Galena, Il. (AP)--On September 19, 1999, Galena won its 100th
game of the season. They soundly beat New Diggens,
by a sore of 11 to 5. In a symbolic move, and
fully confident that the team will still win without
him, the manager pulled starting pitcher Tennessee
Jones right after he threw his 100th pitch.
The manager noted that this had been planned all
along, as long as Jones played good enough to reach
100 pitches.
Both the offense and the pitching staff put
together a solid outing to record the 100th win.
The offense produced 21 hits, 8 of which were hit
by 1B Wilton Guerroro and DH Chipper Jones (combined).
The starter lasted 7 innings, giving up 11 hits, and 5
runs and recording his 16 win (16-3). Terry Adams
and Mike Bielecki threw two solid innings in relief.
Galena's 100th win puts them 2 wins behind
Washington 102 (the only two teams at or above 100
wins). Of the two teams, Galena is the only one
to have a 20 game winner in the rotation (Kevin
Appier (20-5). Washington has two players at the
17 win mark (Leefenhaufenhauz 17-11, Estes 17-6), and
two players at the 15 win mark (McDonald 15-4,
Fernandez 15-13). Galena has 1 player at 17, Kile,
one at 16 wins, Jones, and one at 15 wins (Gonzalez).
For his career, Appier is now 58 and 17, a .773
pct. He has thrown 11 complete games, allowed hitters
only a .240 batting average, has struck out 503
batters, and has an era of 2.88. While Kile has
allowed a lower batting average (.237), and won 51
games and lost 19 (.729 pct). Washington's best
career pitcher is Ben McDonald, who has won
40 games, and lost 20 (.667).
For the record: Appier's 20 wins is not the
most so far this season. Mississauga Mapledogs Kevin
Brown has won 1 more game (21-5, .808 pct, 2.25 era).
Springfield Atoms Joey Hamilton also has 20 wins,
but has lost only 3 times (2.29 era). By today's
date, no other pitcher has more than 17 wins.
The Top 3 - Bottom 3 Chart:
RHP Kevin Brown 21-5 - Mississauga Mapledogs
RHP Joey Hamilton 20-3 - Springfield Atoms
RHP Kevin Appier 20-5 - Galena Hamsters
LHP Donovan Osborne 6-15 - Tampa Bay Mets
RHP Rick Helling 8-16 - Medina Mustangs
LHP Tony Saunders 3-23 - Tampa Bay Mets
