BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Yankees Hold a Surprise Workout

The New York Yankees held a special defensive workout, reportedly on the orders of owner George Steinbrenner. The Yankees, with the best record in baseball at 28-13, were coming off of a 6-5, 10-inning loss Sunday to the Baltimore Orioles.

WABC, the team’s flagship radio station, said Steinbrenner wanted the workout, which lasted 45 minutes and concentrated on defensive positioning, particularly on bunts. But Manager Buck Showalter sidestepped the question of the owner’s involvement.

“There were just some things we needed to work on,” Showalter said.

*

Atlanta Brave pitcher John Smoltz was suspended for eight games by the National League for throwing at John Cangelosi of the New York Mets and provoking a brawl May 14.

Cangelosi was suspended by league president Leonard Coleman for four games for charging the mound after he was hit by Smoltz. Both players also were fined.

The Major League Baseball Players Assn. appealed the penalties, which cannot take effect until after Coleman holds a hearing.

*

Florida Marlin outfielder Gary Sheffield pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge in Orlando, Fla., and was sentenced to nine months of probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

Sheffield also had been charged with drunken driving on Dec. 5 after police said he was traveling more than 110 m.p.h. on Interstate 4 in a Ferrari Testarossa. But the drunken-driving charge was dismissed after Sheffield’s lawyer filed a motion arguing that a breath test given after the traffic stop was not performed properly.

*

The Detroit Tigers activated Junior Felix and put Eric Davis (strained neck) on the 15-day disabled list. . . . Michael Jordan went one for four with a single in the Birmingham Barons’ 10-5 loss to Nashville. Jordan is batting .222.