The Royals set a record for embarrassing a visiting team after hitting 7 in
the final game of the series against the Vampires. Armando Reynoso, Mark
Acre and Pete Harnisch combined on a 7-hit shutout as the Royals beat up on
the Vampires 11-0. Bill Spiers and Frank Thomas lead the home run bash with
2 apiece, and Spiers tied a career mark by driving in 4 on the night.
43,560 turned out for the game last night. Winning against the lifeless
Vampires was one thing, but crushing the Sled Dogs 12-3 is another. The
Royal batters combined for 19 hits and another 4 home runs (that's 11 in 2
consecutive games) in the winning cause and Ben McDonald got his 17th win
of the season ("that was my easiest win of the season," said McDonald).
So the race between Edmonton and Montreal tightens up. "Whoever wins this
division will go far in the playoffs," said manager Gary Carter. "Whoever
doesn't win will get a head start in their hockey pools."
Who has been red hot for the hottest team in the Hot Pepper Virtual
Baseball League? Ben McDonald has been very solid, but Armando Reynoso has
been the September ace. He continues to maintain his form of early last
season when he played for the Kamloops Blazers. Bill Spiers, another former
Blazer (now the Albany Cougars), has been hitting home runs like crazy, and
Pete Harnisch has been a surprise performing so solidly in relief (he has
run his scoreless inning streak to 11 1/3 innings).
Mark Grace has recovered from his injury but the Royals will put him in
long relief. Rheal Cormier, Ben McDonald, Jack McDowell, Armando Reynoso
and Arthur Rhodes have been so solid that Mike Grace has no place in the
rotation.
