Stars fall to Omaha in fight-marred game

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 11:06 a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Las Vegas Stars ended their seven-game Midwestern road trip with their second straight 4-3 loss to the Omaha Golden Spikes on Wednesday afternoon at Rosenblatt Stadium. But at least they went down with a fight.

Shortstop Greg LaRocca and designated hitter Aaron Guiel were both ejected in the seventh inning for their part in a brawl that began when LaRocca slid hard into second base while trying to break up a double play.

Omaha shortstop Ray Holbert, apparently spiked by LaRocca, jumped on the ex-high school wrestling star and began throwing punches as both benches quickly emptied. Guiel, a former junior hockey star from Vancouver who hit the double-play grounder and obviously has a lot of experience in such matters from his days on the ice, dove in to try to help his teammate.

When the melee was broken up, Holbert, who had earlier homered for the Golden Spikes, LaRocca, Guiel and Omaha second baseman Jed Hansen were all ejected.

The Stars (7-7), thanks to a two-run homer by rightfielder Chris Prieto, had tied the game, 3-3, just two batters before the fight.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when Omaha designated hitter Joe Vitiello led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by first baseman Carlos Mendez, went to third on a wild pitch by Stars' reliever Brandon Sullivan (0-1) and scored on an infield single by leftfielder Steve Gibralter that deflected off Sullivan's glove.

Right-hander Danny Rios (1-0) picked up the victory in relief for Omaha (9-5) while Orber Moreno picked up his first save.

* STARS NOTES: Following an off-day today, the Stars open an eight-game homestand on Friday night at Cashman Field against the Edmonton Trappers, the triple-A team for the California Angels. ... Ed Giovanola, who replaced LaRocca, was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of a sore hip. ... Guiel was robbed of a two-run homer in the first inning when Omaha outfielder Les Norman reached over the fence in left-center and snagged his long fly ball. Norman than threw back to first to double off LaRocca, who had singled. ... With Juan Melo (DL, broken finger) and Giovanola (hip) hurting, the Stars may get some infield help on Friday in the form of veteran major leaguer Carlos Garcia, recently put on waivers by the San Diego Padres. ... Stars' starter Jose Mercedes, working on just three days rest, gave up just one earned run (three overall) in five in nings. Mercedes, working his way back from rotator cuff surgery, was on a 75-pitch pitch count. ... Las Vegas entered the game with a Pacific Coast League-

best 2.96 team ERA. ... LaRocca suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the scuffle and is expected to be put on the disabled list before Friday night's game with Edmonton at Cashman Field.