Hartford, CT (AP)- The Hartford Whalers could do no wrong Saturday as they
blew lead after lead and failed to put the Truro Bears away until the
bottom of the 15th inning, 6-5. Despite a strong outing by Hideki Irabu
again, who allowed 3 earned runs in 7 2/3, Truro took it to the Whale and
forced extra innings. It was tied 4-4 in the top of the 15th, when Troy
Percival came on and had his roughest outing of the year. Percival (1-0, 9
saves) allowed 1 earned run in the top of the 15th inning on 2 hits and a
walk. As Truro celebrated and seemed to have the game in hand, Andres
Galarraga had other plans. Trailing 5-4, Jason Kendall lead off the bottom
of the 15th with a base hit to left-center. Galarraga stepped to the
plate, already 3 for 5 on the day with 2 homers and a double, and worked
Hernandez (0-2) to a full-count. They couldn't walk him because first base
was full. They had to pitch to him. With the crowd on its feet and
Kendall leaning with a huge lead off the bag at first, Hernandez went into
his motion. With the noise reaching a deafening pitch, the runner
went...but it didn't matter. Andres took the Bears to school for the 3rd
time that day, blasting a 2-run shot an approximated 520 feet over the left
field wall. A Truro clubhouse that was ecstatic only a 1/2 inning before,
was now sullen and deflated. They had gotten the best of arguably the best
reliever in the EL in Troy Percival (0.93 ERA) but were beaten by one man
and his 3 homeruns. Galarraga finished the day 4 for 6 with 3 homers, a
double, and 4 RBI. He now has 10 homers on the year and raised his
slugging percentage to .509 and his overall batting average to .270.
Odds & Ends
Hartford hanging in: With Saturday's win, the Whalers kept pace 1/2 game
behind the Deadwood Outlaws.
Hartford wins the close ones: Saturday's win also made Hartford 10-1 in
1-run ballgames, best in PVBL. They are 1-0
in extra innings.
Abbott to return: SS Kurt Abbott will return to the starting lineup
tomorrow after a 4-week absence. Abbott's return
is excellent timing as Tilson Brito and Damion Easley have
both struggled in filling in.
Tradewinds: None.
Next up: Tom "Flash" Gordon (4-3, 3.56) takes the mound against Truro at
home tomorrow in the top of a double-dip.
