Three Mets Hit With Claims Of Sexual Assault -- Gooden, Coleman, Boston Named

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The home where Dwight Gooden spent last spring has been identified by police as the place where a woman has claimed she was sexually assaulted by three New York Mets on March 30, 1991.

The players accused were identified in yesterday's editions of the Miami Herald as Gooden, Vince Coleman and Daryl Boston. The Herald cited unidentified sources in the Mets' organization and close to the investigation.

The police department, which has refused to confirm or deny the identity of any of the three players under investigation, did not return calls yesterday. St. Lucie police said Friday that the alleged incident took place at 2015 Crystal Mist St. in Port St. Lucie, about two miles from the Mets' camp.

Claire Gill, who owns the home at that address, confirmed that she rented the house to Gooden and his family last spring for six weeks.

Sue Zombor, a neighbor, said she frequently saw Gooden last year.

"He was there all of spring training with his family - his wife, two children and a black poodle," she said. "I went over there a couple of times, and they were very nice. I took a bagful of baseballs to him once, and he signed all of them. There were a lot of players over there last spring, but I didn't know who any of them were."

Gooden said Friday that he had no comment on the allegations. The Mets said they did not plan to make any statements on the matter.

Port St. Lucie Mayor James Lawless said the names of the three Mets on the police report would not be released unless charges are filed.

"I don't know how long the investigation will take," Lawless said. "A week, a month, I have no way of knowing."

JOYNER DISPLACES BRETT -- BASEBALL CITY, Fla. - Wally Joyner, who once replaced Hall of Famer Rod Carew in the California Angels' lineup, now has displaced future Hall of Famer George Brett in the batting order of the Kansas City Royals.

The first baseman will bat third in the revamped lineup, with Brett, approaching 39 after being a fixture at No. 3 for most of his 18 years with the Royals, dropping to fifth. Demoted, Brett called it, adding:

"No one likes to lose their position, but it's not like I'm losing it to a guy from double-A. Wally is a proven All-Star. At this point in our careers, he's the better hitter."

RYAN GETTING BETTER -- PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Texas right-hander Nolan Ryan, 45, allowed three hits and three walks, struck out one and hit a batter in 4 2/3 innings against Boston in the second outing of his 26th spring training.

"This was better than the last time," said Ryan, who pitched four solid innings before tiring in the fifth. "I did throw some quality innings. I had about 70 pitches and 34 of them were in that last inning." Ryan left with the score tied at 2.

Texas won 5-4 on rookie Rob Maurer's three-run, pinch homer in the eighth inning.

CLEMENS `WIRED' -- WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Boston pitcher Roger Clemens donned a specially designed glove with sensors wired to a computer to get motion readings on his wrist, hand bones and finger joints.

"I got wind of this and Doc wanted me to get out here and do it," said Clemens, referring to the team physician, Dr. Arthur Pappas.

"It's all experimental right now. It's the first time it's been tried," said Pappas, who helped develop the high-technology measuring system. "We've been able to get an idea of the motion and stresses on the shoulder and elbow on videotape, but we could never get a reading on the hand and wrist."

Clemens went through his entire repertoire of pitches in the bullpen at Chain O'Lakes Park.

NOTES

-- Pedro Martinez, Los Angeles Dodger rookie who was named 1991 minor-league player of the year by The Sporting News, was brilliant in four innings yesterday against Detroit. Martinez allowed two hits, struck out five and walked none. He is the brother of Ramon Martinez.

-- Exhibition games at Toronto's SkyDome between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays Friday night and yesterday afternoon drew a total of 74,681. Yesterday's crowd was 41,288.

-- Minnesota Manager Tom Kelly said there is a good chance third baseman Mike Pagliarulo will spend the first seven days of the regular season on the disabled list. Pagliarulo is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday on a perforated eardrum.

-- Texas pitchers Jeff Russell and John Barfield will miss an indefinite amount of spring training time while they nurse arm injuries. Russell is bothered by a bone spur in his right elbow. Barfield has a sore shoulder.