Offerman Says Writers In Error
National League
Dodgers shortstop Jose Offerman said the media attention focused on pitcher Pedro Astacio’s recent struggles is further evidence racism is pervasive among sportswriters.
Offerman, who is black and from the Dominican Republic, also said he believes he would have received much more favorable media coverage earlier in his career if he were white.
“I don’t know why people are making a big deal here,” Offerman said about Astacio, who is also black and from the Dominican Republic. “Everybody forgets what he’s done the last years. They forget and it’s not right. Whenever those white guys do something, it’s all right. But anytime when it’s another black guy, it’s not all right.”
Offerman was referring specifically to what he deemed overly critical coverage of Astacio’s struggles this season and his subsequent demotion to the bullpen this week. Astacio, 25, is 1-6 with a 4.82 ERA in 11 starts. His career record before this season was 25-22 with a 3.52 ERA in 65 major league starts spread over three seasons.
“Everybody goes through a tough moment,” Offerman said.
Clearing the bases
Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game will be played at Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium in the year 2000, several sources involved in the highly competitive process said. … Jose Rijo felt stiffness, but no pain, in his elbow as he threw 52 pitches off the bullpen mound. Rijo plans to start Sunday for Cincinnati.
Padres 3, Rockies 2
San Diego
Andy Ashby pitched eight strong innings and San Diego beat Colorado. The Padres had lost their previous four games against Colorado.
Cardinals 7, Phillies 1
St. Louis
Mike Morgan allowed nine hits and came within two outs of his 11th career shutout as St. Louis ended Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak. The Phillies had a season-high 19 hits on Thursday night at New York, but had trouble with Morgan.
Mets 9, Braves 3
Atlanta
Light-hitting Tim Bogar drove in four runs - three on a seventh-inning homer that broke a tie - as New York beat Atlanta. The win snapped the Mets’ four-game losing streak.
Pirates 2, Expos 0
Montreal
Denny Neagle pitched a two-hitter to become the N.L.’s first eight-game winner as Pittsburgh beat Montreal.
Marlins 16, Reds 4
Cincinnati
Charles Johnson drove in six runs against Cincinnati’s shellshocked pitching staff as Florida set a club scoring record. The Marlins reached 16 runs for the first time in their history with the help of two big innings. They batted around in the second and sixth against a pitching staff that has given up 45 runs in the last five games.
Astros 3, Cubs 2, (12)
Houston
Derek Bell’s RBI single in the 12th inning gave Houston a win over Chicago, snapping its seven-game home losing streak.
Dodgers 7, Giants 2
Los Angeles
Mike Piazza homered in his third straight game and drove in three runs as Ismael Valdes, by beating San Francisco, won his fifth straight start. Valdes (5-2) lowered his ERA to 2.10, the best on the staff and third-best in the N.L.