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Hartford (AP)- The Hartford Whalers had their 7-game winning streak snapped today as they dropped two to Montreal on the road, both by the score of 9-7. Due to a freak scheduling mishap on the part of the league office, Ben McDonald was forced to be the starting pitcher for both games.Ê After pitching respectably in game 1, allowing only 4 earned runs before being pulled to rest up for later in the day, McDonald took the mound once again in Game 2.Ê Once again, he pitched well, tossing 2 near-perfect innings before pulling himself due to exhaustion.Ê Ben spent the latter part of the evening on oxygen in the trainer's room where he and his lawyer formally made an appeal to the league that such a scheduling conflict would never happen again, requesting a formal apology.Ê Ben's wife was reportedly furious and has been leaving harassing phone calls on Commissioner, Matthew Peck's answering machine all day and night.Ê Ben was advised not to comment nor use his voice (or energy) unnecessarily.
Distractions aside, the Whalers lost fair, square, plain and simple today. They lost Game 1 in the bottom of the 11th inning as closer Hipolito Pichardo came in to preserve a 2-run lead.Ê He blew it (obviously), allowing 4.Ê
Relief pitching was a problem once again in Game 2, as Tony Saunders allowed 8 earned runs in the 3rd inning in relief of McDonald.Ê Admittedly, Saunders came in cold.Ê The second loss spoiled the Hartford debut of DH and new leadoff man, Tony Phillips.Ê Phillips went 1 for 5 with a line-drive two-run homer.
John Burke, who was expecting to start Game 2, had this to say, "I feel for Ben and his family.Ê No one would ever expect the league to be so heartless and cruel.Ê I should've been out there today.Ê But, I'll enjoy my extra game of rest."Ê Burke will start tomorrow and Kevin Brown will make his Hartford debut at the end of the week, assuming the second spot in the rotation behind Maddux. Aaron Sele was promoted once again to 5th starter after pitching superbly in recent weeks while Cal Eldred was placed in the pen.
Hartford fell 2 games back of Deadwood which won its 5th straight today in the see-saw battle, otherwise known as the McCoy Division of the Enterprise League. Montreal pulled within 12 and a half of Deadwood with the double-dip sweep at home.
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Barring a crisis, the Hartford Whalers aren't looking to make any more deals this season.Ê In fact, Hartford has finally begun filling up its AAA and LOW minors with free agents and prospects.Ê Only 4 open spots remain on their 50-man and those are all in LOW.
Written by Jeremy Chrabascz