San Francisco Stadium Gets a Boost

A bill designed to speed up construction of the new stadium for the San Francisco Giants won approval from the California Assembly on Monday after similar help for the repair of flood-damaged levees was added to the measure.

The bill was passed 71-1. It goes back to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.

The bill would allow the team to begin relocating tenants on the China Basin site of the new ballpark before the environmental review process is complete.

Without the bill, relocation would have to wait until the environmental issues were resolved, which could push the construction schedule back by a year. Currently, plans call for the $265 million ballpark to open in 2000.

Gov. Pete Wilson indicated last week he would veto the bill, then said he wanted amendments added that would exempt environmental reviews from the rebuilding of the levees damaged by the floods of January.

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The Houston Astros placed third baseman Sean Berry on the 15-day disabled list. Berry has been bothered a groin injury suffered in an exhibition game March 29 and had not hit a home run or driven in a run in five regular-season games.

He had 17 home runs and 95 RBIs for the Astros last year despite playing the entire season with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. The Astros bought the contract of Russ Johnson from triple-A New Orleans.

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The Atlanta Braves signed right-hander Mike Dyer to a contract with triple-A Richmond. Dyer, 30, was released during spring training by Colorado after signing a contract in December. He was 5-5 with a 4.40 ERA and two saves in 70 appearances for Montreal last season. . . . The Florida Marlins, who hoped to boost attendance this year and went on a free-agent spending spree to improve their performance, drew crowds of more than 36,000 three times in their first six home games. Florida topped 36,000 fans only three times all of last season. It hasn’t hurt that Florida has also started the season 5-1.