Braves Give Boot To Brutal Brawler
National League
The Atlanta Braves Wednesday released Earl Nelson, the Durham (N.C.) Bulls pitcher who kicked a Winston-Salem player in the head during a brawl that broke out during a game last week.
The May 22 fight came on “Strike Out Domestic Violence” night at Durham’s Athletic Park.
“The Atlanta Braves and the Durham Bulls do not condone this behavior, and we want people to know that,” Bulls manager Matt West said.
Videotapes of the fight, which occurred after a beanball battle between the two clubs, showed Nelson kicking Winston-Salem’s Glen Cullop in the head after Cullop had been knocked to the ground.
Cullop sustained a concussion, a broken jaw and five missing teeth, requiring surgery and a three-night hospital stay.
Reds 11, Pirates 1
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati won its ninth in a row, but may have lost leadoff hitter Deion Sanders to an injured ankle as he tried to steal with a big lead during a win over Pittsburgh.
With the Reds leading 7-1 in the sixth, Sanders tried to steal third. But he jammed his left ankle while sliding and was thrown out.
Sanders was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which showed no fracture. Doctors called the injury a sprained ankle, pending further diagnosis.
Dodgers 4, Phils 1 (10)
Philadelphia
Rick Parker singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th and Eric Karros followed with a two-run homer as Los Angeles snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Philadelphia.
Astros 7, Marlins 4
Miami
Derek Bell had a two-run triple and former Marlin Dave Magadan drove in two runs with a double to lead Houston over Florida.
Expos 5, Giants 4
Montreal Moises Alou’s two-run homer in the sixth lifted Montreal and ended San Francisco’s three-game winning streak.
Rockies 5, Cardinals 3
St. Louis
Larry Walker, in a 0-for-24 slump coming in, homered, doubled and drove in three runs as Colorado beat St. Louis.
Cubs 4, Braves 1
Chicago
Mike Morgan (1-1) pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings for his first win since July 16, and Ozzie Timmons, Brian McRae and Rey Sanchez had seventh-inning RBI doubles as Chicago beat Atlanta.
Mets 7, Padres 5 (10)
New York
Pinch-hitter Chris Jones hit a three-run homer in the 10th as New York rallied past San Diego after wasting a ninth-inning lead.
Clearing the bases
Houston is 12-0 when it leads after eight innings. . . . Matt Williams of San Francisco hit the roof in Montreal for a second straight season with an infield popout Tuesday. No other player has hit the 250-foot ceiling… . Atlanta has scored 16 runs in Steve Avery’s seven starts… . Andy Benes of San Diego is winless in his last 14 starts. Benes had six strikeouts to give him 953 for his career, breaking the team record set by the late Eric Show.