(AP) WASHINGTON, D. C.--Well, it's clear by now. The Washington Sea Dogs
have the Duluth Bjork's number.
Washington's Johnny Damon scored the game-winning run in the tenth on an
RBI single by J. T. Snow to defeat Duluth for the seventh time in their
last eight tries to drop the Bjork nearly out of playoff contention.
Washington second baseman Chuck Knoblauch tried to put things into
perspective.
"Well, we're certainly asserting ourselves in the wild-card race,"
Knoblauch said, "and we've proven we can beat our competitors. This is a
big lift for us."
Washington's victories over Duluth are twice as large, because it was
Duluth who came into the All-Star Break just a game behind the Sea Dogs
for the wild-card spot. Duluth leaves Washington down six games in the
race and under .500.
"We have a lot of respect for the Duluth franchise," Weiner said, "and
many of these games could have turned out differently with a little more
luck on their side. We're just fortunate that we had the luck today."
With Duluth and, coincidentally, Richmond falling back, the only
competitor within six games of the wild-card are the surprising
Springfield Atoms. The Atoms have a team ERA of 2.91, best in the DL, and
are 2.5 games back, four in the loss column.
"We're still looking over our shoulder at Springfield," Weiner said.
"It's silly to think that these wins put us in any kind of a commanding
lead. We still have to hold it."
Washington struck first against the Bjork, scoring on a Gary Sheffield RBI
single in the first inning. Duluth would answer, putting up two runs in
the second on a Mark Newfield two-run homer.
Starter Hank Gill, who left the game in the second with a tight shoulder,
said he was surprised he was out there.
"All indications were that I wasn't going to start because we had an
off-day coming up," Gill said. "But the manager came to me this morning
and said, 'It's your ball.' I was really surprised, and I guess I wasn't
mentally ready."
The Sea Dogs would answer in the fourth with two more runs, but Duluth
once again took the lead in the top of the fifth on a Barry Larkin
two-out error and a Frank Thomas single.
"I was mortified," said Larkin, whose 11 errors are more than a third of
the team's total. "I thought I might have cost us the game."
Washington would lead again after a two-run rally in the sixth, but Duluth
came back in the seventh, adding a run to put the score at 5-5. The score
remained tied until the bottom of the 10th, when Snow drove in the winning
run.
"Every time we scored," reliever Fred Smith said, "they had a counter. It
was like, they couldn't score unless we scored - it's a good thing we
scored last."
Reliever Nigel Fernandez got the win, his second, by pitching a perfect
10th. The Washington relievers combined for 8.1 innings of 6-hit ball,
allowing two unearned runs.
"The pen came up big for us today," Weiner said. "It's reassuring to know
that if we run into problems that we have such a crack unit out there."
Washington (54-43) continues to win thanks to the Bjork, as they have now
won eight of their last 11 games. Duluth drops to 49-50 with the loss.
Washington will go to Larimer, a team with whom they had early-season
struggles, for a three-game set. Duluth will return home and try to end
their woes against Tampa Bay.
"Larimer is an extremely dangerous team," Weiner said. "Going into that
ballpark, you never know what's going to happen; the ball takes funny
bounces in Larimer."
Notes and Quotes:
"And, we will now proceed to saw this Bjork record in half."
-Mariano Duncan, before yesterday's game
"I was so surprised, I almost tripped over myself going to the mound."
-Hank Gill
* * *
Washington put Chuck Knoblauch on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised
heel today, and activated centerfielder Ernie Young.
"Chuck just hasn't been himself this year," GM Aaron Weiner said. "He's
been playing through pain for months now, and though he's batting .300, we
can't afford to have him hurting down the stretch. He's too important."
Knoblauch is leading the league in doubles, but has not shown his
characteristic speed so far this year, having stolen only two bases since
the injury two months ago.
"It hurts to run, it hurts to walk sometimes," Knoblauch said. "While I
know that my absence might hurt the team, the organization felt that it
was important for me to have time to heal."
Mariano Duncan, who was playing center field, will move to second base in
Knoblauch's absence.
"We're blessed to have a veteran like Duncan to take over for Knoblauch,"
said manager Aaron Weiner. "Without Mariano, we wouldn't have been able
to give Chuck the rest he needs."
Washington may miss Knoblauch's defense as much as his offense.
"He's a real force up the middle," starting pitcher Ben McDonald said.
"He's made some plays nobody else in the league could have."
* * *
By starting Hank Gill, Washington gives Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz and
especially Shawn Estes another day of rest.
"We really wanted to give Shawn another day," manager Aaron Weiner said.
"He's only gone three innings in each of his last two starts, and he needs
a break."
While Estes may pitch in Larimer, he will not throw in the first two
games.
"We might throw Burkett in there against Larimer," Weiner said, "but we're
really hoping that Estes will be ready to go. We need his hard-throwing
style."
* * *
Mickey Kelly will return to the team within five games' time.
"Doctors have told me I'm going to miss the Larimer series," said Kelly,
"but that I'd be back in action sometime in the Chicago series."
Kelly fractured his foot against Duluth in his first game as a Sea Dog.
Minors update:
As Towson continues to struggle, so Dennis Abreu keeps hitting. Abreu is
now hitting .235 after a 14-31 tear. Abreu is still not hitting
lefthanders, batting only .231 against them, but is hitting righties now
at a .271 clip.
Mike Baldwin has much more effective in the minors than he had been in the
majors. Baldwin has lowered his ERA a quarter-point and is looking much
more like the bulldog closer that Washington was hoping they were getting.
He has two saves already.
Heinie Phillips seems to be finding himself in the minors. Phillips
has been dominating in his last four innings, allowing only one walk and
no hits.
Finally, shortstop Curtis Wilkerson might be trying to earn himself a
call-up when rosters expand. Wilkerson is hitting .281 in the minors and
has been drawing walks.
