Who Will Claim First Place in McCoy? July 11, 1999
Outlaws and Royals Go Head to Head
MONTREAL (CP)--How much truth is there in the claim that "the team that
finishes first by the All-Star break will win the pennant"? Not much,
probably. But both teams, the Deadwood Outlaws and the Montreal Royals,
will be equally determined to head into the break with the division title
in hand.
"It is one of the most important games all season," says Rusty Greer, who's
been inarguably the Royals' best player this first half.
"Whoever wins it will get that extra confidence for the second half of the
season."
Today's game is also the rubbermatch of the 3-game series in Montreal.
Deadwood hitters took advantage of Harnisch's continuing problems on the
mound, and won the first game 8-3. On Satuday in front of a capacity crowd,
the Royals won 6-3 as Steve Cooke got his first save of the season.
It's quite amazing that both teams have taken completely different routes
to success, and yet today are dead even in wins.
* * *
THE MATCHUP: Today, the southpaw Jeff Fassero (8-4, 5.68 ERA) faces Mike
Grace, who will be going for win number 12 on the season. Grace has led the
Royals in strikeouts, innings pitched and quality starts (tied with
Cormier) through the first half of the season. Jeff Fassero has struggled
on the mound (he has only 5 of his 14 starts have been quality starts), but
still Outlaws the team in wins.
WHO'S HOT: Bobby Bonilla is finally back to Bonilla-like form. He connected
with his 10th and 11th home runs of the season in the past 3 days, and has
raised his average to .277. Rusty Greer's average has dropped 2 points, but
he manages to produce one way or another in every game. Greer is always
hot. Brad Fullmer. He raised his batting average to .318 yesterday has hit
3 home runs and 7 RBIs in his last 4 games. Rafael Palmeiro, one of the
most underrated players in the league, is now batting .302 for the Outlaws,
and has hit 7 RBIs in his last 4 games.
