Washington Splits, Magic Number at Six September 8, 1999
(AP) WASHINGTON, D. C.--Washington hasn't lost either of the last two
series yet, but from the way they're talking, you'd never know it.
"We've gotta play better," left fielder Lance Johnson said. "If we can't
score, we can't win."
Washington split a doubleheader with Phoenix, winning a thrilling 1-0
games in the first half but falling 5-3 in the second.
Shawn Estes was the hero in the first game for the Sea Dogs, shutting the
door on three Phoenix rallies and holding them scoreless through eight to
win his seventh straight decision and eleven of his last twelve. Estes,
one of two Sea Dogs pitchers who hasn't spent time on the disabled list,
is now 16-5 on the season.
"Listen, you gotta score more than four runs in a doubleheader at home,"
said second baseman Chuck Knoblauch. "We're really glad we have a guy
like Shawn Estes to shut down a team like this."
Washington manager Aaron Weiner concurred.
"The whole time after the All-Star Break, Shawn's been like this," Weiner
said. "If we've needed a shutout, he's pitched one. IF we've needed him
to hold them to five runs, he's done that. He's done what it takes."
It's difficult to imagine, but some of his teammates have been throwing
around the idea that Estes might win the Cy Young this season.
"Well, he IS 16-5, and he's really carried us in the second half," third
baseman Ernie Young said. "I mean, you don't get much better than the way
Shawn's pitched this year."
Estes, despite all the praise, has kept a clear head.
"If I win the Cy Young, that's great," Estes said. "And trust me, I'd be
thrilled. But I owe my teammates for a lot of my success this season."
Pedro Astacio, for seven innings, matched Estes pitch-for-pitch. But in
the eighth, he allowed consecutive hits by Knoblauch and centerfielder
Larry Walker. The latter moved Knoblauch to third, and shortstop
Bill Mueller drove Knoblauch in on a sacrfice fly for the winning run.
"Pedro Astacio pitched a great game against us, but there's a reason we
have the #1 pitching staff in the PVBL, and Shawn's a big part of that,"
Weiner said.
The second game was marked by pitching as well, but this time it was
Phoenix's Steve Avery that was dominating. Avery threw seven innings of
one-run ball, and Washington played catch-up the whole game.
"Avery was just great today," Mueller said. "There's absolutely no other
way to say it."
Knoblauch, however, managed to do so.
"We've gotta score more than four runs in a doubleheader at home,"
Knoblauch said. "It's embarrassing."
Washington actually mustered more hits than the Gila Monsters, but Phoenix
was helped by the long ball. Mark Whiten started the scoring off in the
first with his 25th homer of the season. Washington answered with an RBI
double by first baseman Mickey Kelly to tie it at one apiece.
Washington would keep the score that way until the sixth inning, as
Washington starter Tim Belcher dominated the game. However, in the sixth,
Belcher allowed a hit to Phoenix shortstop Derek Jeter and a walk to
centerfielder Shannon Stewart, and Andres Galarraga hit a three-run homer
to create an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
Belcher, who had a solid outing besides the homers, said that he was
trying too hard against Galarraga.
"Well, he's got a reputation for hits like this," Belcher said, "and I
just wanted to make sure that I was throwing strikes. Unfortunately, I
let one get away from me."
With the split, the Sea Dogs move to 96-43, but more importantly to them,
a step closer to the playoffs.
"Every win in this series gets us a game closer," Weiner said. "We don't
want to lose tomorrow."
Washington will pitch Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz on three day's rest in
the rubber match, hoping that the momentum he built with his last win will
carry over against Phoenix. Phoenix will counter with Chan Ho Park.
Notes and Quotes:
"Clinch, nothing. I want some of those cookies!"
-Bill Mueller
"Yesterday, I heard someone yawning in the shower. That's complacent."
-Ernie Young
* * *
Washington got saved from nearly putting their fifth pitcher on the
disabled list yesterday.
Alex Fernandez felt soreness in his arm after Thursday's start, but
Washington was unable to place him on the DL in time for Friday's games.
Fortunately for Washington, instead of losing valuable disabled time for
Fernandez, he instead healed.
"Lucked out, huh?" GM Aaron Weiner said. "Yeah, Alex just came in today
and said he felt fine."
Fernandez will make his next start at home against Moncton.
Also returning sometime this week for the Sea Dogs will be All-Star
starters Ben McDonald and Barry Larkin.
McDonald, a vital part of the Sea Dogs' rotation, will return for the
first time since a freakish set of events caused him to spend major time
on the diabled list. McDonald was forced to start the All-Star Game on
one day's rest, and then was injured two starts later.
"Ben's our glue," said fellow starter Shawn Estes. "I've been able to
step up in Ben's absence from the rotation, but without him guiding me
along, I wouldn't be anywhere near that."
Larkin, also part of the Sea Dogs nucleus, broke his foot earlier this
month but will return in the minimum amount of time, two weeks.
"Hey, I guess the old bones work just as well as they used to," Larkin
said.
* * *
Though Sea Dogs manager Aaron Weiner says that Washington will be playing
their full compliment of starters against Phoenix, minus Barry Larkin,
they have no such plans against rookie starter Mark Mulder.
"You're going to see us go a little more downscale against Moncton,"
Weiner said.
Weiner said that the team would be playing without Chuck Knoblauch, Larry
Walker or Bill Mueller.
"It's not like we're just putting people in there; we're still going with
Lance Johnson, Mickey Kelly and ERnie Young," Weiner said. "But we're not
going to have the full team out there, not when we need rest, not against
a rookie."
Weiner plans to start Mike Bordick at shortstop, Nelson Liriano at second
base and put Eddie Murray at first, while also DHing Harold Baines instead
of Jim Eisenreich.
"We need all kinds of rest," Weiner said. "It's just begun."
* * *
Though Estes might have established himself as a Cy Young candidate, he
knows better than to bet against the more prominent candidate.
"Personally, it would be neat if I won it, but I'm pulling for Joey
Hamilton," Estes said. "I mean, he's been one of the best since I started
in this business and he's certainly been tops this year."
Some feel that Hamilton, Springfield's veteran ace, was robbed last year.
Despite Albie Lopez's 21 wins, Hamilton had better numbers in all the
qualitatives but did not play for a playoff team, and finished second with
just eight first-place votes.
"I just hope they overlook the fact that I'm a Sea Dog and give it to the
guy that deserves the award," Estes said. "He's been the best starter in
the PVBL since I can remember."
Hamilton is this year an astounding 18-3, the wins and winning percentage
league bests. He is second in innings to Washington's Mackenzee
Leefenhaufenhauz, second in ERA to Binghamton's Andy Ashby, and is seventh
in strikeouts.
"Again, I'm flattered, but I know who deserves this award," Estes said,
"and it's the guy playing in Springfield."
Should Ben McDonald have stayed healthy, there may have been no question
as to the winner of the award. McDonald had 15 wins at the All-Star Break
and was easily poised to post numbers equal or better than Hamilton's, but
because of his injury, dropped from contention.
