Lack of DH hurts Stars

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

TACOMA, Wash. -- If the San Diego Padres are indeed serious about keeping their triple-A affliation in Las Vegas, they have a funny way of showing it.

For the second straight night the slumping and short-handed Stars (55-53) had to shun the designated hitter in an American League park because they had only eight healthy position players available. And the lack of even one pinch-hitter came back to haunt Tony Franklin's squad in a 7-5 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium.

Las Vegas left 13 men on base in the game and starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez twice struck out with the bases loaded. The game ended with the tying runs on base for the Stars and veteran relief pitcher Vicente Palacios striking out in a pinch-hitting role. Palacios narrowly missed tying the game when his blooper down the right-field line landed foul by inches.

The Stars were to conclude their nine-game road trip with a 12:35 game here this afternoon.

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