Groundhogs Already Over the Hill and Past the Bums August 26, 1998
Punxatawney, PA (AP) - Without Ryan Klesko, the Punxatawney offense isn't able to blow out the
opposition. In fact, since his injury they have struggled to win
consistently. However, with the Vero Beach Bums in town and team pride at
stake, the Punxatawney offense was able to score just enough to win as they
edged the Bums 3-2, blowing a 9th inning lead but scoring to win the game in
the bottom of the last inning.
For 5 1/2 innings of this game, neither team was able to score at all as
Ismael Valdes and Jon Lieber, two of the better DL pitchers, faced off, each
totally shutting down the opposition. However, Punxatawney finally broke
through with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th. Roberto Kelly rifled a single
to right and then watched Marty Cordova pound a high Valdes fastball over
the centerfield wall to put the Hogs up 2-0.
"I like hitting 3rd, but this year I haven't gotten many chances to bat
there. As long as Ryan [Klesko] is hurting, I'll be happy to bat there,"
Cordova said.
It appeared they would be able to maintain this lead as Bobby Munoz relieved
Jon Lieber after 7 scoreless innings and threw a perfect 8th inning for his
15th hold. Shapiro handed the ball to Ricky Bottalico and gave him a shot
at the save.
Bottalico struggled in the 9th, however. Omar Vizquel opened the 9th by
greeting Bottalico with a double to right, moving to 3rd when Marquis
Grissom grounded out to second. Rex Hudler was then walked intentionally to
set up the double play. Brian Jordan then came up with first and third and
hit a deep flyout to right, scoring Vizquel. Shapiro then elected to bring
in Scott Ruffcorn to try and finish the inning.
"I told him I was sorry, but he said not to worry," Bottalico said after the
game. "Shapiro told me the rest of the team would pick me up."
But that Punxatawney lead ended there as Jeff King crushed a ball deep into
the right-center gap and raced around to third for a RBI triple to tie the
game. Ruffcorn walked all-star Ron Gant intentionally, and then had to deal
with Dave Hollins, watching the go-ahead run sitting just 90 feet away.
Scott gave it his all and fired a 97 MPH fastball past Hollins for strike 3.
Both runs were charged to Bottalico.
Scott Rolen led off the final inning by walking, the only walk Valdes
allowed all day. It turned out to cost him the game, as Dan Wilson hit a
slow grounder to 3rd that allowed Rolen to move up to second. With Rolen on
second, DH Robin Jennings became the hero of the day as he pounded a single
back up the middle and Rolen easily beat the throw home to give Punxatawney
a 3-2 victory.
"I'm doing what I can for the team. Today they needed me to get the big
hit. I can do that. I'm just hoping for more of a full-time job here next
season," said Jennings.
Ruffcorn got the win, improving his record to 4-8. But Jon Lieber had a
great outing in the losing effort, giving up just 4 hits and walking none
over 7 innings. Ismael Valdes threw a complete game in the losing effort,
giving up 10 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs over 8 1/3 innings. His record
dropped to 12-4. Lieber's ERA is down to 2.41 over 97 innings of workin
which he has walked just 9 batters.
After the game was over, team GM Dan Shapiro was on the phone with Tucson
Border Patrol GM, talking trade.
"Well, as everyone knows, Ken Hill has been on the block since he arrived
here. We think Ken is a great guy, and while he could really help us, we
realized that he would be able to bring us a great prospect," said Shapiro.
Hill, recently acquired in a trade with Hartford in exchange for 1B Allan
Rochefort, P Steve Tsamis, and Punxatawney's first pick in the FA draft, had
been offered on by Edmonton, Deadwood, Medina, and Tucson. But Deadwood
decided not to match the offers by some of the other teams, as did Medina.
A deal seemed imminent with Edmonton, but they elected to trade for Pete
Harnisch instead. This left just Tucson, and after a quick negotiation,
Punxatawney elected to send Hill over to the Border Patrol in exchange for
Mathias Lund, one of the top prospects in baseball.
"I knew my days here were limited, but Shapiro told me I wasn't going
anywhere that didn't have a shot at the playofs. And now that I'm back in
the EL, maybe I can get a start or two against the Whale," Hill said.
Lund was elated to hear the news, especially when he found out he would be
put into the majors right away. "Well, I hear this team is a great club,
and I've heard rumors that they are going to try and make room for me
somewhere in the next year or two."
In recent scouting reports, Lund has been labeled the top prospect at
shortstop by far. Only Andruw Jones is rated as a better prospect than
Lund.
"We couldn't turn this down, no way," said Shapiro. "When you have a chance
to acquire a player of Mathias' caliber, you do it. When we acquired Robin
Jennings, we said he had Scott Rolen's abilities, but was just a bit older.
Lund has Scottie's skills, but he's actually younger than Scott was last
year."
After the trade, Punxatawney sent Billy Ashley down to AAA with the
reassurance he would be back in the majors after roster expansion. Curly
Karkovice was called up after a tremendous minor league season. Tim Worrell
will move back into the rotation, while Karkovice will pitch long relief and
Aldred will pitch middle relief.
Tomorrow, Lund will join the club during their series with the Bums. Rocky
Coppinger and Sean Bergman will face Willie Adams and Kevin Ritz. So far
the season series is 3-1 with Punxatawney leading. They carry a 9 game lead
over Springfield with 39 games left to play.
Stats 'n Stuff
Shapiro has not yet decided how Lund will be worked into the lineup, but
there has been talk of 2B Tony Batista into the outfield and converting Lund
into a second basemen. Also, Lund has played first base in the past and he
could certainly play there.
Currently, Punxatawney plans on using the 24 and under option for free
agency. The following players will probably be protected:
Tony Batista, Jack Jackson, Scott Rolen, Mathias Lund, Rocky Coppinger, Mike
Hampton, Jim Burright, Curly Karkovice, Dustin Hermanson, Jaime Bluma, and
then depending on what gameday the draft takes place, Ryan Klesko, and Jason
Giambi by the 24 and under rule. Also, Jon Lieber, Dan Wilson, Jose
Valentin will be protected, and the franchise player will be either Dave
Martinez, Marty Cordova, Bobby Thomas, or Sean Bergman.
"A lot of who we protect depends on whether Klesko and Giambi are 25 on
draft day. We're not sure which day the draft happens on, so that will
figure largely into our decision," Shapiro said.
