Washington Splits, Acquires League's Best Record April 24, 1999
(AP) WASHINGTON--The Washington Sea Dogs split a doubleheader
yesterday, dropping the last game of a four-game series to Duluth 5-2 and
capturing the first game against division rival Calgary 6-2. The split,
along with a Tucson split, allowed Washington to hold on to a tie for the
PVBL's best record.
In the first game against Duluth, Shawn Estes got knocked around a bit,
giving up three runs in three innings on five hits and a walk. Estes, who
also got the loss, said that he just couldn't locate his pitches.
"I was wild in the strike zone and wild outside the strike zone," Estes
said. "When I was getting them in, I was getting too much of the plate."
Estes, who has battled shoulder problems this season, said that he felt
his shoulder tighten up a little bit in the third inning after allowing a
two-run rally. Estes is probable for his next start.
"I'm not prone to coming out of games early," Estes said. "So I was a
little discouraged to find my shoulder having problems again."
Duluth ace Jeff Hallony got the win for the Bjork. Hallony, one of the
league's best pitchers, collected his first win against three losses
despite a sparkling 2.65 ERA.
"We knew we were in for a battle with Hallony," Washington Manager
Aaron Weiner said. "He's really a tremendous pitcher."
Harold Baines, batting just .208 on the young season, broke out of his
slump with his second homer of the season. Baines went 1-3 and walked
once.
"I'm just discouraged we couldn't put more runs on the scoreboard," Baines
said. "That kid Hallony, he was really sharp today."
While Washington lost the game against Duluth, they also won the war, as
they took the first three games of a four-game set. Washington has not
lost a series to Duluth since their introductory year.
In the second game, Robin Ventura hit his second homer of the year and
Ben McDonald pitched six innings of five-hit ball as Washington recovered
from a first-inning rally to take the first game of a three-game series
from Calgary.
McDonald, who struck out four and allowed no walks, was especially sharp
for the second straight game. McDonald says that it was a tougher task
than it appeared today.
"When you're facing a lineup with that behemoth Frank Thomas in it, you're
gonna be in trouble right off the bat, no pun intended," McDonald said.
"And that's definitely a big-league lineup."
McDonald said that the defense Washington played behind him was key to
the success.
"They always make plays back there, and today they were just as good,"
McDonald said. "It's really a joy to play with them."
Lance Johnson and Mickey Kelly both had two hits to spearhead the charge,
and Robin Ventura hit his second homer of the season.
"We're excited to be the best team in the league," Weiner said. "And
we're always looking to try to make it better."
Notes and Quotes:
"More on the better later."
-GM Aaron Weiner, who made another trade tonight
"So they finally traded me, huh? I've been on the block so long I was
wondering when Mr. Rogers was gonna move in."
-Left fielder Johnny Damon
* * *
Washington owner Aaron Weiner was pleased to announce that he witnessed
one of the alternate reality Mark McGwire's home runs on Sunday.
"Yeah, well, we were up in Pittsburgh with one of our AVBL chums, Ethan
Baker, and the grand old man Dan Shapiro, and we experienced much revelrie
and much decadence," Weiner said.
Supposedly, waitresses were so astonished by the appearance of the PVBA
powers that they botched orders, sent several waiters to the table and
gave each of the diners free desserts.
"I guess they just liked us a whole lot," Weiner said. "I dunno if it has
anything to do with our celebrity or not."
Shapiro, Baker and Weiner sat in their owners box, high above the field.
"They told us that we got to see the whole field from where we were,"
Weiner said. "And, well, we got a really good view of the field and all
the little dots on it."
* * *
Should Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz have a productive outing against Calgary
tomorrow, he'll move into familiar ground - top of the innings leaders,
with Duluth's Jeff Hallony.
"I like to go out there and pitch more innings than everyone. It makes me
feel like I'm doing my job," Leefenhaufenhauz said.
Leefenhaufenhauz has 27 innings pitched in just four outings. He has an
astounding 1.30 ERA with a 3-0 record.
"I'm just concentrating on pitching the best I possibly can," said
Leefenhaufenhauz. "They're looking to me to be one of the best pitchers
in the league now, and I can't let them down."
Leefenhaufenhauz, last year's unanimous DL Rookie of the Year, had a 17-10
record with a 2.20 ERA in an incredible 241 innings. He was the 3rd
runner-up in the Cy Young voting behind Vero's Albie Lopez and
Springfield's Joey Hamilton.
"We're very fortunate to have a guy like Mack whose arms are attached by
electrons," Weiner said. "Else we'd be worried about them falling off."
