Vero Beach, FL (AP) - In what has become almost a given between these two
teams, the Vero Beach Bums defeated the Sacramento Knights 8-4 yesterday.
By the end of the fourth inning, the Bums had a 5-0 lead that they never
relinquished. The Bums scored 3 insurance runs in the seventh to put the
game away.
In just 3 2/3 innings, Andy Benes had a very poor start for the Knights.
Benes was charged with the loss, gave up 5 runs on seven hits and did not
strike out a Bum. Walt Williams worked the remainder of the game and gave
up the 3 meaningless runs in the seventh.
Kevin Ritz had another good start for the Bums, going 7 innings and only
giving up two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. All three of Vero
Beach's left-handed relievers appeared in the game, indicating manager
Phil Garner's increasing reliance on the trio. Mark Guthrie pitched an
inning of solid relief, giving up just one run. Angel Miranda didn't get
through the ninth inning, giving up a run on two hits. Butch Huskey
scored on an RBI double by Ruben Rivera. The Knights couldn't put
together a serious rally, however, and John Cummings finished off the game
with a five-pitch strikeout of Troy O'Leary.
The Vero Beach offensive attack was again very balanced. Three Bums hit
home runs, no Bum had more than two hits, and only cleanup hitter Jeff
King finished the game without a hit.
King has hit only .194 in the cleanup spot in this, his comeback season,
but has still contributed. He has clobbered four homers in 10 games and
driven in 6 runs despite his low batting average. "I think I'm just
pressing too much," said King. "I can get out of this slump."
Leadoff hitter Omar Vizquel hasn't found his stroke yet this season
either. He has only a .238 average so far, and a paltry .273 OBP.
Yesterday, however, he went 2 for 5 with a double. Number 5 hitter Ron
Gant has also been in a terrible slump, hitting just .179 so far.
Meanwhile, RF Brian Jordan has continued to hit very well into this
season. Last year he hit .324, good for a tie for the lead on the team;
this year, he leads the everyday players with a .361 average. Jordan also
leads the team with 10 runs created.
"Omar and Jeff are still my leadoff and cleanup hitters," said Garner.
"I'm going to stick with them. Since Brian is contributing so well right
now, I'm going to move him up into the number 5 spot after Jeff, in the
hopes that Jeff can get a few more pitches to hit. Chuckie (Carr) and
Joey (Idstein) also have been swinging the bat well, so I'll give them a
few more at-bats, especially against the Knights. Although I have to give
it to the Knights -- they do have some young players who will be pretty
good soon. When that team gels, they'll be as tough as any of our other
division opponents."
News and Notes: The Bums still have a bit of a logjam in the bullpen...
Dave Weathers' name has come up repeatedly in trade rumors. Team sources
say that Weathers and a draft pick might be packaged for a power-hitting
prospect, but the Bums have not yet talked to other teams. Kent
Bottenfield's name has also been rumored to be on the trading block....
Rex Hudler committed the first Bums error of the season in the team's
tenth game, yesterday against Sacramento.
