Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 12, 1991

By duplicating the feat, the Dodgers and Angels proved that their 0-6 record the previous weekend was no fluke. . . .

Is it worse to be bad or unlucky? The Dodgers were both at Candlestick Park. . . .

Eddie Murray didn’t produce in the clutch, but at least his bat otherwise showed renewed life. More than anything else, Los Angeles needs contributions from Murray, Darryl Strawberry and Kal Daniels to keep any part of what is left of its lead in the National League West. . . .

Game of the day: Cuba’s tense 3-2 victory over the United States in the Pan American Games. Too bad ABC showed so much women’s diving and so little baseball. . . .

Play of the day: Chicago White Sox center fielder Lance Johnson’s diving, backhanded catch in the eighth inning that preserved Wilson Alvarez’s no-hit bid at Baltimore. . . .

Jackie Autry should be aware that Minnesota is leading the American League West after retaining Tom Kelly as manager despite the Twins’ last-place finish last season. . . .

In this year of the streak, there have been 34 winning or losing streaks of at least seven games. . . .

Atlanta Brave outfielder Otis Nixon is the oldest looking 32-year-old in sports. . . .

Both major league pitchers named Greg Harris pitched complete-game victories Saturday--the San Diego Padres’ Greg Harris over the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox’s Greg Harris over the Toronto Blue Jays. . . .

The Seattle Mariners are bullish on 18-year-old Marc Newfield, a left fielder for San Bernardino in the California League. Three years ago, San Bernardino’s center fielder was Ken Griffey Jr. . . .

Overlooked in the Detroit Tigers’ success story has been their best hitter for average, Tony Phillips. . . .

The Houston Astros were accused of conducting a fire sale when they traded Glenn Davis to Baltimore, but they have gotten big dividends from Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch while Davis has been on the disabled list. . . .

If the Tigers’ Cecil Fielder loses the American League home run derby by one, he can blame Chuck Meriwether. The umpire took one away from him Saturday when he ruled fan interference. The replay showed that the ball already had gone into the Yankee Stadium stands when a fan touched it. . . .

PGA Championship winner John Daly could be the young player to put some much-needed oomph into the golf tour. . . .

If you think Daly was hitting long in Indianapolis, wait until later this week when he plays in Castle Rock, Colo., 35 miles south of mile-high Denver. . . .

Gary McCord is the best of the TV golf commentators because he sees some humor in the game. . . .

A special citation is awarded Katerina Maleeva for beating her sisters Magdalena and Manuela in the Canadian Open. . . .

The biggest longshot in sports is umpire Gary Darling winning his $5-million suit against Cincinnati Red Manager Lou Piniella. . . .

I also have my doubts about Rosie Jones, who is suing Mike Tyson, collecting $100 million. . . .

If Wayne Lukas hadn’t started Farma Way and Twilight Agenda, either one would have been the only quality front-runner and probably would have won the $1-million Pacific Classic. . . .

Since Gary Jones became his trainer, Best Pal has turned into a more determined competitor who no longer hangs in the stretch. . . .

Manager Rock Newman has brought unbeaten heavyweight Riddick Bowe along beautifully, keeping him busy with 26 fights in 27 months, but not rushing him. . . .

Bowe would do a job on Ray Mercer. . . .

Lou Rawls will add a touch of class to the fight show at the Forum tonight when he sings the national anthem. . . .

I can understand most of the United States’ defeats in the Pan American Games, but not the losses by the women’s basketball team. . . . Ohio State guard Jimmy Jackson and Southern Mississippi forward Clarence Weatherspoon are enhancing their reputations in Havana. . . .

A sprained ankle kept Clipper first-round draft choice LeRon Ellis out of the L.A. Pro Summer League. . . .

The Pacific 10 Conference preseason basketball media guide already is out. Half the coaches pick Arizona to win the title, the other half UCLA. . . .

Michael Jackson might soon be a big name in the NFL. The rookie wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns was impressive against the New York Giants. . . .

The Minnesota Vikings’ new one-running-back offense gives Herschel Walker more to do. . . .

Eric Dickerson reportedly is happy. What is wrong with him?. . . .