Old McDonald Gets A Loss, Sea Dogs Fall In Game 1 October 26, 1998
(AP) GALENA, IL--It had to happen sometime, and Kevin Appier made sure
that it happened in Game 1.
Appier went seven innings of four-hit ball to offset another powerful
performance by Washington's Ben McDonald as Washington dropped Game 1 2-1
to Galena to post its first playoff loss since Game 1 of the first round.
"Well, we're obviously disappointed at our result in the first game,"
Washington manager Aaron Weiner said. "We were hoping that the rest we
got would help us coming out of the gate."
Washington did look fresh after a six-day layover between the DLCS and
World Series. But they also looked rusty, collecting only four hits off
of Appier and Clingman combined. Their only run came off a second-inning
homer by Harold Baines.
"It wasn't too hard for me to get into a rhythm because I've been playing
this game forever," Baines said. "But this is a young team, and I could
tell they were nervous and tight all the way through."
Baines may have something there. The most telling stat may be that the
Sea Dogs start three players over 30 - and they were the only ones to
gather a hit on the day.
Washington catcher Ben Petrick, 19, was the youngest starter on either
team.
"The stolen base I had, the one back in the third inning - I could have
run all the way to China, I had so much nervous energy," Petrick said.
"I was almost jumping up after every pitch."
First baseman Mickey Kelly, 21, assured that the Sea Dogs weren't having
so many problems with the Hamsters as they were with themselves.
"I guess they were nervous too, 'cause they didn't hit much," Kelly said.
Chuck Knoblauch was actually pleased with the effort despite the loss.
"They didn't come out there and dominate us, and that's a big confidence
boost," captain Chuck Knoblauch said. "We've been hearing all year long
how great their ballclub is, but they sure didn't dominate us today."
Though Knoblauch's words were very brash, his point was clear.
"They got two runs off of us. They might be able to sit there and say
they've got the best pitching in that other league, but we held tough with
them the whole way," Knoblauch said. "We're just as good as they are, and
we can beat them."
Jeremi Gonzalez will go tomorrow for Galena against Washington's ace,
Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz. Leefenhaufenhauz, or "Big Mack", was passed
over for game 1 because, amazingly, he is only a rookie.
"I'm feeling completely confident," Leefenhaufenhauz said. "Big Ben
(McDonald) showed me today that these guys can be taken."
