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Montreal (AP)- The Hartford Whalers narrowly escaped a 3-game sweep at the hands of last-place Montreal today, with a 5-3 victory.Ê Rookie pitching sensation, John Burke (4-3), finally knotted his 4th win of the season after a slew of no decisions.Ê Burke pitched 5 strong, allowing only 1 earned run. Reliever Bob Ardell got the save, his first.Ê The game moved quickly with little excitement as both teams seemed to just want to get it over with after yesterday's exhausting double-header.Ê One especially bright spot for the Whalers has been Tony Phillips' contributions since coming over from Tucson. Phillips went 1-5 today with a walk, homering in his only at-bat.Ê This makes the second game in a row that Phillips has recorded only one hit, a homerun (7).Ê Manager Jeremy Chrabascz said this of Phillips, "He hasn't been tearing it up but if he only hits homers I suppose I can live with that.Ê He's certainly provided a spark since coming here.Ê Let's hope Kevin (Brown) provides the same.Ê Kev will have had almost a full week's rest before his next start in three games."Ê Phillips commented on his way out of the locker room to his car, "I'm extremely hapy to contribute for a contending club.Ê I hope Hartford and Jere (Chrabascz) remain pleased with me."Ê Phillips, notorious for his bad behavior and outbursts appears to have turned over a new leaf in Hartford.Ê Captain, veteran Greg Maddux said this of Phillips, "He seems happy and eager to play and win.Ê He's giving it his all.Ê I think all he needed was to be with a cohesive, contending club with a good deal of team unity."
News & Notes
- Hartford kept pace with first-place Deadwood and remain 2 games back - Aaron Sele makes his 4th start as a Whaler in two days, opening against Ê Edmonton after Hartford's one day break.Ê (Maddux and Brown will follow)
- Starting pitcher, Ben McDonald accepted the league's formal apology for forcing him to pitch both games of a double header.Ê Ben is listed as Ê "probable" for his next start.Ê He hasn't practiced or taken the mound since pulling himself due to exhaustion yesterday.Ê His wife has ceased harassing Ê Commissioner Matt Peck, reportedly and Ben is no longer requiring oxygen.
- On a similar note, fans showed their support of Ben's effort and anger today, raising numerous signs around Montreal's stadium.Ê Most of the signs Ê denounced the league and its commissioner.Ê Thus, we on't be re-printing what most of them said due to censorship and inappropriateness. Manager Jeremy Chrabascz had only this to say of the debacle, "Ben is a class guy as is Matt.Ê He deserved an apology and he got an apology.Ê He'll be ready to go for his next start."Ê
-Teammate Tony Gwynn wasn't as guarded, "In all my years in the league I haven't seen anything so ridiculous.Ê It's a disgrace to the game of baseball."Ê Regardless of who's side you're on, Ben McDonald WILL go down in the PVBL record books as having been the only starter to have pitched a double-header.Ê Meanwhile, Hartford's players have decided to wear "Ben" embroidered on their jerseys and caps for the remainder of the season in protest and honor.
TRADES
Nothing brewing.
Written by Jeremy Chrabascz