Record-Journal from Meriden, Connecticut • 59

4 4 Record-Journal Meriden Conn Sunday August 12 1990 D-7 SPORTSBASEBALL scramble to find replacements BRITSOX KEITH RYAN i- 2S-7I Sanders'- seven wins acounted for one-quarter of the team total is like a new beginning for Hobson said enthusiasm could rub off on the chib He could make the i NEW LOOK: In an attempt to help the team snap out of a two-month batting slump the Red Sox sent outfielder Stu Weidie down to Single-A Lynchburg and signed free-agent outfielder Wayne Housie The fleet-footed Housie (How-iee) was released by the Tigers' organization in spring training and had been playing for the independent Salinas Spurs in the Class-A California League nix Firebirds asking why They want to know why the Southington native is in Triple-A but why he was taken out pf his last start Meier pitched six' innings at hitting-haven Colorado Springs last Sunday and allowed six hits one run walked one and struck out four Meier left with a 4-1 lead and the SkySox erupted for five runs in the seventh en route-to a 7-4 win over the San Francisco Giants top farm club On the season the righthanded Meier is 4-2 with a 340 ERA Things aren't going as well for Cheshire's Brad Ausmus and Meriden's Ernie Carr Ausmus continues to struggle at the plate for the Yan- Class-A affiliate in the Carolina League The 20-year-old catcher is hitting just 206 with no homers and 15 RBIs in 84 games for the Prince William Cannons Carr played in Just two games for carr played in just two games for NEW BRITAIN When Jeff Reardon underwent back surgery last week the cut of the knife reached all the way down to Winter Haven Fla Reardon's injury prompted a chain reaction of moves throughout the Red Sox organisation The resulting roster changes could have a dramatic effect on the New Britain Red Sox' drive to make the Eastern League playoffs When Reardon went down Boston called up reliever Darryl Irvine from PawtnekeLThe Pawsox suddenly duct on pitching promoted teft-hand-ed starter David Owen and right-handed reliever Jeff Plympton from New Britain This left the Britsox without their most consistent starter Owen and minus bullpen ace Plympton Out went the call to Single A Winter Haven where right-hander A1 Sanders made the trip up the coast to New Britain And New Britain Butch Hobson is hoping for the Double-A San Antonio Mission last week and had lero than have Twardoski Mid the pitching stays die way it has been be in this thing to the 1911 er 1949 Public address announcement at the Bourne vs Orleans Cape league game last week: is a grey Studebaker in the parking lot with its lights LOCAL UPDATE A former Red Sox farmhand took some pot shots at the organization recently Reggie Harris a flame-throwing right-hander who was left off 40-man roster last spring and was picked up by the Oakland Athletics Harris who picked up his first major league victo- recently Mid there was no compa-m between the two organizations is up here and Boston is down here" Harris said first bidding bis hand above his head and then it down to fame level Harris on to say that there was much' more one-on-one instruction with the Athletics Mike Raczka never played with Harris or with the Red Sox for that matter but the Southington native is currently with Oakland's TripfoA affiliate in the California League and he fob likes what he sees with the A's is a lot of one-on-one instruction Raczka said talk to you more and keep you mentally ahead of the Raczka spent three years the Baltimore organization before being I last fall The 29-year-old left-I on with San Diego and to the top minor league team in Las Vegas before he was released in May After a month of inactivity Raczka signed with the A's and was assigned to the Tacoma Tigers be Raczka said "They have been great 5-4 with one Mve and a Salinas is owned by Joe Buzas who also owns the Red Sox and it is through Buzas that Housie came to the attention of the Red Sox "Joe asked Red Sox form director Ed Kenney to take a look at New Britain General Manager Gerry Berthiaume said 'They liked what they sawisnd knowing Joe they decided to sip The 5-1 155-pound switch-hitter had 27 stolen bases for Salinas and has some pop in his bat as Hagerstown found out In the first game of the doublebead-er Housie hitting lefthanded drove a shot over the head of the left fielder who was playing shallow for a triple In the i memorable results The former