Montreal (AP)- The Hartford Whalers split a double-header with the Montreal
Royals on the road today. Hartford is still 1.5 games up on second-place
Edmonton. Archrival Deadwood is currently 3 games out and in last place.
Hartford won Game 1 despite another poor pitching performance by RHP Carlos
Castillo (4ER, 5IP, 8H, 3BB). Mimbs picked up the win in relief and Tim
Wakefield recorded his first save on the year. Hartfod lost Game 2, despite a
6-run 7th inning surge. Rookie reliever Will Cunnane took the loss after
allowing 2 earned runs in an inning and a third.
Castillo's performance prompted Manager Chrabascz to make and announce an
immediate change, "(Cal) Eldred will be assuming the 4th spot in the rotation
and (Carlos) Castillo will be in the pen for long relief duties from now on."
When asked what prompted the change, Chrabascz said simply, "We didn't like
what we saw with Carlos right now and I decided to have Cal put his money where
his mouth is (referring to Eldred's public complaints with being used only in
relief)." Eldred simply responded with, "I welcome the challenge."
Meanwhile, back in Connecticut, AAA Glastonbury signed 4 players to minor
league contracts for the season and set their starting lineup:
1B Red Cieslak, 2B Billy Ripken, SS Tommy Cantwell*, 3B Chris Sabo, C Billy
Lesley, LF Derrick May, CF Billy Hatcher, RF Chris Jones and DH John Wehner.
Pitching rotation: John Burke, Brian Boehringer, Mark Brandenburg, Rich
Huisman, Scott Brenzel and Jake Ruberto as reliever/closer.
Meanwhile, down in Double A Framingham (MA), the Red Sox signed pitchers Billy
Dietzel and Mike Mohler to minor league deals. Only 3 players are currently on
the Double A (LOW) roster and the other is rookie RHP Kevin Millwood.
