(AP) WASHINGTON--Lately, it seems like everything the Sea Dogs do is
working.
Washington got another pair of outstanding starting pitching performances
and Chuck Knoblauch had five hits as Washington swept both halves of a
doubleheader against the Springfield Panthers by identical 5-1 scores.
The wins marked Washington's 10th in a row, the second time this season
they have had winning streaks of at least eight wins in a row. Washington
is now an astounding 44-17, or a .721 winning percentage. If that were to
persist for the season, Washington would finish at 116-46, easily breaking
the all-time PVBL record of 109 wins.
"It's been so great to watch this team grow up," captain Chuck Knoblauch
said. "I mean, I remember when we were under .500, and now this - it's
just been incredible to watch."
During the streak, Washington has lowered their team ERA from nearly 3.5
to 3.01, easily the PVBL's best mark. Their offense has risen from the
3rd best in the league to second-best, and are averaging exactly six runs
a game.
Against Springfield, Washington got fifteen innings out of Alex Fernandez
and Tim Belcher, who allowed just seven hits and three walks combined and
no earned runs, though Belcher did allow one unearned run.
Belcher, who was making his first start of the season after 20 games in
the bullpen, said that it was a relief for him to be starting again.
"I felt so good out there starting that I probably could have pitched both
halves, that's how pumped I was," Belcher said. "Springfield's a good
ballclub, but the way I felt, I wasn't sure they had a chance today."
Belcher led the Tampa Bay Mets in wins and ERA last season, but was
demoted to the pen so that they could try their younger pitchers. After
today's start, manager Aaron Weiner sounded even more delighted to have
Belcher aboard.
"You know, he becomes the veteran of the staff now," Weiner said. "And
the way he handled himself today, the professionalism he showed coming out
after only seven innings the way he was pitching - that's something I
admire as a manager."
Shortstop Barry Larkin said he was delighted with Belcher's performance.
"He throws a lot of groundballs," said Larkin, who hit his ninth homer of
the season in game 1. "Chuck actually missed one today, but normally,
we don't make a lot of errors in the infield."
While Belcher may have been excellent in his first start of the season,
Alex Fernandez was, once again, downright astounding. Fernandez allowed
just two hits and one walk while striking out six over eight scoreless
innings, and continues to prove why he was worth Chad Ogea and Ben Hamlin.
"(Starters) Mack(enzee Leefenhaufenhauz) and Ben (McDonald) have been
awesome for us this season, but I'm not sure anyone's pitched better than
Alex," Weiner said. "He's been absolutely rock-solid since we got him."
Fernandez has gone 6-2 in a Sea Dog uniform, and hasn't allowed a run in
five of his eight Sea Dog starts.
"I'm just feeding off of all this positive energy around here," Fernandez
said. "There are a lot of happy people in this clubhouse - it's always
easy to be happy when you're winning like we are."
With the wins and a Phoenix split, Washington moved seven games up on
Phoenix in the Data race, and have picked up five games on Phoenix during
the winning string. Springfield benefitted from two Punxatawney losses
and stand just a half-game behind them in the Riker race.
DL wins leader Ben McDonald (11-2, 2.46) will be looking for his 12th win
of the season against young Springfield lefty Justin Thompson (4-3, 3.33).
Tickets are, as usual, sold out for the final game of the series tomorrow
at the X-RAY.
* * *
"Tim Belcher? Now all we need is Tom Fart and we're set."
-Reliever Bubba Veres
"Bubba Veres? Now all we need is Hubba Thomas."
-Belcher, retorting.
* * *
One reporter asked manager Aaron Weiner if the two wins against
Springfield signified that the Sea Dogs were already in the playoffs.
Washington now leads Springfield by 11 games in the wild-card race
(Phoenix is the wild-card leader, but would have the division title should
they overtake Washington), and it was implied that such a lead might be
insurmountable.
Weiner replied somewhat humbly, but didn't deny the possibility.
"Springfield's a very solid ballclub," Weiner said. "And while we're up
by a whole lot right now, anything can happen. There's no reason we can't
lose 10 games in a row just like we won ten games."
When it was coyly implied that a 10-game losing string would require a
simultaneous 10-game winning string by Springfield, Weiner retorted, "If
we were to lose 10 games in a row, there's no reason Springfield can't win
10 in a row."
* * *
Another astounding stat about the Sea Dogs's current dominance is that
the second-place Data team, Phoenix, has a seven-game deficit to the Sea
Dogs - yet in any other division, Phoenix would be the division leader.
Phoenix has recently suffered injuries to two of their biggest stars,
shortstop Derek Jeter and right fielder Raul Mondesi, so they have bigger
worries than catching WAshington.
However, Washington is actually helping their division rival right now.
By defeating Springfield, Washington has helped Phoenix gain a game on
Springfield. Phoenix now leads the wild-card race by four games.
"We don't mind facing Phoenix in the playoffs," Weiner said. "If you
recall, we went in there and beat them in four games last year. And we've
taken seven of nine from them this year. They don't intimidate us."
* * *
Quick - name all the WAshington league leaders. Ben McDonald, Larry
Walker, Barry Larkin, Ernie Young...Ernie Young?
Indeed, the player most maligned for his unproductive play the first two
years of his Sea Dog career has become extremely productive in his second.
Young is currently tied for sixth in the Defiant League in walks, with 25
in the 61 games the Sea Dogs have played.
"I've tried to look at a lot more pitches this season," Young said. "I'll
be honest - I don't want Chuck (Knoblauch) getting mad at me 'cause I
grounded out on ball four."
Young has had an excellent season so far, putting up ten homers to go with
a .347 OBA and a .481 SLG. The homer total is close to his career best of
13, set last year, and the OPS is a full 140 points above his career mark
of .681 - which INCLUDES this year.
"It helps that this lineup is a whole lot better than the ones I've played
on in previous years," Young said. "I feel a lot more confident about the
guy hitting behind me this year than ever before."
* * *
Washington, who is still first in the stolen base race by 42 stolen bases
over Richmond, can no longer complain that they are a powerless squad.
Washington currently has 88 homers, tied for fifth in the league behind
Calgary, Spokane and Larimer, the bandboxes of the league.
Washington also has four players in double-digit homers, high in their
franchise's history.
