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Butterdome, Edmonton (AP)- The Hartford Whalers split a double header on the road in Edmonton today.Ê Hartford lost Game 1, 9-3 but rebounded in Game 2, 5-1.Ê Aaron Sele lost his third game of the season in only his 4th start as a Whaler in Game 1 going 5 innings, allowing 4 earned runs.Ê But it was reliever Jeff McCurry coming out of the bullpen and surrendering 4 earned runs in 2 innings of work that put Hartford away in Game 1.Ê "I sucked today.Ê It's all my fault," said McCurry, plainly, immediately following the 9-3 loss.Ê Recently acquired Tony Phillips (DH) provided the only spark in Game 1, homering yet again with a solo shot and walking twice.
Greg Maddux took the mound and took control in Hartford's 5-1 victory in the second game of the day.Ê Maddux won his second straight decision, pitching 7 shutout innings, striking out 4 and walking none.Ê Ken Griffey Jr. and Tony Phillips, yet again provided the only offense Hartford would need as both homered.Ê Phillips led off the 6th with a solo shot while Griffey knocked a line-drive, 3-run blast off the scoreboard in the 8th.Ê Phillips was only 1-3 but he homered and, once again he walked, only this time he received an intentional pass.
With the split, Hartford kept pace with first-place Deadwood which also split against Montreal.Ê Hartford remains 1.5 games out of first.Ê Former Border Patrol ace, Kevin Brown, makes his Hartford Whaler debut in the final game of a 3-game set against Edmonton on Monday.Ê Brown, despite his losing record, enter the game with a lower ERA than Maddux at 2.09 (he received little or no run support while playing in Tucson).
With the 2 homeruns on the day in the double-dip, Tony Phillips now has 4 homeruns (and 5 walks) since joining the Whalers.Ê What is remarkable is that the homeruns are the ONLY 4 hits Phillips has recorded with Hartford.Ê So, despite only hitting around .270 as a Whaler thus far, Phillips is producing. Manager Jeremy Chrabascz has been extremely pleased with Phillips' surge, "Tony certainly wasn't this consistent in Tucson.Ê Let's hope he keeps it up.Ê If he only hits homers or walks I think he'll find himself quite comfortable and secure in our leadoff spot for the rest of the season."Ê Phillips only shrugged his shoulders when asked where the sudden power was coming from.Ê He did, however, credit batting coach Dewey Evans with working out some obvious problems with his stroke.
NEWS & NOTES
The rotation and lineup seems fairly settled.Ê No trade winds are blowing at the moment.
POM: Hartford would like to nominate its own Ken Griffey Jr., who has been phenomenal since returning from his long-term injury.
Written by Jeremy Chrabascz