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Vero Beach is now again 1.5 games in front of rival Binghamton after beating them in the first two games in a weekend series.Ê The Bums beat the Mets 6-4 in the first game and 5-0 in the second.Ê The Mets and Bums face off again "tomorrow" in what has become a tense rivalry.
In the first game, the Bums decisively beat young hurler Mike Thompson. He proved he was all bark and no bite, giving up all of Vero's 6 runs in the first inning and being pulled after just 2 innings.Ê Thompson gave up home runs to Dave Hollins and Chuck Carr.Ê "We made him eat his words," said Hollins, who hit a grand slam. "The guy was a joke.Ê Candy from a baby?ÊÊ More like he's a candy-a... ah, never mind."Ê LF Ron Gant added through clenched teeth, "If you can't pitch, you should shut up."Ê While Thompson was pitching, catcher Tom Pagnozzi left the bench and jokingly placed an assortment of candies in Thompson's locker.Ê There was no official word on Thompson's reaction.
Vero Beach starting pitcher Kevin Ritz won his eighth game, going seven innings, striking out five, and giving up 3 runs in the sixth. Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman closed out the game, Wagner getting his fifth hold and Hoffman getting his league-leading 15th save, just 2 better than Eric Plunk.
In the second game, Vero Beach shut out Binghamton on the strength of Ismael Valdes' excellent start.Ê The 20-year-old went 7 and a third innings, giving up just 3 hits and 1 walk.Ê "I can't figure this guy out," said Vero Beach CEO J. Lee Gohlke.Ê "He's got an ERA above 5, but his walk-to-strikeout ratio is excellent.Ê You never know what's going to happen when he starts."Ê Billy Wagner and Bill Goldsmith again capably finished the game.
Vero Beach scored 5 runs off Binghamton pitching, including a 3-run fourth inning that knocked Mark Langston out of the game.Ê Dave Hollins hit only a 3-run homer in this game, scoring Marquis Grissom and Joseph Idstein. Ron Gant added a homer, his 16th of the year.
Vero Beach has a 39-21 division record compared to Binghamton's 39-26 division record.Ê "We're better than they are, that's all there is to it," stated closer Trevor Hoffman.Ê "It's close, but we match up well. Whatever happens, I expect to see both these teams in the playoffs.Ê My prediction?Ê They'll wear out Ponxatawney for us, but lose, so we can beat Ponxatawney and go to the Series."Ê Gohlke was quick to downplay Hoffman's comments.Ê "That was a rash prediction on Trevor's part," chuckled Gohlke. "These guys have a lot of confidence, and it's well-founded."
Written by Jason Gohlke