Platt star batted twice and struck out both times to lower his average to J43 ban TRIVIA ANSWER -No the Britsox have never finished first New Britain's best regular-season finish was in 1985 when the Red Sox' record of 7504 wu good for second place in the Eastern League The team does however have one EL Championship to its credit The title came in 1983 armsoan "It hurts losing Plympton and Hobson said has been our most consistent starter the last few months" The SS-yearidd Owen was 74 with a 213 ERA in 20 starts for New Britain The 5-fot4 227-pound southpaw allowed Just 123 hits and 40 wants in 132 inningsj-i v- Plympton the heir apparent to Reardon was 3-4 with a 247 ERA and his 13 saves were third in the league The Plain ville Mass native walked II and strnck out SS in innings His departure leaves a big void in a bullpen which had been New 17 and then rode Roger Clemens to a playoff victory strong point Fk i) warninc track fat deep Housie who batted third for Salinas surprised to see the Hagerstown outfield playing him shallow happens all the time" Housie said "A lot of people do that They think I cant hit it that far But Just because you are little doesnt mean a cant hit it a tang way You Just ve to have a quick Hobson has Housie starting in center field and it is hoped he can add another dimension to the Britsox Florence and (Dave) Valters will move into the setup Hobson explained Freddie Davis and closer! Davis a tall lanky Oil Can Boyd AND YOU THOUGHT THEY LEAVE EARLY IN LJL The New Britain Red Sox went over the 100 000-mark in attendance last week but up from Single A Lynchburg last month The sidearmar istO with a 2JI ERA and two saves sometimes you wonder why people bother coming at alL Wednesday with the Britsox hosting Hagerstown in a make-or-break doubleheader a good crowd of 3072 showed up at Beehive It wm a better than average crgtfd at Beehive and surprisingly tnaerowd seemed to be into the gagM Often times crowds at Beehlvertval a gathering at a funeraL The foils had their spirits buoyed by a 44 New Britain win in game one Game tero wm even more entertaining With the Sox in desperate meed of a win the score wm tied 00 heading into die sixth inning Unfortunately for the home team it wu nearly 19 pm and almost on cue at least half the crowd filed out of the parking lot By the time the Sox pushed acrou a run in the bottom of the seventh to cbim a thrilling 14 win barely 1000 people remained at the park Granted it tough to get young children to sit through two games but 10 pm not that late especially since it wu August and not a school night 442 ERA for the Triple-A Tigers He has benefited from the instruction of pitching coach Chuck Astrada who played briefly with the Baltimore Orioles and abo coached with the Psdres main thing here is that they just let you Raczka said "In Baltimore they were always trying to ething either with my de-or adding or subtracting a pitch know that at this level everyone can play If you are in this caliber of league you have the toob The mg the mental game" said that before he was signed by the he never thought of riving up He ran every day and threw agains a cement wall to keep hb arm in shape just wanted to get a chance somewhere the former University of New Haven standout Mid like a whole new start A lot O'Neill has been one of the biggest surprises for New Britain Released by the organization in April O'Neil is54 with an Oil ERA and eight saves Davis gotvhk first chance as Plymptows substitute Wednesday night and droved a worthy replace ment Davis entered foe first game of a crucial doubleheader with Hagerstown with runners at first and second one out and New Britain leading 1-0 Davis got the first batter on a choice grounder and then got out of the inning on a foul pop to first The Britsox scored three insurance runs in die bottom of the sixth and Davis cruised through the seventh for his second save don't feel any extra Davis Mid are four of us down there Just got to come with the four of us and each one of us Pitcher David Owen right has been promoted to Pawtucket Twardoski said after the Hagerstown have to add to this five-winning streak1 "He is a little catalyst1 rtilinwn said Wl player but be positive direction the not good news to Stu Weidie but the Red Sox needed to do something to befo what has bens a long slump Ail it takes is one player BAGWELL WATCH: Jeff Bagwell has begun his assault on the NewBrtt-ain