Sacramento, CA (AP) - The DL-leading Vero Beach Bums won two games against
the Sacramento Knights in what is becoming typical Bums fashion -- good to
excellent pitching held up by the "Just Enough" offense.
In the first game of the series, the Bums won 5-3 on the strength of a 2
for 3, 2 walk, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 RBI performance by Rex Hudler. The Bums stole
6 bases against the arm of Knights catcher Jorge Posada.
Kevin Ritz won his third game of the year with a 7-inning, 2-run outing.
Mark Guthrie, usually reliable, gave up one run in the 8th inning but set
up the ninth for -- the Bums' other set-up man, Kent Bottenfield.
Bottenfield pitched just 12 pitches to finish the game and record his first
save of the year. The Bums' 9 saves are shared by 5 pitchers.
"We've just got too many right-handed relievers," said Bums manager Phil
Garner. "I didn't feel like we needed to put Trevor [Hoffman, Bums
closer] in at the time, since Kent needed some work and our lead wasn't
really in jeopardy. Had Kent allowed a baserunner, Hoffman would have gone
in."
The next game was a 3-0 shutout of the Knights. Albie Lopez again showed
why he's the ace of the Bums staff, bettering his record to 4-1 and
lowering his ERA to 2.05. Lopez pitched seven scoreless innings, striking
out 8 and giving up 4 hits and 4 walks (including one intentional walk).
The duo of Guthrie and Bottenfield closed out this game as well, each
pitching one inning and giving up no hits. "Same story tonight," said
Garner.
Most of the Bums hitters appear to be slowly breaking out of their
early-season slumps. Only Joseph Idstein, platooning first baseman, is
hitting over .300, but most of the Bums are now hitting over .200. Marquis
Grissom leads the non-injured everyday players with a .282 average. Rex
Hudler, despite only hitting .241, leads the team with 19 runs. With 20
hits and 9 walks, that makes for an amazing percentage. "It helps to be
hitting second above all the other potential threats we've got -- Marquis,
Jeff, Ron, Dave," said Hudler.
Jeff King, despite hitting just .228, leads the team in home runs and RBIs
with 6 and 10 respectively. 6 HR is good for a tie for 7th in the DL.
"We've been winning for two reasons," said King. "Our pitchers have been
great, and we've been hitting well in the clutch. Hopefully we won't make
our pitchers have to work so hard the rest of the season."
Of the Bums pitchers, only John Cummings has an ERA above 3.21. Cummings
is rumored to be on the way out with the roster moves surrounding the
injuries to starters Ismael Valdes and Willie Adams. Team sources indicate
that Cummings will be sent to AAA along with Valdes (who will attempt to
rest his arm), in favor of Dave Weathers (2.59 ERA last season) and Dennis
Springer. That would move Angel Miranda (1-0, 2.70, 10 games) into a long
relief role, after his success thus far in middle relief.
