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Not once, but twice, the Vero Beach Bums blew out the division-leading Spokane Paladins to close out May with a bang. In the series opener, Spokane fell 23-4. Similarly, in the second game, Vero Beach triumphed 20-6.
These two wins come on the heels of about two weeks worth of inconsistent play for the Bums. Luckily for them, Spokane hasn't been doing much better.
In the opener, Vero Beach had 25 hits, including 4 home runs, scored 23 times but still left 13 men on base. They jumped out to a 4-0 lead against lefty starter Al Leiter, who was pulled after the first inning. After that, it only got worse. Darren Oliver and Bill Pulsipher, both left-handers, combined to give up 19 runs in ugly relief appearances, and Alan Mills had a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning in garbage time.
The second game was almost a mirror image of the first. Vero scored 20 runs on, once again, 25 hits, this time with 12 men left on base. They scored 5 runs in the first inning against starter Mark Clark, who was kept in a bit longer than Leiter had been. After Clark gave up 3 more runs (including one unearned), Ariel Prieto finished the fifth and sixth innings without giving up a hit. However, with the score at 9-5, Prieto was pulled in favor of Bill Moore, who proceeded to give up 11 runs in 2 and 2/3 innings.
"Not to second-guess Spokane, but, well, I'm glad they put in Moore," said catcher Tom Pagnozzi, who chipped in with 6 hits and 8 RBI in the two games. "That really allowed us to put the game away for good."
"This team has to be the best in baseball against left-handed pitching," crowed J. Lee Gohlke, Vero CEO. "Too bad we can't be more consistent and save some of these runs for the close games. I'm particularly pleased that we beat them just as bad in the second game, considering that all their pitchers were right-handed. We're only a game out of first place now and I couldn't be happier with these guys. These were two clutch games to win, and it only gives us more momentum for the rest of the season." Gohlke indicated that he is now quite satisfied with his lineup the way it stands, and despite its weakness against right-handed pitching, won't be looking to trade unless something drastic occurs.
"Again, it's an example of our team's 'feast-or-famine' syndrome," claimed 2B Rex Hudler, who collected 4 hits and 2 stolen bases in the two games. "I can't believe that one team can score 20-plus runs two days in a row, but some days can't score a run in 12 innings."
DH Ron Gant quickly returned to his productive ways, with 3 home runs, 11 RBI, and a .500 average in the two games. Jeff King contributed with 8 hits in 13 tries. Omar Vizquel improved both his HR and SB numbers, in his quest for a 30-30 year.
Vero Beach starting pitching didn't have nearly as productive outings as did the offense, but they did more than enough to win. Ismael Valdes got the win in the first game, striking out 9 and giving up 3 runs in 6 innings. Shawn Estes gave up five runs in seven innings for the win in game 2.
The bullpen was effective, however; six relievers combined in both games to give up only 2 runs in 5 innings. Mark Guthrie and Dennis Springer made their first appearances in the second game. Gohlke brought in these two experienced free-agents to try to bolster the bullpen, sending Randy Veres and utility 3B Joe Fitzke to AAA.
Written by Jason Gohlke