Nomo 1-Hitter Impresses Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Hideo Nomo didn't even have his beststuff when he pitched a 3-0 one-hitter Saturday against the SanFrancisco Giants. And the Giants say it shows how well Nomo knowsthe game.

"I've seen him have better command as far as his splitter," saidGiants shortstop Royce Clayton, who broke up Nomo's no-hit bid with asingle to deep short with two outs in the seventh inning. "He had alot of giddy-up on his fastball and seemed to throw that well. Hehad enough control and velocity on his fastball to get guys out, andthat's what he did."

Nomo (9-2) lowered his ERA to 1.89 and struck out 11 to increasehis league-leading total to 161. He has four complete games andthree shutouts in 18 big-league starts.

Afterward, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was almost nonchalantin talking about Nomo.

"He's pitched a lot of them like that," Lasorda said. "I thinkhe's pitched this well before. He's been that consistent all year."

As for Nomo, his pitching seemed less memorable than hisbatting. He outhit the Giants 2-1 and recorded his firstmajor-league RBI with a single in the ninth.

MANTLE SETBACK: Former New York Yankees great Mickey Mantlereceived another blood transfusion Sunday, and his doctor said hecould face more of them in his fight against cancer.

Mantle, 63, is suffering from anemia brought on by chemotherapy used to treat his lung cancer. The cancer spreadfrom his liver, which was so diseased that he underwent a transplantJune 8.

"It may not be that unusual if 48 hours from now we have to do(another transfusion)," said Dr. Daniel DeMarco, Mantle'sgastroenterologist. "He's relaxing and watching TV. His spirits arereally pretty good."

Mantle received his first transfusion Friday, but DeMarco saidtests taken early Sunday showed his blood count wasn't as high as itshould be.

Mantle remains in stable condition, but the extra treatmentmeans he won't be going home today as planned. DeMarco said Mantlelikely won't be released for at least a few more days.

BREWERS ADD DIBBLE: The Milwaukee Brewers added former White Soxreliever Rob Dibble to their 25-man big-league roster.

Dibble, 31, was signed by the Brewers to a minor-league contractJuly 29. He appeared in four games with Class AAA New Orleans anddidn't allow an earned run. Dibble was released by the Sox on July16 after going 0-1 with a 6.28 ERA.

Ironically, Dibble can't appear in a game until Wednesdaybecause of his part in a July 15 fight with the Brewers as a memberof the Sox.

EX-CUBS PLAYER DIES: Chicago native Dick Bartell, a shortstopwho played in three World Series and the first All-Star Game, is deadat 87.

Bartell died late Friday at a convalescent hospital in Alameda,Calif., after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He compiled alifetime .284 average from 1927 to 1946 and played for the Cubs in1939. He hit .238 with three home runs and 34 RBI that season.