Bums, Lopez split two with Hellraisers, Karl August 23, 1998
Vero Beach, FL (AP) - The Vero Beach Bums and the Houston Hellraisers, in a
seemingly normal series in Vero Beach, were not excluded from the strange
social experiment allegedly conducted by high-ranking PVBL officials.
Albie Lopez and Scott Karl were forced to face off in two consecutive games
at Ellsworth Park. Luckily for the pitchers, the roof was closed, making
the east Florida heat bearable.
The results were decidedly mixed. Lopez had his worst outing of the season
in the first game, which the Bums lost 12-6. "I'm just glad the stats
didn't count," said Lopez. In four and two-thirds innings, Lopez gave up 6
runs on 12 hits. He walked none and struck out 3. John Cummings pitched
no better against the potent Houston offense, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits in
4 1/3 innings, walking five batters and striking out none. Scott Karl
pitched well and got the win in the first game, with 3 runs in 7 innings.
"That game was a complete anomaly, that's all I can say," mused first
baseman Jeff King, who was 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in the
first game. "I think I saw those guys in black suits inject Albie with
something."
Apparently, whatever it was wore off in the second game, which was pure
vintage Albie Lopez. This time around he got the win, giving up just one
run on 3 hits, 6 K's, and 1 walk in 8 innings. The lone run was scored on a
Jose Canseco home run in the seventh inning. Lopez got all the support he
needed in a 6th inning Chuck Carr RBI single and a Rex Hudler 2-run dinger
in the seventh. Trevor Hoffman got the save. Scott Karl didn't pitch
badly, but was credited (or not) with the loss.
"This is the absolute strangest thing that has ever happened to me in
baseball," said manager Phil Garner. "Hopefully these damned men in black
will go away by tomorrow."
"For the record, I don't blame Randy Reese," said Bums owner Jason Gohlke,
heading to a supposed bachelor party. "I do blame his possibly crappy,
allegedly second-hand computer equipment and the alleged drugs he's
probably allegedly taking, allegedly." When asked about his obtuse
language, Gohlke replied, "Ah, stick it where the sun allegedly doesn't
shine."
Slightly Weird News and Notes:
* RF Brian Jordan has been hot since his return from the DL. His production
in the cleanup spot against right-handers and the 5-spot against lefties
has been outstanding, enough so that manager Phil Garner has agreed to
leave him there for the rest of the season. "You were right, Aaron," said
Gohlke.
* 2B Rex Hudler has proven that he deserves to be a All Star two years in a
row. He was the first player to score 100 runs this year, and leads the DL
in stolen bases and walks. Not only that, but the elderly fans in Vero
Beach enjoy his "moxie," as one fan put it. Hudler has batted leadoff most
of the season. Manager Phil Garner is experimenting with batting Omar
Vizquel first against lefties, dropping Hudler to number 3. "It doesn't
matter to me where I bat," said Hudler, "just as long as I get my at-bats.
So I can, um, contribute to the team."
* In a game against Springfield not long ago, rookie pitchers Orlando
Hernandez and Livan Hernandez, half-brothers from Cuba, pitched in the same
game for opposing teams. It is believed to be the first time in PVBL
history that half-brothers from Cuba pitched against each other in a game.
