Washington Bounces Back, Takes Game 2, Falls In Game 3 October 9, 1999
The Washington Sea Dogs have had Pedro Astacio's number all year long.
Not once has the righthander defeated Washington in 1999.
So when Astacio was announced as the Game 2 starter, Washington had every
reason for confidence. And Washington turned that confidence into a win,
dropping the Phoenix Gila Monsters 3-2.
"I'm not sure I can think of too many guys we've beaten more this year
than Astacio," Sea Dogs manager Aaron Weiner said. "He and Chan Ho Park
might be joining the Mets Militia after the season if this keeps up."
However, Washington did not manage to take an insurmountable lead against
the Gila Monsters in Game 3, falling 6-5 in ten innings at home to fall
behind in the series two games to one.
"Well, they haven't been able to win in regulation," third baseman Bill
Mueller said. "That's some consolation."
Weiner will be second-guessed again for his handling of reliever Tim
Belcher in the contest. Weiner pulled Ben McDonald after allowing a grand
slam to Dave Justice in the fourth inning, but allowed Belcher to stay in
the entire rest of the game, all the way through the tenth inning.
"It was another case of a guy just mowing down the opposition," Weiner
said. "Besides, he's a durable starting pitcher in real life."
However, Belcher threw 91 pitches in the six-inning relief effort, far
more than is necessary for any reliever. Moreover, Weiner left Belcher in
for the 10th inning, a situation that would normally call for closer John
Wetteland.
"Listen, it's not like playing Russian Roulette out there," Weiner said.
"You go with the hot hand. The problem is, they just scored one more time
than we did in the tenth."
Belcher himself said that he was not tired in the ballgame.
"I've had several days off, and I wasn't giving up any hits," Belcher
said. "The first time I really got hurt was in the tenth inning. I just
blew it, that's all."
Wetteland himself was visibly angered after the game. It is one of the
first signs of real dissent between manager and player this season in the
Sea Dogs clubhouse.
"I don't know how I'm not pitching in that tenth inning," Wetteland said.
"I've been the closer all year long, I've pitched my guts out, and what
happens? I can't even get into the ballgame with the game on the line.
This is ridiculous."
When asked if Wetteland had been satisfied with his role on the Sea Dogs,
he responded also in the negative.
"You know what?" Wetteland inquired. "Other than Paul Kilgus, I'm the
most veteran arm on this staff, and I had a better year than anyone but
Paul. So how come I only got into 33 innings this year?"
Weiner's response to this outburst?
"He's just venting, that's all," Weiner said. "He hates to lose as much
as I do. But hindsight is 20/20."
After Justice's fourth-inning grand slam, which found the Sea Dogs in a
4-1 hole, Washington seemed as if they were doomed. But in the eighth
inning, Washington came back to tie it on a two-RBI double by Lance
Johnson, who was then driven in by a Chuck Knoblauch sac fly.
"At that point," Knoblauch said, "I knew it was anybody's ballgame again."
However, Phoenix managed a two-run rally against the Sea Dogs in the top
of the tenth on back-to-back RBI by third baseman Paul Konerko and
Washington's killer, Alex Gonzalez.
"You know, somebody oughta assasinate Mr. Gonzalez," Ernie Young said,
smirking. "There's no reason that guy oughta be able to smack us around
like this."
Washington now needs to win both games at home to advance to the second
round. The Sea Dogs will put 19-game winner Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz
against Phoenix ace Shane Reynolds.
"Listen, we've still got the home field advantage. And we've got the
opportunity to close this out on our own turf," Weiner said."
Playoff Notes:
Washington's top pitcher this season, Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz,
will get his wish tomorrow.
Leefenhaufenhauz, Washington's top pitcher this season, said before the
series that he wanted to see action with the series on the line. And with
Washington down 2-1, the pitcher they call "Big Mack" will have his shot.
"I know what I have to do tomorrow now," Leefenhaufenhauz said. "There
was no question in my mind that I have to pitch my best, and I will."
Leefenhaufenhauz is considered by some to be the premier starting pitcher
in the Defiant League. The pitcher has a 36-21 record with a 2.36 ERA
and has led the league in innings pitched each of the last two years.
This year, he was second in the Defiant in wins, with 19, and had a 2.53
ERA in 260 innings pitched.
"I don't know what it means to be the premier pitcher in a league when
you're just out there to win a ballgame," Leefenhaufenhauz said. "Anyone
could be beaten on any given day."
Leefenhaufenhauz notes that each of the last three games has been a
one-run finish.
"We've been playing everything close," said the starter. "So I've gotta
hold them to one less run than we get."
