Arias powers Stars

NEW ORLEANS --- It seems the only question these days is not if but when Mark McGwire will break Roger Maris' single-season home run record of 61.

The same could be said about third baseman George Arias' assualt on the Las Vegas Stars' single-season home run mark.

Arias, the Pacific Coast League's leader in both home runs and RBIs, padded those totals again in the Stars' 10-4 pounding of the New Orleans Zephers here on Thursday night.

Arias highlighted a four-run third inning with a three run homer over the center field fence, his 20th of the season. He also added a two-run single in the ninth to give him five RBIs for the game and an amazing 64 RBIs in 64 games this season.

If he should remain in Las Vegas the rest of the season ... and that's a mighty big "if" these days ... Arias would seem a lock to shatter Kevin McReynold's single-season home run mark of 32 set in 1983. With 80 games still remaining, he is also on pace to eclipse the team's single-season RBI mark of 131 set by Rick Lancellotti in 1984.

The win evened the Stars' record at 32-32 and, combined with Omaha's 6-5 win over Salt Lake, moved Las Vegas to within a 1/2 game of second place in the PCL's Southern Division.

Las Vegas also recieved home runs from second baseman Dave Hajek and catcher Jimmy Gonzalez and first baseman Eddie Williams added a pair of doubles. Brad Kaufman (4-5) picked up the victory while Dario Veras, the subject of recent trade rumors, pitched 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief to garner his ninth save.

Recent media reports in San Diego have speculated a possible trade by the Padres of Veras and pitcher Carlos Reyes to the Boston Red Sox for catcher/first baseman Jim Leyritz.

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