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The Punxatawney Groundhogs, not too long ago, were coasting along with a winning percentage over .700. As that incredible mark slipped well into the .600 range, owner Dan Shapiro made a number of trades to try and stabilize his team's drop. After a few weeks of .600 ball that kept Punxatawney atop the Riker division, the Groundhogs have started playing at the level they maintained early in the season. After a 3 game sweep of the Washington Sea Dogs, the Hogs took two more in the Friday doubleheader against the Chicago South Siders in Chicago.
Although the final score in the first game was rather decisive, with the Hogs winning 8-2, the game was much closer than that. Neither side scored until the 4th inning when Punxatawney tallied two and Chicago responded with one. This 2-1 score remained until the 9th inning, when Punxatawney erupted for 6 runs to go up 8-1. Washington scored once more in the bottom of the inning, but they couldn't mount a rally and lost 8-2.
Offensively, Punxatawney was led by a 4 hit, 2 SB effort from leadoff hitter Rondell White and 3 RBI from the bat of Greg Myers. However, everyone except Tony Batista had a hit and contributed to the 8 runs scored. Roberto Kelly had 3 hits including a double, only one of three extra base hits for the Hogs in the opener.
Juan Gonzalez accounted for the entire Chicago offense in this game. He had 3 of the team's 5 hits, 2 of which were solo home runs. Hot-hitting Kevin Elster was held hitless in this first game as well.
Bobby Thomas had a fine game in his 4th start of the season. He went 7 innings while giving up only 2 hits and 1 walk. He allowed one run--a homer by Gonzalez in the 4th--while striking out 8. The improved Hogs bullpen held his lead. Scott Ruffcorn, one of very few on the pitching staff to remain in the majors all season long, threw the 8th inning, allowing 2 hits and recording a strikeout. Ricky Bottalico was poised for another save, but Punxatawney's 6 run rally put that out of the question. However, Bottalico needed some work and threw the bottom of the 9th anyway. He gave up one run, another homer to Gonzalez, and struck out 1. When it was over, Thomas improved to 3-2 while Ruffcorn notched hold number 6.
The loss went to South Siders starter A.J. Sager. He had a quality start, giving up 2 runs over 6 innings, but his bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Rod Beck was able to keep the Groundhogs in check for until there were two outs in the 8th, recording 3 K's in 1 2/3 innings. However, Terry Matthews was rocked for 6 runs in the 9th inning after getting the last out of the 8th. He walked one and gave up 5 hits. Eric Plunk got the final out, but not before he gave up one hit and walked one. The loss made Sager 4-5 on the year.
The second game had a closer final score but was not as close of a game. Punxatawney won this contest by a score of 6-3, scoring all their runs in the 4 innings. In fact, after Chicago put up 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th, nobody scored again.
This time, no one person led the Groundhog offensive attack. The team had just 7 hits total, with nobody having more than one. Marty Cordova and Ryan Klesko each went yard once while Scott Rolen and Roberto Kelly each had both a run and an RBI.
Chicago had a number of leaders, but couldn't get the clutch hits and ended up leaving 14 men on base. Kevin Elster and Ryne Sandberg were each 3-4, but only had one run and no RBI between them. Mark Parent was 2-5, scored once, and drove in one.
The Groundhogs bullpen played a huge part in this game as well. Starter Rocky Coppinger, after giving up 3 runs in the 6th after throwing a scoreless first 5, came out after 5 1/3. He gave up 9 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Sean Bergman relieved him in a critical situation and managed to finish the inning and hold Chicago scoreless for another inning after. He gave up 1 hit and walked 2 in these 2 innings of work, also striking out one. Bobby Munoz came in with one out in the 8th and threw the rest of the game, giving up two hits, one walk, and getting one strikeout. Coppinger managed to get the win as he went to 5-6 on the year. Bergman recorded his second hold while Munoz got his first save.
Chicago starter Fernando Valenzuela threw just 7 pitches in this game, walking one man who later scored and recording two outs before a sore rotator cuff forced him from the game. Reliever Bill Drahman threw the next 5 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He hit 3 Hogs batters and ended up taking his second loss of the year to drop him to 2-2. Bobby Witt mopped up for Chicago with 3 excellent, scoreless innings. He gave up only 2 hits and struck out two over the last 3.
These wins, combined with losses or splits from the rest of the Riker division, bolstered the Groundhogs division lead to a whopping 12 games. They are currently 38-20, a .655 clip. It also increased their non-divisional record to 13-10.
Tommorow, the final game of the series will be played. Jon Lieber (6-2, 3.51) goes against Josias Elliot (2-6, 6.45). Following this game, the team will travel back to Punxatawney where they will resume the battle of the officers against Larimer. Following that series, Chicago will come to Punxtawney for a series. Then divisional play resumes and the Hogs will take on the Mets of Tampa Bay.
Trade Winds--nothing. Absolutely nothing. We're happy.
Written by Dan Shapiro