Groundhogs Start Sophomore Season With a Win April 8, 1998
Punxatawney (AP)--Playing their first game officially as the Punxatawney
Groundhogs (rather than Ponxatawney), last year's Riker Division champ
rolled over the Springfield Atoms 11-4 even though they only scored in two
innings.
Starting this season with a home game, the Hogs easily sold all 57,684
tickets and filled their stadium with rowdy Groundhog fans, still angry
about last season's anti-climatic finish. Fortunately for stadium security,
the Hogs picked up where they left off at the end of the last regular
season.
After a first pitch thrown by retired ex-Phillie John Kruk, Jon Lieber led
the Hogs onto the field for the start of season two. This is a very
different group from the team that trotted out for that first game ever.
Only Scott Rolen, Jason Giambi, Ryan Klesko, and Roberto Kelly started last
year and this year.
Lieber was in his top form in the first inning, quickly retiring the Atoms.
The bottom of the first was similar to many first innings last year. With a
rapid burst of offense from the top of the order, Punxatawney found
themselves up 4-0 after 1. However, Springfield fought back and Jon Lieber
left after only 5 innings having given up 4 runs--but only 2 earned.
With the game still tied at 4 in the 8th, Shigetoshi Hasegawa came in to
relieve Atoms starter Joey Hamilton. This turned out to be quite a mistake.
Hasegawa gave up 7 runs in just 1 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Bobby Munoz,
Scott Ruffcorn, and Ricky Bottalico combined to throw the last 4 innings,
allowing no runs, 2 hits, and 1 walk while striking out two (both by
Ruffcorn).
In the end, Punxatawney was victorious by a score of 11-4. Scott Ruffcorn
took the win while Bobby Munoz got his first hold.
"I wasn't totally on today," said Hogs starter Jon Lieber. "I got a lot of
strikeouts but I was overthrowing and walked two in just 5 innings. But my
boys in the bullpen were great as always."
The bullpen gave the Groundhogs offense many chances to win the game--and in
the 8th they simply exploded. This was led by the top of the order.
Batista, Cordova, Valentin, and Klesko combined for a 9-20 day, totaling 7
runs and 7 RBI. Klesko, a contender for last year's MVP (won by Valentin)
again began his hitting onslaught. Klesko went 2-5, drove in 3, and had
both a homer and a double.
"Its pretty simple. They have to pitch to me. If they pass me up, they
face Jason. If they pass him up, you have Luis, and then Rick and then
Scottie and then Roberto--and then you are back at the top of the order.
You can't pitch around anyone on this team," said Klesko.
Roberto Kelly also had a big day at the plate, going 2-3 with 2 RBI and a
double out of the 9th spot in the order. Rick Wilkins had an average day,
getting a single in 3 at bats. But Luis Gonzalez had a horrid debut, going
0-3 with 3 strikeouts and a hit by pitch.
"That bastard Hasegawa threw at me. He better hope I don't find him after
the game," an angry Gonzalez screamed after the game in a clubhouse
interview.
"I still don't know what to do with Luis. He doesn't fit this team. He's a
head case and I've already had more than 1 player ask me to get him traded.
For now, he makes a lot of sense for the team because he's a pure athlete,"
said Shapiro.
Tomorrow's game will feature Rocky Coppinger, who has been rumored to have
really improved over the offseason, in his first start since a late season
injury. He will face Ken Hill.
"We intend to finish this series still undefeated. Its only a 2 game set,
but we want to go into Houston 2-0 for our first fight against those
cheaters...erm, I mean Hellraisers," noted Shapiro with a smirk.
"Coach [Shapiro] seemed really happy today," said team captain Klesko. "Not
sure why. He came into the clubhouse in a great mood and suddenly we
weren't even nervous about this season anymore...we just wanted to play
baseball."
