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With two more victories in the Friday doubleheader, the Punxatawney Groundhogs got another series sweep under their belt.Ê Although the Titans came in to town as the league's worst ballclub and didn't improve at all over the games, they nearly beat one of the league's premiere closers in today's first game and had a lead early in the second game as well.Ê North Spokane showed signs that perhaps they aren't quite as bad as everyone expected.Ê
The first game was certainly the more interesting of the two.Ê Punxatawney carried a 3-1 lead into the 9th inning and handed the ball to ace closer Ricky Bottalico.Ê Perhaps he was a bit tired from pitching an inning in the two previous games, but Bottalico simply didn't have it.Ê He gave up two runs in the top of the 9th and the Titans tied the game at 3.Ê After Punxatawney couldn't score in the bottom of the inning, the game went into extra frames.Ê Bottalico proceeded to give up 4 more runs in the 10th and the Groundhogs were behind 7-3 with any hope of a win dwindling.Ê
"I don't want to talk about," was all the closer had to say after the game. "What's the point of Shapiro throwing me out there in games where I can't even get a save and then putting me out today after throwing the last two days.Ê Of course my stuff isn't going to be my best."Ê
Bottalico was visibly shaken after watching his ERA skyrocket to 3.78 after he had kept it below 2.00 for most of the year.Ê However, he sat in the dugout and watched the bottom of the 10th rather than run into the showers. It was lucky he did because if not he would have missed one hell of a show.Ê
Carlos Perez began the 10th inning but was thrashed for 4 runs on 2 hits, and 2 walks.Ê He had thrown the 9th inning as well and had no trouble there.Ê When he was pulled for Anthony Wilson, only one run was in but the bases were loaded.Ê Wilson then walked 3 guys while getting one out.Ê Then, with the bases loaded and one out, Wilson walked Jason Giambi to force in the winning run.Ê He stalked off the mound and threw his glove into the Titan dugout in disgust.Ê The Hogs, meanwhile, celebrated a miracle 8-7 win.Ê Keep in mind the score was 3-1 going into the 9th and 11 runs were scored in the next 2 innings alone.Ê
The late game hitting ruined a fine pitching day by both starters.Ê Jon Lieber had one of his best games of the year for Punxatawney, giving up just 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run while striking out 4 over 7 inning.Ê Curt Leskanic threw a scoreless inning of relief for his 6th hold.Ê Bottalico got the win (though he certainly didn't deserve it) to boost his record to 2-0.Ê
Charles Nagy was the Titan starter.Ê He only gave up 4 hits and walked none over 8 innings.Ê He gave up 3 runs and struck out 8.Ê However, Carlos Perez gave up 4 runs in 1 inning of work and Anthony Wilson gave up the final run for the loss as his record dropped to 1-1.Ê The best hitter of the game came from the Titans.Ê Mike Piazza had an excellent 2-4, 2 home run, 4 RBI performance.Ê Frank Thomas also homered and Melvin Nieves was 3-4.Ê
The key to this game for Punxatawney was the strength of the 9th hitting, rookie 3B Scott Rolen.Ê Rolen went 2-4, homered, stole a base, scored twice, and drove in 4.Ê
"The guys have taught me a ton this year.Ê I'm lucky to have such great teammates.Ê It always seems like I count on them for the hitting.Ê Well, today I got to give back and help them out," said a jubilant Rolen after the game.
Ryan Klesko homered once again in this contest, giving him homers in each of the last three games.Ê "I don't deserve credit for this one--Scottie [Rolen] and Jon [Lieber] do. Scottie drove in half our runs and Jon threw his heart out.Ê I just hit one pitch over the fence."
The second game had its ups and downs, but ended up with one major disappointment for the Hogs.Ê Dustin Hermanson, who started the game for Punxatawney, lasted just 2/3 of inning for his second start in a row, giving up 5 runs.Ê
"Dustin and I talked after the game.Ê We both agreed that he isn't helping the team right now.Ê Rick Aguilera will be pitching in the 5th spot for the next two or three times around the rotation and based on what Rick does, we'll decide where Dustin should go," Punxatawney Owner/Manager Dan Shapiro said.
