Stars shoot back into first place

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, June 29, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

Wasn't it only just four days ago that the Stars limped back to Cashman Field in second place, three games behind in the Pacific Coast League's Southern Division, after getting swept by the Sacramento River Cats?

Take a look at the PCL standings now, and you'll see Las Vegas a few percentage points ahead of Sacramento and back in first place.

While Las Vegas made it three in a row over PCL Central Division-leading Albuquerque with a 10-1 victory on Wednesday night at Cashman Field, Sacramento lost for the third straight night to the Edmonton Trappers, 7-5.

"Funny game, isn't it?" Stars manager Tony Franklin said. "Just when you think you're going downhill, something good starts to happen. And things turn around so quickly that you don't even notice it."

What makes the Stars' recent turnaround even more impressive is that it was accomplished with Las Vegas undermanned (only 20 men on the roster due to injuries and call-ups) and with several other key players slowed by nagging injuries.

"We were in dire straits about three days ago," said Franklin, who along with pitching coach Darrel Akerfelds and hitting coach Randy Whisler deserves a lot of the credit for righting the situation. "Everybody really started focusing in on what they had to do, pitch-by-pitch, play-by-play. When that happens, you get some pretty good baseball played out there. I can't really point to one thing (for the turnaround) other than that."

It also hasn't hurt that outfield prospect Mike Darr, who went 4-for-5 on Wednesday night, has been blazing, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

Clement (6-7, 5.19 ERA), who is scheduled to start for San Diego against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at Dodger Stadium, is 1-4 with a 7.82 ERA in June. In his five starts this month, he has allowed 39 hits in 25 1/3 innings. He has walked 23 hitters in that span and surrendered at least one home run in each of his last four starts.

Clement, who has an 8.21 ERA on the road this year, also ranks second among National League pitchers in categories such as walks (58), hit batters (9) and wild pitches (12).

Earlier this week, Padres manager Bruce Bochy told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he was going to meet with GM Kevin Towers and pitching coach Dave Smith about whether Clement and another struggling San Diego pitcher, Brian Meadows, should make get-well trips to triple-A to regain their confidence.

"We've got to get together and see what's best for these guys," Bochy said.

So tonight's start against the Dodgers could be a big one for the 25-year-old Clement.

Wall, who is also scheduled to pitch an inning in tonight's game, faced five batters, allowing a double off the left-field fence by Adam Riggs and a walk to center fielder Mike Metcalfe. He also uncorked a wild pitch and struck out one.

Ryan Radmanovich hit a two-run homer and Darr added three RBIs.