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After dropping the first game of the series, the Vero Beach Bums won 18-4 in another offensive show against the Sacramento Knights. Vero handed John Hayes, former Bum, his first loss of the season.
A bigger story, however, was that regular DH Ron Gant, who is having a terrific season, suffered a fractured jaw in a freak accident. On an apparently routine base hit in the seventh inning, he collided with Knights first baseman Joe Vitiello as he reached first base. Vitiello was returning to the bag, anticipating a throw from the outfield. Instead, Gant, who had too much momentum to stop, collided with Vitiello. Ellsworth Park in Vero Beach suddenly became silent as Gant was taken off the field on a stretcher, having been knocked unconscious. Gant, among the league leaders in RBI and hits, is not expected to be placed on the DL. He was fitted with an orthopedic brace on his jaw after leaving the game on a stretcher and is listed as day-to-day. Teammate Ernie Young said after the game, "That had to hurt. I don't understand why it happened. Neither of them were looking where they were going. I got a chance to play against my former teammates, but you hate to see anyone get hurt like that." Gant ended the day with a 2 for 3 game and 3 RBI, including one on the fateful single. Vitiello ended up with a bruised tibia.
"Another injury, just what we need," sighed Vero CEO J. Lee Gohlke. "Gant is a huge player and I'd hate to lose him. I'll sit him out a day or two, but he'll probably be back in the lineup against Spokane." Al Pechous and Larry Gulden will get some work in Gant's place.
A huge contributor in Vero's win was second baseman Rex Hudler, who hit 2 homers and stole 2 bases in a 3-for-5 effort. Gregg Jefferies went 5 for 6, including a double, against his former team. "No, I don't have any particular grudge against them [the Knights]," stated Jefferies. "We just had another good day at the plate, all the way down the order." Also, Brian Jordan went 4 for 5 and batted in 3 runs.
Kevin Ritz had a decent start, scattering all four Sacramento runs throughout his 6 innings. He left the game with a secure 12-4 lead. Billy Wagner, Mark Guthrie, and Dennis Springer again closed out the game, holding the Knights to just 3 hits and no runs in the last 3 innings.
This is the fourth time this week Vero Beach has scored 18 or more runs.
Written by Jason Gohlke