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After being destroyed in the second half of a doubleheader against the Ponxatawny Groundhogs, the Sea Dogs could have been demoralized. But while they looked a little flat early on in Tuesday's game, they came roaring back with another big inning in their 12- series-winning victory.
However, it was the pitching that kept the Sea Dogs in this one. Washington starter Willie Adams looked shaky in the first inning, giving up back-to-back homers by Groundhog second baseman Tony Batista and shortstop John Valentin.
Adams settled down after that, retiring the side in the next two innings before allowing another homer in the top of the fourth, a monster shot to right by Jason Giambi. At the time, Ponxatawney starter Dustin Hermanson was shutting down the Sea Dogs, and with the score at 5-1, it looked like another Ponxatawney blowout was brewing.
However, Giambi took a long time circling the bases after his homer, and this seemed to fire up the dormant Sea Dogs. They came storming back in the top of the fifth with a nine-run inning that chased Hermanson.
The inning was punctuated by a long homer by Marquis Grissom's towering 3-run homer off of Dustin Hermanson that finally chased him from the ballgame. "Their pitcher just laid one out over the plate," said Grissom, "and I was lucky enough to hit it a long way."
The 5th inning explosion seemed to take the wind out of Ponxatawney's sails. After that inning, they were held scoreless until the ninth, when catcher Greg Myers knocked out the Groundhog's fourth homer of the day, but Scott Rolen struck out to end the game.
Manager Aaron Weiner had high praise for his pitching staff. "They gave up a lot of runs today," said Weiner, "but all of them came on the long ball. And the relief pitching was superb."
As for the series win against Ponxatawney, Weiner was absolutely thriled. "To go into Ponxatawney the way we did and pull out a series win, especially with the injury problems in the lineup...this is just an incredible victory for us. I couldn't be happier. Ponxatawney is a great team, but we were better today," Weiner said.
Jeff Conine and Jose Offerman continued their hot hitting, as Conine and Offerman knocked out their fourth homers apiece in the last week. Said Conine, "I've never been seeing the ball this well. I've just been hitting against everybody."
Weiner was also very exultant of Conine, who has raised his average over 20 points since Ripken's injury. "Jeff's been trying to fill the void left by Cal," said Weiner, "and he couldn't have done a better job. He's just been great."
The Sea Dogs play host next to the Spokane Titans for a three-game series, that features the league's best hitter, Mark McGwire, and the league's second-worst pitching staff. McGwire, with a .459 average, 33 homers and 76 RBI in just 51 games is a big reason why the Paladins have a 29-22 record.
"The Titans series should be fun for the fans," said second baseman Chuck Knoblauch. "They've already hit 90 homers, so it should be a high-scoring series."
Notes and Quotes:
GM Aaron Weiner has been very pleased with the team's performance of late. "We're drifting since the injury (to Cal Ripken)," said Weiner, "but we just took a series from the best team in the PVBL. What more could you ask for?"
Weiner also noted that Johnny Damon should be called up in time for the Spokane series this weekend. "We really need his bat in our lineup," said Weiner. "We're happy to have him, and though he cost us Curly Karkovice, he's only 20 years old and already set to be a valuable piece in our lineup."
However, the GM did note that he was still looking for a shortstop to play in place of Cal Ripken. "Jose (Offerman) has done an admirable job filling in for Cal so far," Weiner said. "But OFferman's defense at shortstop is what made him a first baseman. We'd like to deal for a better fielding shortstop, and though we'd like one that could hit, too, it's not a necessity."
The Sea Dogs indicated that they would be willing to give up Vada Speer, Derrick May or perhaps even Rico Brogna to get a shortstop. Topping the Sea Dogs' wish list are veterans Rafael Belliard of the Austin Tornadoes and Curtis Wilkerson of the Brooklyn Flaming Skulls, along with youngster Pokey Reese of the Larimer Knights.
Written by Aaron Weiner