Las Vegas Stars scorecard — July 1, 1998

Wednesday, July 1, 1998 | 8:06 a.m.

Stars manager Jerry Royster closed his team's locker room for about 10 minutes following Tuesday night's 8-7 loss to the Nashville Sounds. "It's not the first time (he's closed the locker room)," Royster said. "It's just not that we're not playing very good, it's that we're not playing very smart. I don't mind the physical errors. I don't like them, but ... we're just not playing the game very well right now. ... We can't go limping into the All-Star break. " ... One player who had a game to remember in the loss was left fielder James Mouton who went 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and two stolen bases. "He was awesome,"Royster said. ... Tuesday night's game had just started when Stars slugging star Eddie Williams made a surprise visit to the Cashman Field pressbox with a cool beverage in hand. "I just got the word that I've been suspended for a game," said Williams. The suspension, which came down from the Pacific Coast League office about 10 minutes before the first pitch, is a result of an alleged bumping incident between Williams and umpire Robert Drake on June 27 in Tucson. Several witnesses at the game said Williams never touched Drake, but he did bowl over Royster who was trying to restrain him. ... Royster said right-hander Scott Sanders, sidelined since June 20 because of a strained quadriceps, could return to action today. Sanders, who would have been called up the San Diego Padres had he not suffered the injury, threw about 35 pitches prior to Tuesday night's game without pain. ... Royster said reliever Paul Menhart, sidelined since June 21 because of a badly cut foot, is no where close to coming off the disabled list. "It's not healing real well," Royster said. "It's a nasty looking injury." ... Center fielder Chris Prieto extended his hitting streak to 16 games with an eighth-inning single.

Upcoming games

The Stars continue their brief homestand tonight with a 7:05 game against Nashville. Left-hander Heath Murray (4-5, 4.58) will start tonight for Las Vegas against Sounds lefty Sean Lawrence (7-5, 4.71). The series continues on Thursday night at 7:05 with right-hander Matt Clement (8-5, 3.21) scheduled to start for the Stars against Nashville left-hander Kevin Pickford (1-0, 1.42). Right-hander Brad Kaufman starts Friday night's series finale for the Stars against highly touted Nashville right-hander Kris Benson (6-6, 5.31), the No. 1 pick of the June 1996 amatuer baseball draft. Only a limited amount of tickets remain for both Thursday and Friday night's games which feature fireworks displays after the games.

By Steve Guiremand

Attendance

Tuesday's crowd: 3,517.

Season total: 173,365 (40 dates).

Average per date: 4,334.