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With another astounding day, the Punxatawney Groundhogs rolled over the Tampa Bay Mets 9-5 and 4-1 to improve their record to 54-23, a .701 winning percentage.Ê It was a bittersweet pair of wins however, as team leader and PVBL star Ryan Klesko pulled his ACL late in the first game and may have to sit out for a bit.Ê
It was late in the first game when Klesko, playing first base, attempted to catch a wide throw from second baseman Tony Batista.Ê His leg slipped back across the base and the incoming runner accidentally landed on the back of his ankle.Ê Batista's thrown went wide and Klesko was unable to get up right away.Ê With the Hogs already up 9-5, Klesko came out and let Wilton Guerrero finish the game.Ê
He was in too much pain to speak after the game, but friend and fellow player Jason Giambi had a comment on his behalf.Ê "Ryan certainly isn't feeling that well.Ê He can barely walk, but the doctors are saying its not too bad."
"He won't be going on the DL," said team owner Dan Shapiro, "but he will be taking some time off.Ê We're gonna let Giambi play first again for a while and Billy Ashley will get some time to DH.Ê Klesko will remain on the major league roster as he could still be a valuable bat off the bench when we need it."
The game overall was a "typical" Hogs game.Ê They piled up 9 runs by the bottom of the third.Ê Rondell White, the first Hogs batter of the game, homered to leadoff and then homered again later in the game.Ê In his last game of the month, he was 2-4 with 2 solo homers.Ê Marty Cordova also played a huge part in the offense with a 3-4, scored twice, and hit a solo drive of his own.Ê The other major contributor to the offense was 3B Scott Rolen.Ê He was 2-4 and drove in 3 with 2 homers.Ê However, the Hogs offense was very efficient, leaving just 3 men on base in the entire game.Ê
"We got the hits when we needed them," said winning pitcher Mike Hampton. It was lucky that they did because Hampton had a rough outing for the second straight game.Ê
He was strong through the first 4 frames, only giving up one run, but gave up 4 more in the 5th.Ê His error, along with a passed ball by Greg Myers, led to this rough inning.Ê However, all the runs were earned.Ê His line en route to his 7th victory was 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout.Ê
After 5 innings, the score was 9-6.Ê At that point both teams had gone to their bullpen.Ê Both bullpen's were phenomenal.Ê Rick Dickey relieved Roger Pavlik.Ê Pavlik took the loss, allowing 9 runs in 5 1/3 innings and is now 3-10.Ê Dickey, on the other hand, threw 2 strong inning, giving up just 1 hit and 1 walk.Ê Dan Plesac threw the last 2/3 of an inning, striking out both the guys he faced.Ê
For Punxatawney, Bobby Munoz and Sean Bergman threw 3 perfect innings (2 by Munoz), totaling 3 strikeouts.Ê They were able to hold the lead and get a win for Punxatawney.Ê However, as the Hogs sulked off the field with their leader on the bench in pain, they were not quite sure how to handle the game.
Klesko was actually able to play in the second game.Ê His ankle was obviously causing him serious pain but he really wanted to bat against ex-teammate Pete Schourek.Ê This game was more of a pitching duel with runs being scored in only 3 at-bats.Ê Tampa Bay scored first in the 4th on an unearned run resulting from an error on Hogs pitcher Bobby Thomas. However, the Groundhogs replied with 2 in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th to win 4-1.Ê
Once again, the youngsters led the offense.Ê Rondell White hit his third homerun of the day, and his first in the month of July.Ê White was 2-4, scored one, and drove in two.Ê Scott Rolen doubled twice and scored once. Tony Batista scored one run.Ê The other run came off a dramatic homerun by Ryan Klesko.Ê He caught up to a Schourek fastball and managed to drive it over the left field wall.Ê After limping around the bases, Klesko looked like he wouldn't be able to return.Ê However, he played the last few innings.Ê By the time the game was over, his ankle had tightened up so much he had to be helped into the clubhouse.Ê
This time it was Bobby Thomas who kept the Hogs in the game.Ê He gave up just 1 unearned run on 4 hits and 3 walks in his 6 2/3 innings.Ê He also struck out 8 as he won to improve his record to 7-2.Ê Sean Bergman threw the last 2 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout for his second save.Ê
Pete Schourek lost to fall to 6-7, but Jason Christiansen threw 2 scoreless innings in relief as a bright spot for the Mets.Ê Both bullpens were very effective today.Ê A total of 10 scoreless innings combined from the two teams.
Stats and stuff:
Rondell White finished his June as the Punxatawney Player of the Month. With 2 more homers on the final day, he also hopes to take home the title of the PVBL June POM.Ê
Ryan Klesko will not be in the starting lineup for the next few games, possibly as long as 2 weeks.Ê Punxatawney hopes to show that they can maintain their phenomenal pace during that time.
Written by Dan Shapiro