Washington Falls In Game 1, Discards "Upset" Status October 6, 1999
(AP) PHOENIX, AZ--An upset in the first game of the playoffs? Hardly, say
the Washington Sea Dogs.
"There was an upset today? If there was, I certainly didn't see it,"
Washington third baseman Ernie Young said.
The Sea Dogs dropped the first game of the Division Series in Phoenix,
3-2 in 11 innings, but were adamant that the loss wasn't as major as
league commisioner Matt Peck made it out to be.
"We're looking to win the series, not sweep Phoenix," second baseman Chuck
Knoblauch said. "Honestly, we were on the road, and it's just one loss."
Washington manager Aaron Weiner was also firm about the game's status.
"It's just a road loss," Weiner said. "We're in Phoenix to win one of
two, and we're still in Phoenix to win one of two. This was the game we
could lose."
Weiner will be second-guessed for his strategy in the game. Instead of
going to his deep, talented bullpen, Weiner left starting pitcher Shawn
Estes in the ballgame for the full 10.2 innings.
"Listen, if the offense had scored, it would have been deemed a great
move," Weiner said. "I mean, Shawn was shutting them down to nothing
after the third inning, and he just kept taking the ball."
Estes himself said that he felt fine in the waning innings, and that the
rally that ended the game in the eleventh wasn't a result of his
weariness.
"They were just out there hitting good pitches," Estes said. "The
game-winner, the single by Gonzalez, that was just a good sinker he hit up
the middle.
Gonzalez seemed to have Estes' number all day, collecting a team-high thre
hits and the game-winning RBI.
"He seemed to make contact with everything I pitched," Estes said. "I was
stunned when I struck him out that one time."
Estes was also outdueled by Phoenix starter Shane Reynolds, who pitched
ten innings of six-hit ball himself, allowing just one walk.
"Whenever you go up against a former Cy Young winner in the first game of
a playoff series, you have to be a little worried," Estes said. "I wasn't
worried. I was terrified. It won't happen again."
Estes' anxiety showed immediately, as Phoenix's Derek Jeter started the
game off with a solo homer. However, Estes said that this helped him
rather than hurt.
"You know how in a football game, how they always say they're nervous
until that first hit? Well, it was kinda like that; I got clocked and
suddenly I was right in the ballgame," Estes said.
Estes would allow a third-inning run on a Raul Mondesi single that turned
into a double on left fielder Lance Johnson's throwing error, though it
was ruled a earned run because of a Dave Justice follow-up single.
But Phoenix would be quieted after that, as the Washington starter quelled
several Phoenix rallies. And Washington would put up two runs in the
fourth and fifth inning on a Mickey Kelly homer and a Jeff King groundout.
"At that point, I thought we had the momentum," Kelly said. "We had
scored in two straight innings, and I felt like we were going to break it
wide open."
But Washington was unable to score against Reynolds, and in the eleventh
inning, Andres Galarraga walked and was forced on Chili Davis' groundout.
Davis was replaced by pinch-runner Brian Schott, who was brought to second
on Paul Konerko's single. Then Gonzalez hit the game-winner.
"I'm proud of the job Shawn did," Weiner said. "He's really come of age,
and to go over ten innings against a team like Phoenix is really hard
stuff."
No member of the team was left grumbling after the loss, as they seemed
eerily stable after such an emotional defeat.
"Maybe we're in denial, but it just shows you how much we believe we can
win any and every game," shortstop Barry Larkin said. "I don't see any
reason that we can't go out there and take tomorrow's game."
Washington will start Alex Fernandez in Game 2, as scheduled. It was
thought that Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz might start the second game
because of his playoff experience, but Weiner said that he went with
Fernandez because of the way he's pitched in Phoenix.
"Alex has been great in Phoenix this year, and I want to save Mack for
Game 4. He may get a chance to close out the series," Weiner said.
Playoff Notes and Quotes:
"Had we played any better of a ballgame, we'd have won it. I don't think
that's an upset."
-Manager Aaron Weiner
"Isn't Binghamton's loss an upset? Oh, wait, no, they just suck."
