BASEBALL MISCELLANY : NAMES AND NUMBERS

Sophomore Jinx of the Year: Pitcher Don August of the Milwaukee Brewers has been dropped from the rotation after going 0-4 with a 13.79 earned-run average in five starts, making him 9-11 with a 5.49 ERA this season. Last year, as a rookie, he was 13-7 with a 3.09 ERA.

Red Sox Need Mending: Injuries reduced the Boston Red Sox to 21 available players last week, including six who had been released by other teams. Said catcher Rick Cerone: “We’re trying to win a pennant race with no players.”

Rested and Ready: In each of the last two seasons, pitcher Tom Candiotti of the Cleveland Indians has gone on the disabled list after the All-Star break. His combined record after coming off the DL is 10-0 with a 1.56 ERA, including four consecutive wins this season after being activated three weeks ago. “We have to make this an annual event,” Cleveland Manager Doc Edwards said. “We have to give him a two-week sabbatical.”

Punchless: How mediocre is the American League East? The Indians recently hit .216 and were outscored, 45-28, in a 10-game stretch against East teams, and still won half of the games.

Starting on Wrong Foot: In the Montreal Expos’ recent seven-game losing streak, leadoff hitters Dave Martinez and Otis Nixon combined for 10 hits, six walks, and no runs, including going three for 39 with runners in scoring position.