Masato Yoshii was a trade deadline pickup a few years back for the Punxatawney
Groundhogs. They needed some insurance for the playoffs with a pitching staff
that had a few injuries. A few years later, Yoshii found himself given the
daunting task of trying to beat the Galena Hamsters in game 4 of the World
Series with the Hogs trailing 2-1.
"I big game pitcher," said Yoshii before the game. "No problem."
His owner and manager was a little less confident. Shapiro reportedly asked
Rocky Coppinger what he thought about throwing game 4, but Coppinger said he
wasn't ready to go. Yoshii was given the ball and nobody knew quite what to
expect.
Quickly, Yoshii quieted his doubters. He coasted through the first few
innings, scattering a hit here and there. But Kevin Appier was doing to the
same to Punxatawney. They barely touched him in the first three frames and the
score remained tied at 0-0 through 3 1/2 innings.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Hogs finally broke through. With one out, Jose
Valentin drew a hard earned walk after fouling off a few pitches, but a slow
Jason Giambi grounder in the hole forced him at second, leaving Giambi on first
for Ryan Klesko. Klesko struggled a bit this year and has watched his career
truly decline since his amazing 1997 season in which be hit around .350 with 50
homers and 150 RBI. He hit just .281 with 20 homers and 52 RBI in 110 games in
2001, but had a chance to erase a bad season with one swing in the World
Series. He did just that.
On a high 2-1 fastball, Klesko turned and cranked Appier's offering into the
right field seats for a homer. It made the score 2-0, and with the way Yoshii
was pitching, it looked like it might be enough.
"It took a load off my back," said Klesko. "I felt like I was dragging us down
all year, but I can forget that now."
Klesko and game one hero Alex Ochoa both expressed the same sentiments, noting
that the one postseason moment can truly erase a disappointing season.
For the next few innings, Yoshii continued to dominate. Galena got runners on
base, and even threatened to score once in the 6th, but Yoshii was on
auto-pilot and shot down every challenge. When he finally left the game after
7 2/3 innings, having allowing 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3, he got
a 10 minute standing ovation from the Hogs fans. Things settled down and Ricky
Bottalico got young star Andruw Jones to fly out to center on a 3-2 offering to
end the 8th, and the game went quickly to the final frame with Bobby Munoz
coming in to try and stop Galena.
"Bobby has really struggled in this series, but we need him and we needed his
confidence back," said Shapiro. "Maybe it was a risk, but confidence is
crucial to us."
Munoz today had a tough task, facing Bernie Williams, Terry Steinbach, and
Wilton Guerrero. It ended up being a breeze. Williams grounded to third
baseman Scott Rolen, Terry Steinbach fouled out to catcher Dan Wilson, and
Wilton Guerrero was left with his jaw hanging on a curveball.
"I feel a lot better now," said Munoz. "The coach knows I appreciated it."
Now the Hogs once again face a crucial game 5 in a series tied at 2. This
time, Rocky Coppinger gets the ball for the big game. Bobby Thomas is
scheduled for game 6 and Job Lieber for the huge game 7.
"It'd be nice if Jonnie didn't have to throw again," said Coppinger. "I'll try
and do my part tomorrow."