-3B Ernie Young
"You know, I think this is the first time, college, pro, high school,
little league - I've EVER been removed for a defensive replacement."
-Young, on being replaced by Harold Baines
* * *
The Sea Dogs have been in precisely this position against the Gila
Monsters before.
In 1998, Washington lost a two-run ballgame to the same Shane Reynolds in
Game 1 the Division Series. The difference is that while Phoenix had the
home-field advantage in that series, they failed to win a game afterward,
including two losses in Phoenix.
"Listen, last year, we won three straight after dropping the first. It's
not as if you can gauge a playoff series by one game," second baseman
Chuck Knoblauch said.
Left fielder Lance Johnson had similar opinions.
"People weren't giving us a chance last year, and Phoenix got a little
overconfident," Weiner said. "I think Shane Reynolds just outpitched us
by a little bit today, and that's all that happened."
Manager Aaron Weiner pointed out a very important fact.
"Reynolds was their top pitcher this year," Weiner said. "He won the most
games on the staff, he had the lowest ERA. We have the luxury of letting
our guy, Mack, go fourth in the order."
There is no question that the matchup between Alex Fernandez and Pedro
Astacio favors the Sea Dog righthander. After much early-season success,
but no record to show for it, Pedro Astacio's ERA climbed from an
excellent 1.85 to a solid 3.45.
Fernandez, on the other hand, has won 15 games in just five months with
the Sea Dogs, compiling an ERA of 2.57. He has been just a .500 pitcher
since the All-Star Break, but more players were rested in his starts than
any other Washington starter.
"Listen, I wouldn't have said we had the advantage yesterday," Weiner
said. "But in Alex, we're pitching an All-Star, a guy who's been through
a lot of rough times, and who really wants to do well. I feel like he can
outdo Astacio."
However, there is a rift in the Sea Dog clubhouse about the choice. Some
think that Leefenhaufenhauz should start the ballgame because he has been
arguably the most consistent pitcher in the league and would be going in
rotation.
Weiner, however, disagrees.
"I asked Mackenzee before the playoffs what role he wanted to take,"
Weiner said. "He said, simply, that he wanted to be in there with the
series on the line, and whether we're up 2-1 or down 2-1, that meant Game
4."
Leefenhaufenhauz concurred with this statement.
"If I start Game 2 or not, I don't go later in the series,"
Leefenhaufenhauz said. "I wanted to be in there late in the series."
So, does this mean that Leefenhaufenhauz will pitch Game 3 if the Sea Dogs
find themselves down 2-0?
"Nope, that was Ben's game from the start," Weiner said, referring to
17-game winner Ben McDonald. "He was gonna pitch Game 3 come hell or high
water."
* * *
Washington will be going through some lineup changes for the playoffs.
The Sea Dogs saw Mickey Kelly in right field for the first time in his
major-league career to make room for Jeff King at first base. The move
worked halfway; Kelly homered for one of the two Sea Dog runs, but King
went 0-4.
Washington is expected to bat Kelly in the #2 spot in the order tomorrow,
a move that they experimented with late in the season with much success.
"Kelly's going to be one of our big guns next year," Weiner said, "and
that's not prediction, that's fact. He's the next All-Universe player."
Washington will likely start Harold Baines at designated hitter tomorrow
as well. Baines, who replaced Ernie Young at third base, said that he's
excited to be starting in the playoffs again.
"Hey, it felt kinda weird being in the field again," Baines said. "I
mean, I haven't been in the field all year long, and suddenly, I'm out
there. At least I get to play."
Weiner said that he put Baines in there because Bill Mueller thought it
would be funny.
"I didn't think it was all that humorous, since he was the logical backup
and Ernie Young's the best defender at third base in baseball. But Bill
thought it would be a great idea to get the troops loose," Weiner said.
Several of the players were grumbling after the game about the move.
"Listen, the playoffs is no time for comedy," shortstop Barry Larkin said.
"It would be like playing me at catcher - no, worse, because Harold's a DH
and everybody knows it."
Mueller, for his grand idea, will start at third base tomorrow as well.
"We want to use some of the components that were here last year and beat
Astacio," Weiner said. "Bill is one of those, as is Harold."
