Angels 'utilize' versatile infielder Martinez Four in fourth help Halos stop four loss streak By John Marx Staff sports writer Ray Martinez knows not where. However, he does know that most times he will. And the QuadCity Angels' utility infielder is always willing. Whether it be third base, shortstop, second or an occasional stop at always-ready role reason the Q-C second-half crown. "He's a good ager Don Long who, like all the well into a solid son. "He has the ability any spot because arm which is a ing able to play the "And he has which not only the plays on balls allows him to turn Coming to the ing what his day's be presents no Martinez. 66 Basically, I just Martinez said of first-place Angels. the role I would be son and I accepted been fair with me chance. CLINTON If somebody had yelled "fore" sometime Monday night here at Riverview Stadium, members of the Quad-City Angels baseball club might have responded with a resounding "thank A four-run, fourth-inning outburst sparked by Bobby Jones' threerun homer - helped the Angels to a 4-1 win over the hosting Clinton Giants. The win also snapped a fourgame Angel losing streak. QuadCity now holds a 3½-game lead over Cedar Rapids in the Southern Division race. Winning pitcher Fili Martinez, 12-4, scattered five hits while striking out nine and walking just two. The win was was only the second the Angels have enjoyed against the Ray Martinez first, the Halos' player is a prime crew is chasing a Southern Division infielder," Q-C mansaid of Martinez Angels, has molded team unit this sea- to play well at he's got a good prerequisite for beinfield. very good hands allows him to make hit to him, it also the double play." park without knowassignment will problem at all for want to play," his role with the "I knew this is playing this seathat. Donnie's in giving me the "I thought I could be an everyday player, but the role I've played allows me a lot of opportunity to serve the team in the best way possible. It's been fun so far and I enjoy winning." Martinez's statistics prove his value to the club, playing in 80 of the team's 110 games at four different positions. Though his batting average is in the .225 area, he has six homers and 28 RBIs in his utility role. Martinez has also managed 35 walks and Giants in 11 outings this season. Both of them have been at Riverview Stadium. While the Angels only had five hits in the nine-inning contest, they bunched them in the fourth. Ronnie Ortegon reached on error to lead off the frame and stole second. One out later, Mick Billmeyer hit a slow roller between first base and the pitchers mound for an infield hit. On that play, Clinton starter Carl Hanselman twisted his back, but stayed in the game. Jones was the next batter and ripped his three-run shot. Edgal Rodriguez followed with a single and scored on Ray Martinez's double to close out the Angel scoring. scored 34 runs doing shared duty. Long says the always "on-call" Martinez has handled his role with the club and has done solid work whenever and wherever called upon. "I think he knew his role from the start,' said Long. "I knew I'd get him a lot of playing time because of his versatility." No matter what the circumstances are, Martinez simply wants to be part of a winner. "Everybody wants to get to the To clinch 1st place 20 (Combination of Q-C wins and Cedar Rapids losses) To clinch playoffs 16 (Combination of Q-C wins and Burlington losses) big leagues, and being on a winner and learning the team concept is the best direction to take," said the Highland Park, Calif., native. In the long run, the utility role is an advantage, according to Martinez. "I think you need someone around who can play three or four positions," he said. "It gives the manager some flexibility. Hopefully it will work to my advantage along the way."
