Bums one win away from second round October 8, 1998
Punxatawney, PA (AP) - After beating their perennial punching bag, the
Punxatawney Groundhogs, by a score of 10-3 yesterday, the Vero Beach Bums
are just one win away from advancing to the second round of the Defiant
League playoffs.
"After the big emotional letdown of losing their star young pitcher, I'm
sure it's going to be pretty tough for the Hogs," said Bums manager Phil
Garner. "I feel pretty bad for them. This is a tough team, though, and
I'm not counting them out. We've got a job to do, and we have to execute
to have any success."
In the first inning of yesterday's game, the Hogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead
against Bums starter Ismael Valdes. Valdes settled down, however, and
earned the win, scattering 10 hits and 3 runs in his 6 2/3 innings.
Brian Jordan continued his hot post-season hitting in the fourth spot
against right-handed pitching, belting a double and a homer and collecting
5 RBI. "If he's going to get 5 RBIs a game, yeah, let him bat cleanup,"
said 1B Jeff King, the former everyday cleanup hitter.
The Bums appear to have an excellent chance to advance to the second
round of the playoffs, needing to win just 1 of 3 games at home against
Punxatawney. If they advance, the Bums would play the winner of the
Phoenix-Washington series, which is currently knotted at 1 a piece.
"We'd love to get a day or two off and rest our top pitchers," commented
Bums pitching coach Pete Vukovich. "We've actually got about 6 guys I'm
comfortable putting out there, but if Albie and Ismael can start the next
series against our opponent's 3rd or 4th starters, I like our chances."
Vuckovich's words betray his deep confidence that the Bums will advance,
an attitude that seems to permeate the entire Bums clubhouse.
"Sure we like our chances," said SS Omar Vizquel. "Like Phil's said all
year, the playoffs are a new season, and this is when we're at our best,
under pressure."
