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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2000)
Rocker ovation in return The Associated Press — John Rocker drew a standing ovation even before throwing a pitch. Mike Hampton took a little longer to win over the home fans. On a night when Rocker heard rousing cheers in his return to base ball, Hampton earned his Hist victo ry for the New York Mets. Hampton, acquired by the Mets last winter to be their ace, lost three straight starts before beating the Milwaukee Brewers 10-7 Tuesday night at Shea Stadium. “The first one’s tough,” Hampton said. “You like to get off to a quick start. I look forward to getting better from here.” Rocker was a fan favorite from the moment he began warming up at Thrner Field. One fan held up a sign reading: “Rocker for President.” Back with the Atlanta Braves after a two-week suspension for dis paraging remarks about minorities, gays and immigrants, die reliever got a standing ovation horn die crowd of 34,903 when he sprinted in from die bullpen. Rocker pitched a scoreless ninth inning against Philadelphia, and die Braves won 4-3 in the 12th on Brian Hunter’s pinch-hit home run. “Beat it, media,” Rocker shouted at reporters who surrounded his locker after the game. “Are you deaf?” Said outfielder Brian Jordan, originally one of the reliever’s sharpest critics: “It’s all out of the way. Rocker’s back. Hopefully, things will quiet down a little bit and we can get back to baseball.” In other NL games, Florida stopped Pittsburgh 12-5, Arizona beat Colorado 7-1, Los Angeles defeated Houston 5-3* St. Louis topped San Diego 5-4, San Francisco beat Cincinnati 13-9 and Montreal downed Chicago 4-3. Robin Ventura made it easy for Hampton, hitting a grand slam in the fourth that put the Mets ahead 9-2. Hampton began the five-run inning with a single and Ventura capped it with his 14th grand slam. Ventura is the slam leader among active players, one ahead of Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and Harold Baines, and is tied with Gil Hodges for ninth place on the career list. Last year against Milwaukee, Ventura became the first major lea guer to hit a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader. “I don’t plan it. It’s an opportuni ty you get from other guys in front of you,” Ventura said. In his previous game Sunday at Pittsburgh, Ventura hit a three-run homer and had six RBIs. Pitching on a night when the wind-chill factor dropped to 26 degrees, Hampton (1-3) gave up six hits and walked six in 7 2-3 innings. He left with a 6.33 ERA, a year after he went 22-4 for Houston. “He was throwing pitches for strikes other than fastbaUs,” Mets manager Bobby Valentine said- “It was a terrific performance. His cadence on the mound seemed bet ter.” / Braves 4, Phillies 3,12 innings It was 3-3 in the ninth when Rocker made his entrance. Greeted by cheers, he struck out die first hit ter he faced, Mickey Morandini. Rocker preserved the tie and when he left, so did a lot of fans. W|s study AW0*5-03™'"9 RoadW V A CoilegeClub.com it’s all IT