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The Vero Beach Bums, leaders of the Picard Division, beat the Data Division-leading Phoenix Gila Monsters 5-3 today, in the teams' first-ever meeting. All five of Vero Beach's runs came in the 6th inning against starter Glendon Rusch, who took his fifth loss. Dennis Springer won his first game, in relief of Ismael Valdes, but will be out for at least a week with a triceps injury.
Phoenix led the game early, scoring three runs in the fourth inning, but couldn't score again against five Vero Beach pitchers. Mark Guthrie, Kent Bottenfield, Billy Wagner, and Trevor Hoffman demonstrated how they earned their bullpen jobs, giving up no hits or walks in the last 2 2/3 innings. Hoffman picked up his DL-leading 10th save.
Phoenix held the top five of Vero's lineup hitless -- but gave up a combined six walks to those hitters. (Marquis Grissom, Rex Hudler, and Jeff King are 1-2-3 in the league in walks.) Combine that with Chuck Carr's 3-4 game and Gregg Jefferies' 2 hits, and Vero had enough to beat Phoenix's fifth starter.
Carr has had a monster month so far, increasing his batting average 45 points in just 16 games. He's hit at a .443 clip in June to raise his season average to .335, sixth on the team. He's also contributed with 13 RBI and 18 runs in those 16 games. So far, he's a strong candidate for June player of the month. "I don't know what's gotten into me... June in Vero Beach is just beautiful, I guess," stated Carr. "It's nice to get out of the humidity this week, though."
New acquisition Marquis Grissom entered the game in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement for Carr.
Kurt Hardie, just off the disabled list, is expected to start tomorrow for Vero Beach. He will face Phoenix ace Shane Reynolds, who is having a brilliant year and is undefeated so far.
Written by Jason Gohlke