Washington Sweeps Phoenix, Yawns Deeply, Disables King September 2, 1999
(AP) PHOENIX, AZ--It's just another day, another win, another injury for
the Sea Dogs.
Washington dropped Phoenix 10-6 and 11-4 today to inch closer to their
first division title. With 28 games to go, Washington's magic number is
down to eleven, meaning any combination of Sea Dogs wins and Phoenix
losses numbering eleven will insure Washington the division title.
"We're very proud of the way that the team showed a killer instinct
today," Washington manager Aaron Weiner said. "If we had lost both, our
lead would have still been 14 games, but I got the sense that the team
wanted to get to the playoffs by the fastest route possible."
Washington was boosted by a career day from Mickey Kelly. With a hostile
crowd breathing down the youngster's neck, Kelly hit three homers, his
12th, 13th and 14th, and also had a double, driving in six runs in the
doubleheader.
"Well, not to knock them or anything, but their pitching just wasn't on
today," Kelly said. "I mean, you don't score 21 runs in a doubleheader if
the other team is pitching well."
Kelly was the only Sea Dogs player to homer in both halves of the
doubleheader, though six Washington players homered, including Larry
Walker's 35th and Ernie Young's 26th.
"I think Ernie's been our most valuable player," second baseman Chuck
Knoblauch said. "Without him, we're nowhere near this many wins."
In the first game, Phoenix took an early lead on Washington as
Jose Hernandez scored Shannon Stewart on an RBI single. But Washington
countered against Pedro Astacio, scoring two runs in the second and third
frames to chase the Phoenix righty.
However, Washington starter Shawn Estes was not particularly sharp, and
while the Sea Dogs were adding four runs in the fourth and fifth inning,
Estes allowed five runs in those frames, making the game close at 8-6.
"I truly wasn't sharp today," said Estes, who despite getting the win
allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks, and also failed to strike
out a batter. "A lot of my pitches got away from me."
However, Delino Wilson, who has been one of the Sea Dogs' most reliable
arms all season, threw two shutout innings while Washington was adding two
more runs in the sixth. That, along with shutout innings from Mike Timlin
and Paul Kilgus, closed the door on the Gila Monsters.
In the second game, Washington took the lead in the first inning as
Lance Johnson led off the game with a homer. But the Sea Dogs again fell
behind early, as Phoenix third baseman Paul Konerko knocked a three-run
homer in the bottom of the second off Washington starter Tim Belcher to
put Washington down 3-1.
But Belcher, who was maligned earlier this year for his failings against
Phoenix, wasn't going to let the game slip away from him.
"Listen, I'm a different pitcher now," Belcher said. "I can handle
adversity, and I think I proved that to everyone today."
Settling down, Belcher allowed just one more run over the next five
innings, and Washington put up eight runs in the middle frames to close
out Phoenix.
Belcher ended with a solid line, seven innings, seven hits, two walks,
three strikeouts. But the hitting stole the show, as Kelly's two homers
were augmented by two RBI from Knoblauch and a hit from every starter.
"Just a performance of how dangerous our offense can be," said catcher Ben
Petrick. "I can't imagine that Phoenix is looking forward to facing us in
the playoffs."
Especially impressive in the two games was Washington's relief pitching.
After two non-quality starts, Washington got seven innings of two-hit ball
in the doubleheader.
"Our relief was just magnificent today," Weiner said proudly. "We're just
extremely glad, because we were a little worried earlier this year."
Washington, with the wins, goes to 93-41. In addition to their magic
number being 11 to win the division, their magic number is eight to clinch
a playoff spot.
"Okay, so maybe it IS time to start talking magic numbers," Weiner said.
Washington will have an off-day tomorrow before travelling to Vero Beach
to face the Bums. Vero will be throwing the works at Washington, as the
Sea Dogs may face Willie Adams, Ismael Valdes and Albie Lopez in the
three-game series.
"We're a little tenative facing Vero, but then they've earned a reputation
for being winners over the years," Bill Mueller said. "This is still a
very dangerous ballclub."
