Whalers split against division leader July 26, 1998
Edmonton (AP)- The Hartford Whalers continued their mediocrity.
They split a double header today against the division leading Edmonton Oil
King, thus gaining no ground. The Whalers exploded in Game 1, hanging on to
win 11-7. Cal Eldred (1-3) picked up the win in relief of struggling Ken Hill.
Hill lasted only 4 1/3, allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits and a walk. Eldred
allowed just one earned run on 3 hits in 3 2/3 for the win (Roy Hoffman held
with a near-perfect bottom of the 9th). Jason Kendall, Brian McRae, Mark
Whiten, Socks Byrne and Julio Franco all had multi-hit performances. Kendall
went 5 for 6 while McRae, Whiten and Franco each had 3 hits. The Whalers
embarassed Edmonton catcher Todd Hundley, stealing 5 bases off of him each by a
different Whaler. Game 2 was an entirely different story, however. Hartford
appeared to have run out of gas in its 7-1 loss. Only Matt Williams' 4th
inning homer provided hope for the Whale in Game 2. Lefty starter Mike Mimbs,
coming off of rehab, lasted only 2/3 of an inning. Reliever Brian Boehringer
faired no better, allowing 6 runs (5 of them earned) over 7 1/3 innings of
work. Former Whaler Kenny Rogers started for the Oil Kings but was pulled
after struggling through the 4th inning. Mike Fetters (3-1) picked up the win
for Edmonton in relief. Fetters pitched a solid 3 1/3 innings, allowing only 1
hit and no runs. The only bright spot for Hartford in Game 2, other than
Williams' 4th inning solo blast off of Rogers, was DH Joe Carter going 3 for 4.
The Whalers neither lost nor gained any ground in the race for the division and
remain 8 games back of Edmonton in last place.
