Players, Owners Avert Japanese League Strike

Japanese baseball players and owners averted the first strike in the history of the sport in Japan, reaching a last-minute agreement Friday that will allow teams to continue play through the weekend.

The players had said three conditions, including a one-year freeze on the merger of the Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave, would have to be met by Friday afternoon to avoid a strike.

In addition to the freeze, the players also wanted assurances that there would be no further mergers and that the fees required for setting up a new team to enter Japanese professional baseball would be reduced.

Players’ association head Atsuya Furuta said Friday that the owners assured the players there would be no further mergers and that a decision on the other two issues would be reached before Sept. 18.

The owners of Japan’s 12 professional teams voted Wednesday to approve the merger between the Buffaloes and BlueWave. The owners also said they would maintain the two-league format that has been in place since 1950.

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Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal was arrested on drunken-driving charges in Atlanta, his second DUI arrest in four years. He didn’t start Friday night’s game against Montreal, though the team planned no immediate disciplinary action.

Manager Bobby Cox said his leadoff hitter could be back in the lineup today. Furcal, who was charged with driving under the influence, speeding and reckless driving, arrived at Turner Field about 1 1/2 hours before the game.

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Baltimore Oriole pitcher Jorge Julio received a four-game suspension from Major League Baseball for throwing a pitch that nearly hit Minnesota’s Augie Ojeda in the head.

Julio was also fined $1,000. He has appealed the suspension and fine, saying that he did not throw at Ojeda during Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Twins.

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Preston Wilson and Aaron Cook of the Colorado Rockies underwent operations. Wilson, a center fielder, had surgery on his left knee to repair a cartilage tear. Cook, a right-hander, had surgery to remove the first rib on his right side and relieve pressure on a vein under his collarbone.

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As expected, the first two games of next week’s five-game series between the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins have been moved to the home park of the Chicago White Sox from Miami because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan, Major League Baseball said.

The games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday will be played at U.S. Cellular Field. The series, which included a doubleheader on Tuesday, was originally scheduled to be played at Pro Player Stadium, but weather forecasts say the storm will reach the Florida Keys sometime Monday.

Tickets for the two games at U.S. Cellular Field are $15, with $5 from each ticket going to hurricane relief. Where the rest of the series with the Expos would be played had yet to be determined.