Punxatawney, PA (AP)--With a heroic pitching performance from Tim Worrell, the Punxatawney
Groundhogs came back to beat the Duluth Bjork by a 8-5 score and with the
help of a Vero Beach shutout win over the Springfield Atoms, expanded their
lead to its widest margin all season at 5 games. Worrell threw all 9
innings, even through two rain delays, for his 3rd win of the season and 2nd
as a starting pitcher.
The ballgame started out looking rather grim for the Groundhogs as Duluth
scored three times in the first inning and then twice more in the third
inning. Trailing 5-0 after 3 1/3 innings, Shapiro got word that the Bums
were humiliating the Atoms with a 6-0 lead. He gathered his team together,
and reportedly told them, "We have a chance to get another game on
Springfield. These games are important. Now, c'mon guys. Go out there and
play with we want that lead, not like we're content with what we have now."
In the fourth inning, the Punxatawney rally began. They scored twice in the
4th, and once more in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. Coming into the bottom
of the 8th, the score was locked at 5 and Tim Worrell had thrown 5 scoreless
frames after his shaky start to hold the Bjork.
Sterling Hitchcock was on the mound, and after a walk and a few hits, star
of the game Tony Batista roped the ball off the right-center field wall to
drive in a pair of runs, and he later scored the 8th and final run when
Roberto Kelly doubled him in. Geronimo Bogle recorded the last out,
allowing one run.
Punxatawney led 8-5 heading into the final frame, and had Ricky Bottalico
warm in the bullpen, ready to come in. However, Shapiro made a somewhat
controversial decision and left Worrell in to pitch.
"He was almost unhittable after the 3rd, and I figured he could keep them
guessing for 1 more inning," Shapiro said.
Worrell was up to the task, retiring Luis Gonzalez, Mark Newfield, and Jeff
Kent in order to close the game out and give the Hogs an 8-5 win.
"To be honest, I was kinda worried about Tim," said Mark Fidyrich, team
pitching coach. "But he got the job done. I don't think he'll be up to
throwing at all for a few days."
"I told him to give me the ball, I had enough left," Worrell said. "I think
I proved that."
With the victory, Worrell moved to 3-2 on the year and threw just the 5th
complete game by a Hogs pitcher. His ERA is bit high, at 4.42, but Shapiro
intends to keep looking at him as a starter. He certainly showed that he
has the endurance today, throwing 164 pitches.
While Worrell was the dominator on the mound, the offense leader was clearly
2B Tony Batista. He went 2-3 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, 2 walks, a double, and a
homerun. Scott Rolen had a pair of doubles, but did not score or drive in a
run.
"This has been a great season all around," Batista said. "After that early
season slump, I've really been hitting the ball well. But I need to keep it
up, our offense always can use a boost."
Sacramento is coming into Punxatawney next while Binghamton faces the Atoms.
Shortly after, Vero Beach and Punxatawney will meet up in a crucial series
of games for the Groundhogs. If Punxatawney survives that with a good lead,
the last month, in which they'll play exclusively in the division, will be a
bit easier to survive.
Stats 'n Stuff
Batista's hot day at the plate bumped his average up to .288. He has 19
homers and 75 runs, and is behind only Jose Valentin in runs created on the
team.
