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It seems the Punxatawney Groundhogs have returned to dominance in the PVBL. After slipping from a winning percentage over .700 to the low .600's, the Hogs have won 5 straight as they returned to divisional play by trouncing Tampa 3 times straight and then winning two from Milwaukee.
The Tampa Bay series was incredible easy for the Groundhogs. The scores were 7-2, 13-5, and 23-4 for a series total of 43-11. The first two were a doubleheader. In the opener, Punxatawney scored 7 runs on 13 hits. Nearly everyone had at least one hit. The odd thing was that many of these hits were solo homers. The Hogs' 7 runs came on 6 homers. Greg Myers, Scott Rolen, John Valentin, Rondell White, and a pair from Roberto Kelly all contributed to the longball total. Mike Hampton was the starting pitcher and threw a fine game, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs over 8 innings. He walked just 1 and had 7 strikeouts. Sean Bergman threw a scoreless 9th to finish up. This 7-2 game was the closest of the series.
In game two, Jason Giambi and Tony Batista combined for 4 runs, 7 RBI, 2 homers, and a 5-8 day. Rondell White continued his phenomenal month, going 2-4 and scoring 3 times while swiping 3 bases. Marty Cordova was 3-5 and scored 3 times. Even backup catcher Jorge Fabregas got in to the action with a 2 RBI double. Bobby Thomas got the win, going 7 innings. He gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, while giving up 5 hits and walking 4. He also struck out 8. Tim Worrell threw the 8th, giving up 2 more runs on 3 hits. But Bobby Munoz tossed a scoreless 9th and Punxatawney beat Tampa 13-5. The win came against ex-Hog Pete Schourek. Schourek was assailed for 9 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk in just 1 2/3 innings before he was pulled. He has not won since coming over in a trade last month.
Game three had even more offense from the Hogs. They racked up 23 runs on 25 hits en route to their 23-4 win. Although everyone had a great offensive day, the star was Roberto Kelly. He was 6-6, scored 4 times, drove in 5, and homered twice. Rondell White had yet another astounding game, going 3-6 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, and 2 homers. Greg Myers was 3-6 and drove in 5 as he hit a pair of homers as well. Ryan Klesko was 4-5 and hit a home run of his own for his 3 RBI. 9th hitter Scott Rolen contributed a 2-4, 2 run, 3 RBI game. Rocky Coppinger improved his record back over the .500 mark to 7-6 with a 7 inning performance. He allowed all 4 Tampa Bay runs. Rick Aguilera threw 2 scoreless innings to finish the game. Esteban Loaiza was saddled with the loss, but his 3 inning, 3 runs allowed performance was not what cost Tampa the game. Scott Hayes, in relief, gave up 19 runs, all earned, on 17 hits and 3 walks over the 4th, 5th, 6th, and part of the 7th innings.
After this series at home, Punxatawney travelled up to Milwaukee for their first series against Scott Sloans' Menace since the franchised changed ownership. The Hogs were unsure of what Sloans had in store for them and were eager to find out. Game one was very close and either team could easily have won. However, the Hogs pulled it out with a 4-3 win. Jose Valentin was the true offensive star of this game. He was 4-4, scored twice, drove in 2, and homered. Greg Myers and Scott Rolen were each 3-3. However, Myers allowed Otis Nixon to swipe 5 bases in this game alone.
This time it was the strength of the pitchers which got the Groundhogs a win. Jon Lieber started, throwing 6 innings. He gave up 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), but didn't walk anyone and struck out 9. Sean Bergman threw the next 1 1/3 innings, walking one and allowing 1 hit but holding the Menace scoreless. Scott Ruffcorn came on with 1 out in the 8th and threw the rest of the game, giving up 1 walk and 1 hit. He also didn't give up a run and the Hogs won 4-3. Lieber got the win to improve his record to 8-3. Bergman notched his 4th hold and Ruffcorn got his 5th save.
The second game of the series didn't have a final score that was quite as close but it was a thrilling game. After Milwaukee scored 4 times in the bottom of the first, Punxatawney found themselves in an unfamiliar position and fought back with 2 runs in the 2nd in 4th to tie the game. They went ahead 5-4 with another run in the 7th. After 4 more tallies in the 9th, their 9-4 lead was able to withstand a shaky 9th inning and the final score was 9-6.
Once again, it was Rondell White leading the way. He was 5-5 in this contest, scoring one and knocking one in. Jason Giambi had the lone home run as he went 1-4, scoring 2 and knocking in 3. Greg Myers was 2-5 and drove in two.
This game demonstrated just how good the Punxatanwey bullpen is. Starter Dustin Hermanson was beat up for 4 runs in the bottom of the first and was pulled with 2 outs in that inning. It was up to the bullpen to keep the Hogs in the game. Rick Aguilera came on next, finishing the first and throwing the next 3 innings. He gave up 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Tim Worrell was next up and he threw the next 3 innings. He allowed 4 hits and 1 walk, but no runs as well. Curt Leskanic came on to throw the 8th and held the Menace at 4. Ruffcorn, perhaps a bit tired from the previous game, went in for the 9th with his team up by 5. He faltered and gave up 2 runs while getting just two outs. However, Bobby Munoz got the final out of the ballgame, a strikeout, and the Hogs won 9-6. Worrell got his first win of the season and improved to 1-3. Leskanic got his 4th hold and Munoz got his 2nd save.
The final game of this series tommorow pits Hogs ace Mike Hampton (6-3, 2.39) against Milwaukee's Joey Hamilton (4-5, 3.28). After that, in a series that seems almost unfair, Punxatawney plays against North Spokane.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Ryan Klesko has finally been overtaken for batting average lead on the Hogs. Rondell White, with his unbelievable June, has climbed to .375, .008 ahead of Klesko. He now has 15 homers and his 74 runs created make him almost as crucial to the offense as Klesko. Greg Myers is up .313 with 10 homers. In fact, the worst batting average for a starter is Scott Rolen's .294. Only he and Marty Cordova (.299) are below .300.
All of the starters have records over .500 now. They are a combined 31-17. And with the recent strong pitching from the bullpen, only Aguilera and Worrell have ERA's over 4.00.
TRADE RUMORS:
Nada, nothing, zilch, zero. The Hogs are quite content to be atop the entire PVBL and 2 1/2 games better than EL leading Brooklyn. Barring injury or a major losing skid, this will probably not change.
Written by Dan Shapiro