The miracle comeback continues! With two commanding victories over the
Tampa Bay Mets, the Punxatawney Groundhogs closed to within a game and a
half of the Houston Hellraisers. After demolishing the Hellraisers in a 4
game sweep, they did the same to the lowly Mets.
The first game of the series was a 15-0 blowout victory. Punxatawney led
4-0 after the second inning, tacking on 11 more in the 6th, 7th, and 8th.
Sean Bergman threw 6 scoreless for his 14th win. Relievers Jim Burright,
Dustin Hermanson, and Curly Karkovice combined to finish the shutout,
throwing 1 inning each.
The Groundhogs put together 25 hits in the game. In fact, the only starter
who didn't have at least two hits was Dan Wilson. Dave Martinez, Tony
Batista, and Jose Valentin had 4 hits each, combining to go 12-18 with 9
runs and 9 RBI. Geronimo Berroa was 4-4 and Alex Ochoa scored 3 times.
Martinez and Giambi each homered once while Valentin hit two longballs.
Most of the runs were scored off Mets reliever Scott Hayes, who allowed 11
runs on 18 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
"I couldn't throw it past anyone," said Hayes. "I had good stuff today, the
ball was moving a lot, but they hit everything."
The second game was no more kind to the Mets, a team now on the verge of
reaching 100 losses. Punxatawney took an early 3-0 lead, increasing it to
7-0 in the 5th before Tampa Bay scored their first run of the series. The
Groundhogs went on to win 10-2. Scott Rolen went 4-5 with 4 RBI and Ryan
Klesko recorded 3 hits. Rolen, Valentin, Berroa, and Tony Batista each hit
homeruns in the winning effort.
Masato Yoshii had his second straight quality start, allowing 1 run on 7
hits through 7 innings. Tim Worrell, Curly Karkovice, and Henry Neale
finished it out. The loss went to Al Leiter, as he allowed 7 runs in 4 1/3
innings.
"We feel great right now," said Rolen. "Everyone is playing the best they
have all year, we finally have a mission."
STATS 'N STUFF
Who has the best middle infield in baseball?
Well, this year someone is giving Washington's dynamic duo of Knoblauch and
Larkin a run for their money.
Tony Batista is one of the top second basemen in the game, boasting a .319
average, 112 runs, 208 hits, 50 doubles, 6 triples, 22 homeruns, 81 RBI, and
26 steals--all without making an error.
He's accompanied by Jose Valentin, now hitting .307 with 108 runs, 189 hits,
49 doubles, 3 triples, 34 homers, 117 RBI, 19 steals, and a .978 fielding
percentage.
Comparing OPS, Batista is at .869 and Valentin is at .920. For Washington,
Knoblauch has an .886 OPS and Larkin has an .866.
Punxatawney's "average" middle infield OPS is thus .895, while Washington's
is .876.
So perhaps, at least for now, Punxatawney boasts the best keystone combo in
the game. In addition to these two superstars, Ryan Klesko and Dan Wilson
are both hitting over .300. Dave Martinez is batting .293 with 7 triples
and a team best 35 steals.
Punxatawney plays another game in Tampa on Monday while Houston plays two at
Springfield. If the Hogs win and the Atoms win twice, that will put
Punxatawney into a tie for first.
The Hogs have 13 games remaining, while Houston has 14.
Here are the remaining opponent lists:
Punxatawney--4 vs. TAM, 6 vs. HOU, 3 vs. SPR
Houston--5 vs. SPR, 6 vs. PUN, 3 vs. TAM
Here's looking forward to a great end final two weeks!
