CCT: Giants get no relief in loss to Arizona...
Steven Chan, quoting Jay Heater of The Contra Costa Times
in loss to Arizona --
Rodriguez can't rescue
fading Hershiser in seventh
as Diamondbacks rally
---------------------------
By Jay Heater
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Contra Costa Times
Wednesday July 22, 1998
SAN FRANCISCO -- At age 40, it's obvious there is going to be a gap
between the time Orel Hershiser runs out of gas and the Nen(th)
inning.
Giants manager Dusty Baker, who is armed with one of baseball's top
closers in Robb Nen, obviously will have to find a way to plug that
gap if his team is going to challenge for a playoff berth.
Baker replaced the fading Hershiser with reliever Rich Rodriguez in
the seventh inning of Tuesday night's 5-3 loss to Arizona at 3Com
Park.
At the time, the Giants led the expansion Diamondbacks 3-2 and
appeared headed toward a two-game sweep of the series. Considering San
Francisco's 1-8 road trip, a 2-0 start on the seven-game homestand
would have been a good way to cure any frustration Baker's players
were experiencing.
Then disaster struck. Hershiser, who threw just 95 pitches before
hitting the wall, walked off with runners at first and second with one
out. Rodriguez filled the bases by walking Travis Lee with his first
four pitches, and Devon White then stroked a two-run single into right
center field for a 4-3 Arizona lead. The Diamondbacks tacked on an
insurance run in the ninth.
At 54-46, the Giants are just two games behind the pace they set last
season in winning the division. But it is obvious that Baker has some
major concerns to address if his team is to earn a playoff berth.
One concern has to be the fact that no Giants starting pitcher seems
capable of taking over the ace's role. Hershiser had a good
opportunity to pitch deep into a game against the weak-hitting
Diamondbacks (.249), a team that leads only Florida (.247) in the
National League in batting average and that now is without Matt
Williams because of a stress fracture in his right foot.
Hershiser (8-8) struggled early, giving up a run in the first inning
before leaving the bases loaded. He got stronger through the middle of
the game before hitting the wall in the seventh. Three of the first
four batters to face him in the seventh ripped hits.
That wasn't surprising. Hershiser has completed seven innings only
once in his past 10 outings.
-------------------------------
DIAMONDBACKS 5, GIANTS 3
TODAY: Cardinals (Bobby Witt 0-1 or Mike Busby 5-1)
at Giants (Kirk Rueter 10-5), 7:35 p.m.
TV: FSBA. RADIO: 680-AM
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This article has been posted, independent of the Contra Costa Times, a
Knight-Ridder Newspaper, Š Copyright 1998. All rights reserved.
c(_)~~ Get the CCTimes online: http://www.hotcoco.com
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