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In the start of their final series for the month of May, the Punxtawney Groundhogs split a doubleheader against the 2nd place team in the Data divison, the Washington Sea Dogs. The Sea Dogs took the opener in a close 5-3 match, but the Hogs were too much in the second game, rolling over Washington by a score of 20-5.
Rocky Coppinger, who has struggled in his last few games, started the first game of the day. He only last 3 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs and 7 hits while walking 4. After 4 innings when he came out, the Groundhogs had not yet scored. Butch Henry relieved Coppinger and threw the rest of the game, allowing 3 more runs on just 4 hits without a walk. He also struck out 4. Punxtawney didn't score until the 7th, scoring twice then and adding one more in the 9th, but those 3 runs fell short of the 5 they needed. Tony Batista was their offensive star, doubling and hitting his 5th home run. Marty Cordova was 2-4 and scored a run.
For the Sea Dogs, starter Chad Ogea went to 5-1 on the season, lowering his ERA to 3.67, with a 6 2/3 inning, 2 run, 7 hit, 3 walk, and 7 strikeout performance. Hank Gill threw a scoreless inning and a third for his first hold and Buddy Groom threw the 9th, allowing a run but keeping the lead, for his first save. Sea Dog slugger Sean Berry was the star of the game, blasting 2 homeruns and driving in 3.
In the nightcap, Punxtawney turned on the offense and laid waste to the Washington pitching staff. Although Washington drew first blood, scoring a run in the top of the first frame, Punxtawney led 7-1 by the end of the second. Punxatawney continued piling up the runs, including an 8 run 5th inning, en route to the victory. Nearly everyone had a large share in the offense. All but 3 players had 3 hits or more. Homeruns were launched off the bats of Jason Giambi, Tony Batista, Marty Cordova, Ryan Klesko, Rondell White, and Roberto Kelly. Giambi was the star of the offense, going 4-6, scoring 3 times, and driving in 6 runs. Cordova was also 4-6 while Roberto Kelly, Rondell White, and Scott Rolen each had 3.
Obviously, neither pitching staff had all that great of a game. Jon Lieber managed to last 8 innings on the merit of his control, but he allowed 5 runs and 10 hits. He walked none and tallied 9 strikeouts as well. Jaime Bluma threw a scoreless 9th to finish up.
Mike Mimbs only lasted one inning for the Sea Dogs, but perhaps he should have stayed in longer. Although he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits and a walk in the first, Shawn Boskie allowed 13 more runs in the next 4 1/3 innings. He gave up 14 hits, walked 4, and struck out two. Joe Richardson threw the last 2 2/3 innings, giving up just 2 more runs on 3 hits.
The win made Lieber 5-2 while dropping Mimbs to 1-1. This win, combined with a pair of Vero Beach victories over Spokane, made the Groundhogs the only .600 team in the Defiant League. However, the resurgent Brooklyn Flaming Skulls in the Enterprise League have climbed to .604 and are currently the best team in their league. Punxtawney's early season lead has held up, and they currently have a 9 game edge over the Denver Doushbags. North Spokane has slipped to 16-34 and are now 16 1/2 back. However, Punxatawney is jusy 7-7 out of division and is concerned about how they will continue to play while facing the dominant teams from the other divisions, and later, the other league.
Trade Rumors:
Pedro Martinez is on the shopping block, but only for a fairly specific thing. In return for Martinez, Punxtawney is looking to get a pitch of equal quality to Pedro that is also a lefty. Punxtawney may be willing to throw in prospects to clinch a deal if one was offered. Other than that, the Hogs don't plan on trading heavily as they are content to let their team continue its winning ways. With their 9 game lead only 50 games into the season, OGGM Dan Shapiro is happy to let the season play out.
Written by Dan Shapiro