An article that was published in the Sacramento Bee on Monday, May 9, 2005.
Rheinecker makes a buzz of his own
By Arnold Knightly -- Special To The Bee, Monday, May 9, 2005
LAS VEGAS - The buzz entering Sunday afternoon's game at Cashman Field concerned Eric Gagne's scheduled rehabilitation appearance.
The buzz afterward was about River Cats starting pitcher John Rheinecker.
After surrendering a hit to the first Las Vegas 51s batter, Rheinecker retired the next 21. The left-hander went 7 2/3 innings, gave up three hits and one earned run, struck out five and walked none in a 10-7 River Cats victory.
"That first inning, I wasn't comfortable on the mound," said Rheinecker, whose ERA dropped to 1.77, third-best in the Pacific Coast League. "I couldn't find my fastball release point. That first inning, I had to get out of there. After that, I was pretty much OK."
By the time Gagne, the National League's 2003 Cy Young Award winner, took the mound in the ninth inning, the River Cats led 10-3. As the sun shone brightly in a nearly cloudless sky, Gagne's appearance became the highlight for the home fans.
"He's got three great pitches," River Cats hitting coach Brian McArn said of the Los Angeles Dodgers' closer. "You've just got to try to get a good pitch to hit. Don't try and do too much. Take what he gives you. Try to see everything in the middle and hit it back up the middle."
That advice was easier heard than executed, as Steve Jackson, Freddie Bynum and Andrew Beattie became victims of Gagne's arsenal. They all struck out as Gagne threw only 13 pitches, 11 for strikes.
"I felt great," said Gagne, who made his first appearance in a game since straining his right elbow and spraining his left knee seven weeks ago.
"I wasn't worried about the outcome, I was worried about myself on the mound, whether I was going to throw strikes or not," Gagne added. "My intensity on the mound was really good. I'm really happy about it."
Said Beattie, who was called up from Double-A Midland on May 2: "It was great to face Gagne. I was so excited. I was counting down the batters while he was getting loose, hoping I'd get an opportunity to face him. Although he got me, I enjoyed it."
Despite the strikeout, Beattie raised his batting average to .353 with two doubles and a triple. He also scored three runs and had two RBIs.
As good as starting pitching was for the River Cats, the bullpen struggled again. After blowing a one-run lead in the 10th inning Friday night, the relievers yielded four runs in the ninth Sunday.
Marcus Gwyn, who gave up the game-winning hit Friday, pitched two-thirds of an inning Sunday, surrendering four runs (three earned) on two walks and one hit. Mario Ramos faced two batters, giving up one hit and one walk, before Ron Flores came in for the save.
Cats at a glance
Winning pitcher: John Rheinecker (4-0).
Big stick: River Cats second baseman Andrew Beattie went 3 for 6 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and three runs. He was also one of Eric Gagne's three strikeout victims.
How they won: Rheinecker retired 21 straight batters, and the River Cats built a 10-3 lead with 17 hits.
What they said: "He's really committed himself to working hard this year and doing what it takes to get to the next level." - River Cats pitching coach Rick Rodriguez on Rheinecker, who lowered his ERA to 1.77.
Next: Today at Las Vegas, 10:30 a.m.
Today's pitchers: River Cats - RHP Britt Reames (2-2, 3.71); 51s - RHP Edwin Jackson (2-1, 5.13).
No comments:
Post a Comment