In the last game before the All-Star break, the Vero Beach Bums defeated
the Sacramento Knights 2-0. Vero Beach handed rookie phenom Frank
Callahan his first loss of the season.
The Bums scored once in the first and once in the ninth inning on just 5
hits and 2 walks. Vero Beach starting pitcher Willie Adams held the
Knights to only 6 hits and 2 walks in his eighth victory of the season. He
is now 5-1 since joining the Bums less than a month ago. Four of his 6
starts as a Bum have been quality starts.
"My season has really turned around," said Adams, a second-year player at
age 21. "Part of it is just being in new surroundings and playing for a
pennant contender, I guess."
Adams has not only benefited from run support, he's also kept Vero Beach
in every game he's pitched and improved virtually all of his statistics.
He has a 2.43 ERA as a Bum, lowering his overall ERA to 3.71 from 4.44.
In 40.2 innings in a Vero Beach uniform, he has given up only 31 hits, 11
runs and 11 walks, while striking out 43. After giving up 15 homers in
71 innings as a Sea Dog (1.901 HR/9 innings), Adams has given up just 3 as
a Bum (0.675 HR/9 innings).
Omar Vizquel opened today's game with a leadoff triple and scored on
All-star Rex Hudler's sacrifice fly. That was all the Bums needed to beat
Callahan, who has been awesome since being drafted by the Knights. "He's
already a great pitcher," said Hudler, "and I hate to see what he's going
to do to this division in the next 15 years. Maybe Jason can trade for
him," he grinned.
Brian Jordan scored an insurance run in the ninth inning on Joseph
Idstein's RBI single. Idstein came in to replace Chuck Carr, who started
the game at first base. "Wherever I can help the team, I'll play," said
Carr. With Ron Gant, Marquis Grissom, and Brian Jordan solid in the
outfield, Gregg Jefferies and Chuck Carr are struggling to find playing
time. "Chuckie's going to get the playing time for now because of his
production," said Vero Beach owner J. Lee Gohlke. "Gregg and Joseph are
important bench players, at this point, and if it works out for Chuck at
first base, he's got the job." Jeff King, Vero Beach's star first
baseman, went down with a season-ending injury earlier this month.
Gohlke also noted that Tony Fernandez has won himself a roster spot for
the rest of the season due to his good play backing up Omar Vizquel at
shortstop. "Tony will get some work when Rex and Omar need a break. Omar
is back 100% from that last injury, but I'm not going to risk another
one."
Gohlke is looking forward to being a bench coach in the first annual PVBL
All-Star Game for All-Star team manager and Ponxatawney owner Dan Shapiro.
"It's an honor that Dan asked me to sit in the dugout for the game, even
though Vero only has the third-best record in the DL. I'll be glad to
help him out in any way I can."
