Back to Back Wins, Trade with Deadwood August 4, 1999
Richmond (Richmond Times Dispatch) - Richmond won its first back to back games in a long
time. On Tuesday, Richmond faced Duluth, a team that
has also struggled this season. 24 year-old right
hander Lee Sosa faced 22 year-old right hander
Bob Wolcott. Sosa came into the game with a record
of 3 and 10; but he was facing a struggling youngster
who had fought back from a season ending injury to
a 5 - 5 record this year. Wolcott has a career
record of 21 and 8, but most of those wins came
in the first season of PVBL play, and most of the
loses have come since then. He also went on the DL
near the middle of the second season and didn't come
off until this season started. The matchup was between
a 24 year old struggling rookie and a 22 year old
struggling veteran, with 4 years of major league
experience under his belt.
Richmond scored early off of Sosa, getting two
runners across home in the first inning. Sosa
calmed down, and neither pitcher let a runner score
until Duluth scored 3 in the 5th inning. The Panthers
immediately responded in the same inning with 1
more run. That was the last score for 9 more innings.
Sosa had given up 3 runs but lasted 6 innings, giving
up 7 hits, and striking out 4. Wolcott lasted one
extra inning, had the same number of strike-outs and
gave up 11 hits.
Robert Person pitched in the top of the 14th inning.
He held Duluth scoreless. Cunningham came in and
struckout two. Unfortunatly for Duluth, he also
allowed one Panther to score, ending the game after
14 long innings. The game lasted 4 hours 42 minutes.
Richmond center fielder Michael Tucker went 2 for 3,
walked 4 times, and his two hits were both doubles.
Duluth center fielder M. Newfield went 4 for 5, no
runs, no rbi; and LF S. Mack also had 4 hits, out of
6 at-bats but he scored once and got one rbi.
Cunningham took the loss. Person recorded his
second win to add to his 5 losses.
In the second game, Person again played a pivotal role,
acquiring his second save. This time Richmond won
5 to 3, and they lead the entire game. D. Dunning
got the win (4-3) and Isringhausen got the loss (4-1).
The Panthers remain 26.5 games back from Washington,
and 12 games back from .500.
In other news, the new Richmond GM has continued the
youth movement. Thirty-three year old RHP Mark Leiter
departed with his 1 win, 3 losses, 5.77 era, 3 QS
in 5 GS and his 1 complete game. Leiter had never
been used much in Richmond, and the management hope
that he does well in Deadwood. Leiter spent 95%
of Richmond's first season in AAA. He hasn't
consistently started since then. Mainly because of
the addition of aces, testing of youngsters, different
managers, Leiter was the odd man out. Most of the
aces have been traded, and Leiter had finally moved
into the rotation to stay. Or so he thought. After
playing most of the first half of the season in AAA,
Leiter was brought up as a long reliever, waiting in
the wings in case something occured. Then Curt
Schilling, and Roger Clemens were traded, and
Robert Person, Joey Eischen, and Harry Wall were
placed on the DL. Leiter would finally have his chance
to reestablish himself as a starter. He did well,
pitching 1 complete game in 5 starts, with 3 quality
starts. But one problem kept him from finally
settling in, his age. The GM had expressed a desire
to rebuild the team and in the process get the team
younger. Leiter's 33 years were just to many for this
team. He was sent packing after an interest was shown
from Deadwood. In exchange, Deadwood sent 25 year-old
LHP Paul Spoljaric. Spoljaric currently has a
season record of 4 and 6 for the Outlaws, with an
era of 4.15. Spoljaric had started 21 games for
the Outlaws, but had only 6 quality starts.
Spoljaric has only 5 more starts in his career, but
in those 5 starts he had 3 quality starts. Though
he hasn't spent much time in the bullpen this year,
that is Spoljaric's main position throughout his
career and he will return to the bullpen, but wearing
a Panther uniform, bringing his 12 and 8 career
record.