However, the Hogs will to fight back was not to be denied.Ê They scored twice in the bottom of the first, twice more in the second, and took the lead for good with a 5-run fourth to go 9-5.Ê They would tack on 3 more, give up 1, and win 12-6.Ê In this game, the offense was a major factor, as was the apparent strength of the Hogs bullpen.Ê Tony Batista, Jose Valentin, and Marty Cordova (who all came to the Groundhogs around the same time and are very comfortable now) all had 3 hits in the game, leading the offense.Ê Batista was 3-4 and scored 4 times, stealing a base.Ê Cordova was 3-5, doubled, homered, and drove in 4.Ê Valentin was the offensive star with a 3-4, 4 run, 2 RBI, 2B, HR performance.Ê
Valentin spoke on behalf of the trio.Ê "Yeah, we love it here.Ê We're winning, we're hitting, and we're having fun.Ê Today we just all played well at the same time I guess."
Slugger Klesko had another strong game, contributing a 2-5, 3 RBI game.Ê He was matched, more or less, by North Spokane's big bat of Mike Piazza. Piazza went 3-5 and drove in two with his third home run of the day. Melvin Nieves also homered, going 2-4.
Neither starting pitcher got a decision in this game.Ê North Spokane starter Carlos Castillo lasted only 3 innings while giving up 7 hits and 4 runs.Ê The loss went to Scott Karl as he dropped to an ugly 0-12 on the year.Ê Karl got only one out and gave up 3 runs.Ê Carlos Perez gave up another 5 runs in the next 2 2/3 innings before Grady Norris relieved him in the 7th.Ê Norris threw 2 scoreless innings but the Titans couldn't battle back against the Hogs bullpen.
Although Hermanson got shelled for 5 runs in the first 2/3 on an inning, Tim Worrell had total control and gave perhaps the best long relief performance of the year.Ê He tossed 5 1/3 innings, gave up only 6 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run while getting 3 K's.Ê This got him the win, making his record 2-3.Ê Sean Bergman threw the 7th and 8th, giving up just one hit. Bobby Munoz threw a perfect 9th to close it out, giving the Hogs their 52nd win.
"I was, dare I say, en fuego, today," Worrell joked after the game. "Dustin has really struggled this month.Ê But we told him that we weren't going to lose, even down 5-0 in the first.Ê And I think he knew that we'd somehow pull it out just like we did in the first game."
Still, Hermanson will be assuming the role of long reliever for the next few weeks while Aguilera gets a chance at the 5th spot.Ê Even if Aguilera wins the job, it will not mean the end of Dustin's starting chances.Ê Rocky Coppinger may also get some time in the pen and that would give Hermanson a chance to start again.Ê
Stats and Stuff:
Rondell White has been making a strong bid for June POM.Ê Here are his current June stats, missing possibly one or two days (so no, John, you can't just use these numbers, I'm missing at least one, maybe two days from June)Ê
45-108, 22 R, 29 RBI, 2 2B, 10 HR, 7 BB, 2 HBP, 7 SB
In other words, batting average of .417, slugging percentage of .713, a rough on base percentage of .462 (the real might be higher) for a monthly OPS of 1.175.Ê And he's my leadoff hitter.Ê
OPS STATS HERE:
Here are the Punxatawney team OPS stats.Ê
CÊ Greg Myers .830, 1B Ryan KleskoÊÊ 1.161, 2B Tony Batista .808, SS Jose Valentin 1.006, 3B Scott Rolen .836, LF Marty Cordova .812, CF Rondell White .981, RF Roberto Kelly .922, DH Jason Giambi .983
And some of my bench guys with more than 8 at bats:
Wilton Guerrero .560, Roy McPheeters .997, Jorge Fabregas .547
I intend on doing a full scale, position by position OPS study tommorow. This may or may not happen, but I intend to nevertheless.
And finally, in response to Binghamton's Press Release today, Shapiro read a prepared statement:
"Jason Garnar, owner of Binghamton--your brash statement that your team is the best in the PVBL was taken with a grain of salt here in Punxatawney and I'm sure in Brooklyn as well.Ê Granted, you have been a contender in your division all the way through but you've not yet faced us.Ê We look forward to a series between our teams so we can discover if you can actually walk the walk as well as you talk the talk."
Written by Dan Shapiro