Notes and Quotes:
"Do you belive in magic?"
-Sign at Dry Heat Ravine Stadium, with the number 13
"You know, I feel a major funk coming on."
-Mickey Kelly, right before turning on Grand Funk Railroad
* * *
Washington's rosters both expanded and contracted yesterday, as Washington
called up several of their minor-leaguers but also placed Jeff King on the
15-day DL.
"Jeff has a sore back; we think he got it on the flight over from Vero
Beach," GM Aaron Weiner joked. "No, seriously, Jeff's been suffering
from this injury for a while, and needs to rest. We're lucky that we
can."
King says that he could have played if it was necessary, but said that he
was content to rest before the playoffs.
"Jason Gohlke didn't overwork me in Vero, and this rest will be a lot of
additional help," King said. "The manager over here tells me I'll be a
fundamental part of the lineup in the playoffs, and that's all I really
needed to know."
King is expected to be out no more than the requisite fifteen days.
* * *
Washington also called up seven minor-leaguers, including former Sea Dog
swingman Hank Gill, the recently acquired reliever, Hoge Aberson, catcher
Eddie Perez, third baseman Russ Davis, left fielder Ruben Sierra and first
baseman J. T. Snow.
"We'd planned to call up more players, but a couple got here a little
early," Weiner said, referring to the rash of injuries the Sea Dogs have
suffered. "But what we know for certain is that everyone will get a
chance to play in September."
Washington plans to take long looks at Nelson Liriano and Mike Bordick in
September. They had planned to rest both Chuck Knoblauch and Barry Larkin
extensively, but Larkin's broken foot put a slant on that.
"We're sort of strangely lucky that Larkin went down when he did for as
long as he did," Weiner said, "because he wasn't going to play much for us
during September."
Players who will not receive much playing time are J. T. Snow and Russ
Davis, neither of whom were very successful in AAA this season and have
struggled in their previous stints with the team. The two are expected to
play no more than 10 games combined this season.
"We're perfectly satisfied with Bill Mueller backing up Young," Weiner
said. "Bill will probably get a bunch of playing time around the infield
to keep him fresh, and I'd guess that all our starters will get at least
20 games out of the last 28."
* * *
Another Sea Dog success story is the rise of reliever Mike Timlin.
Timlin, since coming over from the Moncton Moose, has lowered his ERA
almost a point and a half, from a 4.96 ERA all the way to 3.50.
"Since getting out of that Calgary thin air and into a good bullpen,"
Timlin said, "I've been able to show what I can do."
Timlin has allowed just two runs since joining the Sea Dogs, with an
astronomically low 1.00 ERA. He says that pitching in middle relief has
really invigorated him.
"Now I know I'm not out there every game with the game on the line,"
Timlin said, "pitching in a place where pop-ups go 450 feet. It's a real
relief to just be able to go out there and pitch the way I know I can."
Washington's John Wetteland has also moved into a tie for fourth in the
Defiant League in saves, with 12. But Wetteland has less than half as
many saves as the league's leader, Trevor Hoffman.
* * *
Washington's pitching staff, after struggling for a few weeks, has finally
put it under wraps. At one point as close as a quarter-point, Washington
has opened up a .43 edge in the ERA race and is almost certain to win the
league's ERA title.
But along with the run allowance has come other mind-boggling stats. Of
Washington's 134 games, 86 of them have been quality starts, almost every
two out of three. They have allowed just a .250 batting average and just
278 walks in 1201.2 innings. All three stats are league bests.
Additionally, Washington has allowed just 25 of 111 inherited runners to
score, fourth-best, and has allowed just a .391 slugging percentage,
second-best in the DL.
To go with the Sea Dogs' pitching, the Sea Dogs still lead the PVBL in
runs scored and on-base percentage are tied with Houston for the PVBL's
highest batting average.
They also lead the DL in doubles and stolen bases, and are still nearly
lapping the field in steals. They have 225 stolen bases to Binghamton's
115.
