call. I love it.”

Allegations that the White Sox threw the World Series against the Reds in 1919 led to eight players banned for life, most notably Shoeless Joe Jackson. It is referred to as the “Black Sox” scandal.

Milwaukee 4, Chicago Cubs 2--Jose Valentin drove in three runs as the Brewers defeated the Cubs in the first appearance by an AL team to Wrigley Field in a non-exhibition game since the 1945 World Series.

Jeff D’Amico (3-3) gave up five hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked one. Doug Jones finished with a perfect ninth for his 15th save, sending the Cubs to their seventh loss in eight games.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the second when Matt Mieske singled and Valentin hit his sixth homer.

Boston 8, New York Mets 4--John Valentin and Troy O’Leary hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning for the Red Sox, who won in their first appearance at Shea Stadium since October 1986, when it lost Games 6 and 7 of the World Series to the Mets.

Mo Vaughn had a two-run homer in the ninth--his 20th--as the Red Sox won their third in a row. Carl Everett homered twice and Todd Hundley and Alex Ochoa also homered for New York.

Montreal 4, Detroit 3--The Tigers’ Omar Olivares got the first triple by an American League pitcher in 24 years, but Henry Rodriguez hit a two-run homer as the Expos won at Montreal.

Olivares (4-5) went two for three and his fifth-inning triple off the wall in right-center was the first by an American League pitcher since Milwaukee’s Ed Rodriguez tripled against Cleveland on Sept. 3, 1973.

Darrin Fletcher put Montreal ahead with a run-scoring single in the first and a run-scoring double in the third. Rodriguez followed with his 12th homer for a 4-0 lead.

Pittsburgh 5, Kansas City 3--Jeff King, an ex-Pirate, hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw at Three Rivers Stadium, but ex-Royal Joe Randa answered with a tying homer, triple and three runs batted in as the Pirates rallied to defeat the Royals.

Tony Womack, one of Pittsburgh’s four rookie starters, hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth off reliever Mike Williams (0-2) after the Pirates, with an unusually enthusiastic crowd of 33,253, rallied from a 2-0 deficit created by King’s homer in the first.

Minnesota 8, Houston 1--Houston native Chuck Knoblauch had four hits and drove in three runs, leading the Twins over the Astros at Houston.

Knoblauch, who went to high school in suburban Bellaire, hit a two-run triple over right fielder Derek Bell’s head in the fourth inning, stretching the Twins’ lead to 4-1.

Paul Molitor, usually the Twins’ designated hitter, played first base for the second time this season. He was 0 for 3 before a hitting two-run homer in the seventh.

Philadelphia 4, Toronto 3--Gregg Jefferies drove in three runs and reliever Wayne Gomes, called up from triple-A earlier in the day, was the winning pitcher in his major league debut at Philadelphia.

Jefferies’ bases-loaded single drove in Mickey Morandini and Darren Daulton in the seventh inning, giving the loss to Paul Spoljaric (0-3).

Ricky Bottalico worked 1 1/3 innings for his 14th save, surrendering a pinch-hit, solo homer to Robert Perez in the ninth.

Cleveland at St. Louis--The game between the Indians at Cardinals was postponed due to rain and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Rusty Greer

Team: Texas

Performance: 3 for 3, 3 RBIs, 2 homers

Team’s Result: Win

Player: John Valentin

Team: Boston