Niedenfuer Rounds Into Form Quickly

When Baltimore Orioles reliever Tom Niedenfuer took the mound in the ninth inning Saturday against the New York Yankees at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he had a 5-2 lead and an earned-run average of 0.00.

Don Mattingly greeted him with a single. Claudell Washington and Mike Pagliarulo also singled, scoring a run. Dave Winfield followed with his first home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Yankees a 6-5 exhibition victory over the Orioles.

Said Richard Justice of the Washington Post: “When Winfield’s home run sailed over the fence in right-center field, Niedenfuer stormed into the clubhouse, where he spent about five minutes muttering to himself before getting on the team bus for the return trip to Miami.”

His ERA is now 5.68.

Add Yankees: Reliever Dave Righetti started for the Yankees, his first start in four years.

“I almost forgot to take my hat off for the national anthem,” he said.

Wait a Minute: According to Jerry Sullivan of Newsday, when the Sacramento Kings hinted that guard Derek Smith will move to forward next season, Smith said: “I’m not going to play small forward and I’m also not prepared to sit on the bench. Asking me to play small forward is like asking Wade Boggs to hit home runs.”

Sullivan: “Someone should inform him that Boggs hit 24 homers a year ago.”

Trivia Time: What Rhode Island player hit one of the most memorable shots in Madison Square Garden history in the 1945-46 NIT when he was chosen the most valuable player? (Answer below.)

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: North Carolina, a 26-point winner over Loyola Marymount, got tougher games from USC and UCLA this season. The Tar Heels beat the Trojans, 82-77, at Richmond, Va., and defeated the Bruins, 80-73, at Pauley Pavilion.

Rich Gossage of the Chicago Cubs, asked about Larry Bowa, his former manager at San Diego, told the Sporting News: “I can’t believe he’s still managing there. He’s wrapped too tight. He’s going to self-destruct. You watch. Every day with him was a crisis. The man’s insecure. It’s like getting out of prison, getting away from Bowa.”

Said Oakland Athletics pitcher Steve Ontiveros after Mark McGwire hit one of his tape-measure home runs at Phoenix Stadium: “I don’t know if he got clearance for takeoff on that one.”

From Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Syd Thrift, after agent Tom Selakovich complained of the negotiations with pitcher Bob Kipper: “We’re going north with the 24 best players, not the 24 best agents.”

Said New England Patriots owner Billy Sullivan when asked what the future holds for his debt-ridden club: “If I knew that, my name would be Solomon, not Sullivan. And I have neither his wisdom nor his wallet.”

Add Forgettable Quotes: Said Xavier (Ohio) center Derek Strong last week, looking to Friday night’s game against Kansas in the Midwest Regional: “All they’ve got is Danny Manning. I am guarding him. No problem.”

Manning had 24 points and 12 rebounds, both game highs. Kansas won, 85-72.

Trivia Answer: Ernie Calverley. In the quarterfinals against Bowling Green, he hit a 55-footer in the final seconds to force an overtime, and Rhode Island won, 82-79. In the final, Rhode Island lost to Kentucky, 46-45.

Quotebook

Robin Givens, wife of Mike Tyson, asked how many children they’re going to have: “Michael wants a lot. I’m a working woman, two or three, maybe. If he wants more, he can have them.”