Judge Grants Cleveland Star Separate Trials

Cleveland reliever Jose Mesa was granted separate trials on sex and weapons charges Tuesday, and he also will be tried separately from a co-defendant.

Mesa, the club’s star closer, will go on trial March 31 on rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and felonious assault charges. No date was set for a trial on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Curran granted the defense request for the separate trials “in the interest of justice.”

He expressed concern that testimony about the weapons allegedly found by police in Mesa’s car could prejudice the jury on the other counts, which involve the threat of violence.

The charges are related to a complaint by two women that Mesa and co-defendant David Blanco improperly touched them Dec. 22 after meeting at a Cleveland nightclub.

Mesa, 30, has pleaded innocent and is free on $10,000 bond.

M’s beat Cubs

Jay Buhner and Lee Tinsley homered and Edwin Hurtado, Norm Charlton and Josias Manzanillo pitched five innings of three-hit relief for Dennis Martinez to help the Seattle Mariners to a 10-6 win over the Chicago Cubs in Mesa. In the morning’s “B” game, Jamie Moyer pitched three innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. Seventh-inning home runs by Scot Sealy and Rob Ducey gave Seattle its final 8-7 edge over Oakland.

Martinez continued his recovery from last year’s elbow injury, pitching four innings. After throwing 65 pitches, Martinez said his elbow was tired but not sore.

Pitcher Randy Johnson, recovering from back surgery, pitched off the mound Tuesday morning, tuning up for a scheduled start on Thursday.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, Edgar Martinez was batting .474 with a slugging percentage of .895.

Morris streak

Officially, Hal Morris’ hitting streak is relegated to the record books. In his own mind, it’s at 29 games and counting.

When the Cincinnati Reds first baseman comes to the plate on opening day, he’ll feel like something important is on the line, even if no one else does.

“I would like to get a hit on opening day just so 20 years from now I can say I hit in 30 straight games,” Morris said. “I’ll count it.”

Unfortunately for Morris, streaks don’t carry over from one season to the next.

Bochy gets contract extension

San Diego’s Bruce Bochy, the 1996 N.L. Manager of the Year, received a two-year contract extension through 1999 on Tuesday, with a club option for 2000.

Bochy, a past manager of the Spokane Indians, was promoted from third-base coach on Oct. 21, 1994, after Jim Riggleman was hired by the Chicago Cubs.

Quick hits

Cincinnati put third baseman Terry Pendleton on the 15-day disabled list. He is recovering from knee surgery… . When Kansas City pitcher Jeff Montgomery pitched Monday night, it was his first appearance in a game since shoulder surgery last September… . Pitcher Chuck Finley, who sustained a facial fracture under his right eye in a freak batting practice accident Saturday, was examined Tuesday and doctors said the injury was healing… . Orel Hershiser left Tuesday night’s game against Cincinnati after the first inning with a strained right groin.