By Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday April 6, 2000; Page D1

BALTIMORE, April 5 – When Charles Johnson wins a game for the Baltimore Orioles, he normally does so with his glove or his mind, rarely with his bat. The defensive wizard, a four-time Gold Glove winner and a catcher renowned for his pitch-calling ability, has in a five-year career established himself as a remarkably average hitter.

But there has always been the potential for big offense from Johnson, who is a burly 6 feet 3 with power, and tonight that potential became real when Johnson smashed two titanic home runs in an 11-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians before 33,833 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Cal Ripken went 0 for 4 and remained stuck at 2,992 career hits, and his chances of reaching the milestone 3,000th at home this week grew dimmer. The Orioles have four more games on this homestand before hitting the road for six games.

Both of Johnson's homers – a 417-foot three-run blast to straightaway center in the sixth, and a two-run shot to left in the eighth – gave the Orioles the lead and both left no doubt about Johnson's power.

Johnson's work with hitting coach Terry Crowley began to take hold last season – Crowley has attempted to get Johnson to shorten his sometimes long swing – until Johnson wilted from catching too many games in the late stages of the season.

"He really hit a lot better last year than his average [.251] indicated," Crowley said. "And this spring, we picked up right where we left off, and he's built on that."

Said Orioles Manager Mike Hargrove: "Last year he got worn down and his swing got long. We're going to try to keep him a little fresher than that. He's a strong man, he's got a good swing and the ball jumps off his bat. It has all spring."

Scouts have long maintained that Johnson has the power potential to hit 30 homers, especially at cozy Camden Yards, even though Johnson has yet to hit 20 in a single season.

"I'm not putting limitations on myself," Johnson said. "Sometimes people put that label on me and say that's all I'm ever going to do. But I'm only 28 years old. . . . I just want to get better every year."

In giving Hargrove his first victory as Orioles manager, and his first victory against his former team, the Orioles played classic Hargrove-Cleveland baseball. They scored eight of their 11 runs tonight on homers, the first of which was a three-run blast to left-center by cleanup hitter Albert Belle, whose traditional April slump apparently lasted just one game this year.

Belle also was nearly involved in a brawl in the bottom of the third inning, when Indians starter Chuck Finley – whom the Orioles pursued diligently during the free agent signing period this winter – hit him in the back of the thigh with a 3-2 fastball. Belle believed it was more than carelessness; on the previous pitch, Delino DeShields had stolen second base, leaving first base open.

Belle and Finley exchanged unpleasantries, Hargrove grabbed Belle to calm him down and both benches emptied. But no contact was made.

"It's real curious to me," Hargrove said, "that a guy known for his control just happens to have a base open, and he plunks Albert."

In addition to the flare-up between Belle and Finley, Indians Manager Charlie Manuel was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, Hargrove had issues with a catch call in shallow left, and Orioles starter Sidney Ponson let his temper get the best of him during a five-run second inning.

Ponson, 23, entered the game with a career 0-4 record and 10.87 earned run average against the Indians, and tonight he handled the Indians' powerful lineup for five of his six innings.

Ponson allowed a solo homer to Jim Thome in the sixth, but he left with a 7-6 lead, courtesy of Johnson's homer in the bottom of the sixth.

"To the young man's credit," Hargrove said of Ponson, "he gathered himself and kept us in the ballgame."

A rare error on shortstop Mike Bordick allowed the Indians to tie the game against left-handed reliever Chuck McElroy in the top of the seventh. But after McElroy, relievers Al Reyes, B.J. Ryan (1-0) and Mike Trombley held the Indians scoreless over the last 2 1/3 innings.

And the stage was set for Johnson's second blast, which came off former Oriole Scott Kamieniecki.

"It couldn't happen to a nicer guy," Crowley said. "He's a prince of a man, and an amazing talent."

Orioles Notes: Right-handed pitcher Scott Erickson, who has been out since elbow surgery on March 3, threw for about 16 minutes in the Orioles' bullpen before the game, increasing his velocity and adding breaking pitches for the first time in his rehabilitation.

"This being only April 5, that's encouraging to me," pitching coach Sammy Ellis said. Erickson was originally expected to be out until early May, but it now appears that he might return to the Orioles by mid-April.

Erickson is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Friday, at which point a decision might be made to send him out on a rehab assignment, where he likely would make two starts for a minor league affiliate before joining the Orioles.