Manager tossed; Stars lose finale

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- This wasn't exactly how Las Vegas Stars manager Jerry Royster wanted to prepare his team for the Pacific Coast League playoffs, which begin Wednesday at Phoenix.

In the Stars' final regular-season game, Royster was forced to use infielder Chad Tredaway to pitch the 11th inning of a 5-5 tie Monday night at Tucson after Royster had used all of his pitchers.

To make matters worse, Royster was ejected from the game when he ordered Tredaway to walk the first batter he faced, then balk him home from second base. The Toros won the game 6-5 when Roger Luce singled in a run after Tredaway walked the first two batters he faced.

Umpire Ron Barnes ejected Royster after Tredaway walked Eric Christopherson, allowed him to steal second base, then attempted to balk the run in from second by licking his fingers on the mound. Neither Barnes nor the home-plate umpire would call the balk.

Tredaway (0-1) eventually walked Gary Trammell and gave up the game-winning single to Luce.

Las Vegas had taken a 3-2 lead in the game in the sixth inning, but the Toros scored three runs in the seventh to assume a 5-3 edge. The Stars tied it in the eighth on a solo home run by Riccardo Ingram and Paul Russo's steal of home on the front end of a double steal.

Ingram paced the Stars' 14-hit attack with three hits, including a double and his eighth homer.

The Stars ended the regular season with a 73-67 record, including a 42-30 mark in the second half, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1992. It marked the most wins by a Stars club since 1992 (74-70) and is the second-best record since the 1989 team posted a 74-69 mark.

Las Vegas will open the PCL Southern Division Championship Series at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Phoenix Firebirds at Scottsdale Stadium. Stars right-hander Pete Smith (11-9, 4.95) will face Firebirds right-hander Dan Carlson (13-6, 3.44) in the series opener.

The Stars will host Game 3 on Friday at Cashman Field and, if necessary, Games 4 and 5 of the best-of-five series on Saturday and Sunday.

In the Northern Division Championship Series, Edmonton will host wild-card winner Salt Lake.