|
|
In an atypical, non-offensive game, the Ponxatawney Groundhogs defeated Los Angeles 4-1 to raise their record to 18-6, the best in either league.
The offense cam from unusual heroes in the game. Although Ryan Klesko was 1-3 with an RBI, Jason Giambi, Mike Stanley, and Roberto Alomar combined to go 1-12 without a run or RBI. Roberto Kelly was the biggest offensive hero, going 2-4, scoring twice, and hitting a solo homer. Ernie Young, playing in his final Hogs game before he travels to Atlanta, was 1-1 with a run, an RBI, and a walk. However, the Groundhogs superb pitching was what won this game. Starter Jon Lieber, in his Groundhogs debu, threw 6 scoreless innings, scattering 6 hits and walking one while striking out 4. Mark Portugal, also in his final Hogs game, allowed the only run during the 7th inning. But Butch Henry and Randy Myers threw a pair of perfect innings to finish the game and secure another win for Punxatawney.
"So far our work on the bullpen looks decent. Portugal struggled these last 2 games, but he isn't a reliever and I guess we shouldn't have tried him in that role. Hope he gets a chance in Atlanta," remarked Dan Shapiro, Hogs owner. "However, we seem to be having another problem here on our own ballclub. Jason Giambi isn't hitting, and his glove has been horrid. We're not quite sure what we want to do about him. He's a strong ballplayer...he just needs some time in the cage."
Following the game and the trade of Ernie Young and Mark Portugal, Shapiro notified Jim Burright, on his way back to rejoin AAA, that we being called back up to the majors and newly acquired Henry Neale would play AAA. A reporter managed to reach a tired Jim Burright for comments late last night. "I don't think this old car of mine can handle all this driving. I got halfway to Punxatawney, he tells me to go back, I get halfway back, and he tells me to come back to Punxatawney. I'm gonna prove myself and stay up there for the rest of the year."
In other news, Shapiro was proud to announce that he had finally found a home for his AAA franchise who had been meandering the country like a small group of nomads previously. They will begin play in Roswell, New Mexico tommorow and will be named the Weather Balloons. Shapiro hopes to set up a chartered jet flight service between Roswell and Punxatawney because of the frequency with which he makes roster moves.
In a final comment made to one reporter, when asked how hey felt about Aaron Sele's 200 pitch outing in his first Whalers start, Shapiro scratched his head and said, "That's not how we do things here in Punxatawney. I would have pulled him in the 7th at the latest. But obviously Jeremy knows what he's doing, or Hartford wouldn't be 18-7.
Written by Dan Shapiro