In five games since the last Hogs Press Release, much has happened in the
life of team owner Dan Shapiro.
However, he has managed to keep a watchful eye on the Hogs as they coast
into the All-Star break while
starting to perform commissioner duties for the newly forming Ace Virtual
Baseball Association. During
these five games, the Hogs have gone 3-2.
The July 8th contest featured the return of Ryan Klesko to the Hogs lineup
as well as pitcher Jon Lieber going
for his 9th win. It was also the first game against the relocated Calgary
North Hosers. In what was never
really a close game, the Groundhogs took a 5-1 lead after three and held off
the Hosers the rest of the way.
Klesko, as well as teammate Jason Giambi, went hitless. However, Marty
Cordova provided the bulk of the
offensive with a 3-4, 3 RBI game. He, Myers, and Rolen all homered.
"We're just happy Ryan is playing. He's still nursing the injury, give him
time," Giambi said after the game. "But
today you should talk to Marty--he was the spark today."
Cordova was rather modest about his game. "Just another game, guys. We all
have our days, today was mine. Its what I get paid to do."
Jon Lieber also "did his job" quite well in this game. Lieber tallied his
9th victory with 7 innings of 3 hit, 1 run
pitching. He walked none and struck out 4. Jon has been in the zone for a
few weeks now and has managed
to become a crucial part of the Hogs rotation. Though Bobby Munoz gave up 2
runs in relief, Tim Worrell
finished up to hold on to the win. Lieber is now 9-3 with a 3.35 ERA.
"I don't think anyone ever questioned my control. It was that I gave up too
many hits. Well, [pitching coach Mark] Fidrych talked about that for a bit
and he gave me a lot more confidence in my ability," Lieber boasted.
"I've had a number of offers for Jon, recently," said Shapiro. "Once I
considered them, but now I just turn them
away--Jon is not for trade."
The next game in the Calgary series was a painful, gutwrenching loss. In a
game that saw four lead changes,
the Hosers edged the Hogs 6-5 in 10 innings. The was not the worst part,
however. Two crucial relievers,
Sean Bergman and Curt Leskanic pulled tendons in their pitching arm and were
sent down to Roswell for
rehab two days later. This spoiled a fine pitching performance by Dustin
Hermanson who gave up 3 earned runs over 6 2/3.
"Whatever, I didn't get a win, who cares. The important thing is Curt and
Sean, not if we won or lost. Those
are my friends. Those are the guys I trust my game to without question. I
just hope they're both OK,"
Hermanson said.
Even in the loss, Punxatawney had two offensive stars. Greg Myers was 3-5,
scoring once, while Roberto
Kelly was 3-4 and drove in 3. Both he and leadoff hitter Rondell White
homered in the losing effort. The lost was charged to Bobby Munoz who
struggled for his 2nd straight game. He gave up a run in the top of the
10th
that the Hogs couldn't counter.
Ryan Klesko didn't collect a hit in this game either. However, his brief
hitless streak ended abruptly in the
next game of the series.
The July 10th game was a 9-3 easy win for the Hogs. The Hosers didn't score
after the 2nd innings while
Punxatawney piled up 9 runs, scoring 2 in the 1st and 3rd, then 4 in the 5th
to put the game away. Klesko
went 1-3 with a 2 run homer, his 33rd of the season. Scott Rolen and Greg
Myers also homered. Tony
Batista, John Valentin, and Jason Giambi all added multiple hit games to
support the offense.
Mike Hampton was the lucky benefactor of these runs. He had an average
outing, going 7 innings while giving
up 3 runs, all earned. This was good enough to give him his 9th win, though
it raised his ERA to 3.10.
Shapiro did make an interesting move in this game. He allowed injured Sean
Bergman and Curt Leskanic to
throw the 8th and 9th innings. Neither gave up a run, giving up just 1 hit
and striking out 2. When asked why
he risked aggravating the injuries, Shapiro answered, "I wanted to see what
they could still do. They both
surprised me, but some time in Roswell would still be best for both of
them."
After the game, the two left for rehab in Roswell and were both sure to
return soon. Meanwhile, Rocky
Coppinger, who had just arrived in the AAA city, was called back along with
Henry Neale. Coppinger was
overjoyed to come back to Punxatawney and get another chance to prove his
worth while Neale was making
a return to the majors after a long time in AAA. He was effective earlier
in the year, recording 1 win and 1 hold
in 6 innings with a 1.50 ERA.
Coppinger would get that chance the next day. Punxatawney was playing two
against the North Spokane
Titans. Bobby Thomas started the opener and had a poor outing, one of his
weaker ones this year. He left
after 4 innings haven given up 4 runs. Punxatawney still trailed after 6
1/2 by a score of 7-3, but they tallied
6 runs after the stretch to go ahead, and eventually win, 9-7.
Every Hog had a hit or run in this game but it was Ryan Klesko and Jason
Giambi who each had a homer and
drove in a total of 6 runs--Giambi's 4 coming on a grand slam--that led the
way. Roberto Kelly also hit one
out.
Bobby Thomas was relieved in the 5th by Rocky Coppinger with the Hogs losing
4-2. Coppinger gave up a
run in the 5th but Punxatawney kept pace. He then allowed 2 more runs--both
unearned in the 7th. But when
Punxatawney erupted for 6 runs in the bottom of the inning, Coppinger took
home the win. He threw a total
of 3 2/3 innings, giving up only 1 earned run (2 unearned). The win made
him 9-7 and tied him with Lieber
and Hampton for team lead in wins. Ricky Bottalico finished the 8th inning
for his 4th hold and Scott Ruffcorn
got his 6th save to finish up.
"Well, it ain't a save but its something," remarked Bottalico. "I'm just
glad to get some kind of decision, even
if its just a hold."
The nightcap of the doubleheader proved less fruitful for the Hogs. They
fell 5-4 as Scott Aldred struggled in
his Groundhog debut. Jose Valentin was 4-5 in this game but had just 1 run
and 2 RBI to show, hitting the
lone Groundhog home run. And the onslaught of triples continued--Greg Myers
became the second Hog to
hit a 3-bagger this year in this game.
Aldred's line was very shabby. 6 2/3 innings, 5 runs, on 10 hits, 4 walks,
and 6 K's. Scott Ruffcorn's 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief gave the
Hogs a chance to catch up but they couldn't hit the Titan relievers.
"One more before the break," said Shapiro. "I'm looking forward to managing
the DL team! But tommrow
Jon is going for his 10th win, trying to be the first Hog into
double-digits. It might help his chances of getting
selected if he wins so we're gonna concentrate on that first."
Stats 'n' Stuff
Ryan Klesko again leads the Hogs batting crown race. He is down to .353,
but that is ahead of Rondell White
who is at .350. Jose Valentin is creeping into the race at .342 currently.
Klesko now 34 homers and 99 RBI. He is hoping for 100 RBI by the break so
he'll need to drive one in on Monday.
Trade Winds
Punxatawney would really like to acquire a top-notch starting pitcher for
the stretch run and postseason. We
are offering prospects, basically. If anyone is looking for youngsters with
good potential, I can quite a few
and I'm hoping to get one more quality starter. I am willing to trade
Coppinger as well, if need be. If you
are looking to build for next year, let me know.
