|
|
The Bums' 15 runs on 15 hits combined with a quality first start from Kurt Hardie led to a 15-2 win against division leader Spokane. The winning pitcher Hardie scattered 6 hits in 6 innings, giving up no runs and striking out 4. "It's great to be a Bum, even if the team nickname is kind of stupid," said Hardie. "I'm just glad to finally get a chance to pitch again."
Earlier in the season, Hardie was acquired along with reliever Chris Hammond in a trade with Brooklyn for Todd Worrell and Brian Boehringer. Since then, Hammond has been very reliable in the bullpen for the Bums, and Boehringer promptly went on the injured list for the Flaming Skulls. Worrell, meanwhile, has a combined 0-3 record and 9.31 ERA. "I felt bad for Ryan [George, Brooklyn owner/GM] when Boehringer got injured so soon after being traded," said J. Lee Gohlke, Vero Beach owner/GM/manager/water boy. "His pitching staff is much deeper than mine, though, so I can't feel too bad." Brooklyn and Vero Beach have identical 12-9 records.
In the victory over Spokane, Vero Beach continued its pattern of having a huge offensive game one day and a terrible one the next. This time it was the former; every Vero Beach player had at least one hit. Jeff King was again the star of the show, going 1 for 4 with 4 RBIs and two walks. LF Ron Gant contributed 3 hits and 3 RBI with 2 walks. Dave Hollins also had 3 RBIs batting in the number seven spot. "These guys, when they get their offense in gear, are practically unstoppable. This is a great sign for the rest of the season," said Gohlke. 2B Rex Hudler, who scored 3 times on 2 doubles (to put him into the league lead with 11 doubles, tied with LA's George Milligan), agreed. "It's great to be surrounded by so many good hitters. We seem to have a great team chemistry that I can't explain."
With the addition of Hardie to the rotation, along with the impending activation of Kevin Ritz from the DL, things are looking up for the Vero Beach Bums. Ritz is still on the leaderboard in four categories and is anxious to get back into the rotation. "I don't know why J. Lee put me on the DL in the first place. It was only a day-to-day injury. He could have just taken me out of the rotation for a start or two. It seems like the mistake of a new owner, but who am I to say? He seems to have made the right decisions since then," opined Ritz.
Written by Jason Gohlke