DODGERS NOTEBOOK : WORRELL REACHES 200-SAVES PLATEAU.There is life after major elbow surgery. The Dodgers' Todd Worrell ``It's been a long road,'' Worrell said. ``The number 200 kept becoming an issue lately and I knew it would happen eventually. I'm glad to finally do it.'' Worrell, who saved 111 games in four full seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see . The St. Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards" or "the Redbirds") are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. , first experienced arm trouble on Sept. 4, 1989, when he injured his elbow against Montreal. He sat the remainder of that and the 1990 season because of a damaged right-elbow ligament. His comeback in 1991 was impeded by a rotator cuff injury Rotator Cuff Injury Definition A rotator cuff injury is a tear or inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder. Description and he had to be pulled from Triple-A ball to have more surgery. He returned in 1992, pitched in 67 games for the Cardinals but didn't return to form and St. Louis didn't renew his contract. The Dodgers signed him in December of '92. After a year of rehabilitation with minor-league teams, he finally became the club's closer in 1994. Surprisingly, Worrell has picked up 74 of his 200 saves after his surgeries. ``There was times I wasn't really sure what would happen,'' Worrell said. ``I'm just happy to be in the position where I can pitch and save games. It's a great feeling.'' Saturday, Worrell made his second appearance in five days but his first in a save situation since that 16-15 loss last Sunday to Colorado. Dodgers interim manager Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell inserted Worrell in the ninth inning of Friday night's game with the Dodgers ahead 8-1 - a non-save situation. The last time that happened, Worrell was incensed when Tom Lasorda called on him to pitch on a steamy August day last season when Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. held Cincinnati to one run in eight innings. No problem this time. ``I really don't like pitching in those situations,'' Worrell said. ``But I had to get some work in. It's great when the offense is going and you aren't needed to go out there all the time. But pitching Friday helped me.'' Osuna's inspiration: Dodgers reliever Antonio Osuna Antonio Pedro Osuna (born April 12, 1973 in Sinaloa, Mexico) is a former major league relief pitcher. He batted right and threw right. Antonio weighs 225 pounds and is 5 feet 10 inches tall. , who picked up the victory with three scoreless innings, heard good news Saturday morning about his mother's health in Sinaloa, Mexico. Antonia Osuna has been suffering from high blood pressure, which has worried her 23-year old son. He found out Saturday that she was feeling better, which inspired him to pitch his best game this season. He was pressed into service when Tom Candiotti ``I was thinking about her,'' Osuna said through an interpreter. ``It's something that's been going on for a while. I just tried to do keep the team in the game. It's a big win.'' Tucker coming on: Former Chatsworth and Alemany High School first baseman Jon Tucker, a 1995 draft pick by the Dodgers, hit his third home run for Great Falls Great Falls, city (1990 pop. 55,097), seat of Cascade co., N central Mont., second largest city in the state, at the confluence of the Missouri and Sun rivers and near the falls that give the city its name; inc. 1888. (Rookie) on Friday night in a doubleheader sweep of Medicine Hat. Tucker drove in five runs in the first game and one in the second. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Todd Worrell, left, is congratulated by Dodgers team mate Delino DeShields Associated Press |
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