Ripken’s Homer Habit Fuels AL : All-Star game: After hitting 12 to win a power exhibition at the SkyDome on Monday, he stings NL with a three-run shot in a 4-2 victory--La Russa’s third in a row.

Warming up for his SkyDome onslaught, Cal Ripken Jr. hit 12 out in 22 swings during a home run contest that featured Monday’s All-Star workouts.

Ripken, the American League’s leading hitter at .354, said he came away from that impressive exhibition with a degree of concern.

“I generally don’t like to hit home runs in batting practice because I think they produce bad habits,” he said Tuesday night.

“I’ve been swinging the bat real well, and I didn’t want to develop any bad habits, but in hindsight it turned out real well.

“It helped me relax tonight.”

A relaxed Ripken hit a three-run homer against Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos in the third inning of the 62nd All-Star game, lifting the American League to a 4-2 victory over the National before 52,383, the largest crowd ever at SkyDome.

The Baltimore Oriole shortstop, who also singled, received the most valuable player award on a night when President Bush and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, watching from a luxury suite, found no need to discuss All-Star disarmament.

There were 18 hits, including a solo home run by Andre Dawson of the National League, but 15 were singles in another low-scoring game.

The National League has scored three runs or fewer in each of the last five games. The AL has won four in a row, the last three managed by Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics--an All-Star record.

Dennis Eckersley of the A’s tied a record by pitching a flawless ninth for his third save as Mark Langston and Bryan Harvey, the Angel representatives, watched from the bullpen.

“I was kind of in limbo,” Langston said later. “Everybody else had a role, but Scotty Sanderson and myself had to hang around in case something happened.

“It’s disappointing, but I had the opportunity to pitch in the ’87 game and I’m more disappointed that Bryan didn’t get in. He’s the best relief pitcher in baseball. It was his first game and he’ll be back, I know that.”

Said Harvey: “I’m disappointed in a way, but the main thing is I’m just thankful to have been here. It’s tough on Tony to get everyone in. I have nothing to complain about.”

La Russa said he had to keep Langston, Sanderson and Harvey back in case the game went extra innings. He said the same of second baseman Julio Franco, the MVP of last year’s game and the only AL position player not to play Tuesday night.

Although Franco was cleared medically after tests for weekend chest pains, La Russa said he also had it in the back of his mind that the Texas Ranger infielder might benefit from another day off.

Franco didn’t seem appreciative.

“I expected to play, wouldn’t you?” Franco said sharply. “That’s why I came.”

The only National Leaguers not to play were pitchers Tom Browning and Lee Smith and infielder-outfielder John Kruk.

There were mixed results for the four Dodgers.

--Juan Samuel singled in his only at-bat.

--Eddie Murray, in his only at-bat, struck out against Rick Aguilera with two on and two out in the seventh.

--Brett Butler, who came in as a pinch-runner in the seventh, grounded out to end the game.

--Mike Morgan pitched a flawless eighth, his bitterness at not having been selected by NL Manager Lou Piniella to his original staff appeased somewhat by his selection to replace injured teammate Ramon Martinez.

There was good news and bad news for Canadian fans. Jimmy Key of the Toronto Blue Jays was the winning pitcher and Martinez, the Montreal Expo right-hander, was the loser.

George Bell, the former Blue Jay returning to Toronto for the first time since signing with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent, drew boos when introduced before the game and again when he pinch-hit in the ninth.

His ensuing strikeout against Eckersley prompted an ovation.

It was a game that started ominously for Jack Morris and the AL, which now trails the NL, 37-24.

Tony Gwynn, the game’s first batter, singled sharply against Morris, took third on a one-out, hit-and-run single by Will Clark and scored when Bobby Bonilla ripped a single that bounced off the outside of Morris’ right ankle.

The Minnesota Twin right-hander was sent sprawling but elected to remain in the game.

“It hurt like hell,” he said later, “but you only get a few chances to pitch in an All-Star game. Besides, it was my foot that hurt and not my arm.”

Morris got Dawson to ground into an inning-ending double play, retired the NL on an infield hit in the second and then went for precautionary X-rays that were negative.

Tom Kelly, the Minnesota manager and an AL coach, speculated that Morris may be forced to miss a start with what was described as a contusion.

“Could be worse,” Kelly said. “I thought it was broken for sure. My heart was in my throat.”

So was Morris’.

“It was a rocket,” he said. “I couldn’t get out of the way, it was hit that hard. Doesn’t Bonilla know he’s supposed to pull the ball, that when a pitch is down the middle like that he’s supposed to hit it out?

“I mean, normally I’m able to get up and chase the ball, but I couldn’t move. I kept thinking it was broken, but the doctor assured me I’ll live to pitch again.”

The AL eased Morris’ discomfort and took a 3-1 lead in the third when Ripken followed singles by Rickey Henderson and Wade Boggs with his 416-foot shot to center on breaking ball from Martinez.

Ripken had four singles in 21 previous All-Star at-bats, but he has 18 homers this the season and could surpass his 1982 career high of 28.

“I don’t consider myself a home run hitter, but if I hit the ball hard enough often enough I’m going to be productive,” he said. “This is the best half I’ve ever had. I’m just in a real good groove right now.”

Said La Russa: “He’s a great hitter having a great year. It’s a perfect match. I mean, he’s capable of having a great game like this.”

The NL closed to 3-2 in the fourth on Dawson’s 434-foot homer to the same area against Roger Clemens. It was the first National League home run since Dale Murphy connected in 1984, a span of 61 innings and 223 batters, but it was also a last hurrah for the NL.

The American League extended its lead to 4-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Harold Baines, after which Aguilera and Eckersley provided the relief.

And in the AL clubhouse later, the unused Langston smiled, nodded towards the next locker, where Ripken was surrounded by reporters, and said, “What the hell. I got to dress next to the MVP.

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