Hogs Increase Lead in Offensive Outburst August 8, 1998
Punxatawney, PA (AP), Last year, Punxatawney's pitching staff had a few stars, but were never one
of the best. A superior offense carried them to 105 wins. This year has
been the opposite with an excellent pitching staff carrying an average
offense. However, with a recent burst of offense against Picard rivals
Spokane and Duluth, they have expanded their lead back to 4 games, equalling
their largest margin of the season. They have finally reached 60 wins at a
far slower pace than last season.
Yesterday, Punxatawney splatted Spokane with two huge victories. Today the
final game went to Spokane by a 3-1 score as Spokane ace Juan Guzman beat
hurting Hog Rocky Coppinger, even though Coppinger had a solid outing. He
allowed 1 earned run in 6 innings. DH Jason Giambi accounted for the team's
only run with a solo homer in the 9th to break up the shutout.
However, Punxatawney then headed home to meet the Duluth Bjork. Their
greeting was anything but cordial, as Punxatawney erupted for 16 runs on 20
hits, 6 walks, and 2 Duluth errors while the Bjork staff didn't strike out
even once. However, only great Punxatawney defense, turning 3 double plays,
prevented the Bjork from scoring more than 5 runs as they also racked up 16
hits. The main difference was that Bergman and the Hogs relievers did not
walk anymore.
Jose Valentin was the offensive leader in this game just as he was in the
offensive outburst yesterday. Last year's MVP bolstered his chances to also
get this year's award with a 3-5 day, scoring 4 times while driving in 5.
He doubled and homered. Catcher Dan Wilson, who has struggled through a
tough season at the plate, went 4-5 with a homerun. In fact, every player
had at least one hit while Dave Martinez, Valentin, Ryan Klesko, Tony
Batista, Scott Rolen, Wilson all had two or more. Martinez also stole a
pair of bases and scored 3 times. Klesko also had 3 runs.
The pitching was obviously a bit more ugly for both sides. Although Sean
Bergman threw 4 scoreless innings, the 5th was far more shaky and Duluth
finally broke through with 5 runs to make the score 5-4, Duluth in the lead.
But a two run rally in the bottom of the inning put Punxatawney back ahead
for good, giving Bergman his 13th win of the season. Mike Hampton, Bobby
Munoz, and Scott Ruffcorn combined to throw the last four innings,
scattering 3 hits and not walking a batter. Bergman now leads the staff in
wins with a 13-3 record, ahead of Rocky Coppinger's 12-5.
Duluth's staff did not fare quite so well. Chris Gott started, but only
last two 2 innings, allowing 4 runs. But he did not get the loss. That
dishonor went to reliever Fernando Hernandez, who tossed 3 2/3 innings and
allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, and 10 hits while also walking three. Dino
Rigopolous and Sterling Hitchcock gave up 5 runs over the last 2 1/3
innings.
"Yeah, we were surprised," Valentin said, "but of course we don't mind.
Duluth has a great ballclub, but today we just hit everything they threw at
us. If we can keep this offense up, we think we can hold on to the
division."
Now with 54 games left in the season, about two months to go, Punxatawney
controls the Riker Division by 4 games over Springfield and 11 over Houston.
They have two games left with Duluth before they face Sacramento again.
After that, it won't be long before the Vero Beach Bums begin a series with
the Hogs, the first time the two have met since last year's LCS.
"We're going to beat them. We have to, its a matter of respect for
ourselves," Hogs GM Shapiro said. "They beat us last year because of
injuries. Now we are feeling healthy, and we think we can beat them in a
fair series."
Stats 'n Stuff:
The offensive production has boosted the Hogs offense quite a bit. The team
now has two .300 hitters. Jose Valentin is mounting another MVP campaign.
He currently has a .324 batting average, 19 homers, a team leading 66 RBI,
17 steals, 78 runs created--also leading the team. His OPS is an impressive
.919. Also, leadoff man Dave Martinez is now hitting .302. He also has 4
triples, 9 homers, and 19 steals--impressive for only 315 at bats due to
injuries.
Another two major contributors are 2B Tony Batista and 1B Ryan Klesko.
Batista is hitting .288, leading the team with 72 runs scored, 35 doubles,
18 homers, and 18 steals. Klesko, one of the premier DL hitters last year,
is now batting .287 with 23 homers and 61 RBI.
Dan Wilson has the lowest average of any starter, but his .224 average is a
solid improvement from the .210 mark he has hovered around all season. He
also has 14 homers. Only Scott Rolen and Jason Giambi are hitting below
.250 otherwise, and each of them are very close to the mark.
The pitching staff has suffered a bit with the high scoring games. Sean
Bergman's ERA is now back over 3 to 3.10, but his record is now 13-3. Rocky
Coppinger's miniscule ERA has climbed to 1.93 and is now 12-5. His
blistered finger is also now healthy.
A few other pitchers have made great improvements in the bullpen. Mike
Hampton's ERA is down to 4.79 and Scott Ruffcorn has brought his sky-high
ERA down to 6.43, considerably below what he's been at all season.
"It may not look good on paper, but I'm working hard. And with Bobby
[Munoz] pitching the best ball of his life, I guess I can kinda afford to
have some rough games," said Ruffcorn.
Munoz is having a career year with a 1.76 ERA, 13 holds, and a pair of
saves, sporting a .165 opposing average. He and Ricky Bottalico have been
the cornerstones of the bullpen this year.
"If all goes well, we'll still be ahead in two months. We think we can do
it, and its going to be a matter of games, I'm sure. Springfield is a solid
team. We just have to be a little more solid," Shapiro said.