record book The Britsox third baseman cpntinues to lead the Eastern League in hitting with a J3S average If the Killingwortfa resident can maintain that average he win break Dana Williams' club record of 335 set in 1M7 Bagwell also has a chance to become the first-ever Britsox player to lead the EL in hitting In doubkheader Bag-well collected two hits to tie Williams' team-record of 131 set in 1985 The second hit also gave Bagwell a 17-game hitting strata The former Xavier star is three triples shy of Roberto chib-record 10 in 17 and his 21 doubles is six shy of die dub mark set by Sam Nattile in 14 Bagwell also is on track to break record of 203 total bases and EUis Burks' mark of 471 atbats set In 15 There woe plenty of positive signs for the Sox Wednesday In the first 'In t- "fT -hi' id! hQ mV ni Inn iM mb u8 i J1J iw -lri ud- Ifld Ei 1-1 'OP jir 'Ci? 'V rtU Bin is ard vtid 'ii 131 imp ific vul GJ a lit! 'a! ih i9t 'IIW ini -ni cT 0 Xt! 1 11 r-) i'l! Tii -i IM Id i 1 iiL -'p! 'sj it 4 of good things can Kevin Meier has tans of GB 55 51 4 55 53 5 New Britain 53 58 7V4 Since that loss to Williamsport the Britsox have won five games in a row including a douMeheader sweep of Hagerstown Wednesday in New Britain As of Thursday Aug 9 the standings were: GB Hagerstown 57 54 5 New Britain 58 58 5K Harrisburg 58 58 5 Not only did New 40 and 14 wins over Hagerstown keep the Red Sox in die playoff chaM they abo gave the Britsox the season se- the Phoe- has to do Though the bullpen should be well served with Davis and the key will be Sanders The 22-year-old right-hander was Impressive in his New Britain debut Sandery started TOYOTA -ru YJYii? -PARTS A SERVICE 'Vaevtotyoudojorme? game clinging to a 14 sixth-inning lead New Main got a clutch two-run pinch-hit single from reserve catcher Todd Pratt in the bottom of sixth as the home team scored three insurance runs In the nightcap Paul QuantriU shut out the Suns for seven innings but still the game was tied when Bagwell reached on an error to open the seventh The Britsox eventually loaded the bases with one out but pinch-hitter Vinnie DeGifico popped out to shallow center Thirditring catcher Craig Wilson (188) was next Former major leaguer Matt Kinzer hit Wilson with a pitch and the Sox had their sweep couple of weeks ago these are just the Mods of games we would OIL CHANGE SPECIAL 1990 up to 5 qts Deluxe Oil Oil Filter Lobe with fluids belts hoses ries over the Suns 104 Should the two teamq tie for fourth place at the end of the season New Britain would advance as a result of its better to-head record just have to keep it New Britain first baseman last Sunday against Williamsport pitching 14 innings Sanders allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out six to earn a no-decislon "Al Sanders pitched Hobson said is a young man who did a heck of a Job at Winter Haven At one time I think he had 23 consecutive coreless innings which is quite a feat in the Florida State league "He has a sharp breaking curve-ball and a decent fastball He is going to be alright We needed another right-handed Sander Joins right-handers Derek Livernois and Paul Quan trill and left- Plus Tax TRIVIA TIME Have the New Britain Red Sox ever finished first in the Eastern League? Answer below Includes complete and lights checked Alio includes Brake In- Seme model may vary paction Some models may vary Res I Coupon Coupon I Minor Tune-Up Wheel Alignment 1SW 3950 2 Whtsl Alignment 3295 MAJOR TUNE-UP WUhorteosirgasWiandseali 4 Spark plugs PCV Valve Fuel Filler Air Filter 9410 etMtu Adiuit Velvet Emission Teet Valve cover wm cam mists ind gasket extra 6 cylinder extra (pro 1974 Toyotas jT extra platinum plugs extra Fuel Injection 131 1 stasiax Vehicle Extra) Rsg S128S9 inxi mu PENNANT FEVER: On Aug 2 New Britain dropped a 44 decteion to the last-place Williamsport BUb-at Beehive Field It wu the sixth straight lou for the Britsox and handers "Kevin Morton Tom Fischer In the New Britain rotation state at Winter Haven are somewhat astonishing The blonde 189-pounder wu 7-7 with a 230 ERA for the HaveSox In 113 innings the native of Washington state allowed 95 hits walked 35 and struck out 113 Considering Winter Haven wu Just dropped them 3H games fourth-pbee Hagerstown The top four teams make the Eastern! on looked like thb: -COUPON OIL FILTERS 499 Reg Price MM ee Saw mora whan you GENUINE NIPPON DENSO i RESISTOR SPARKPLUGS tu $99j I I I Buy 5 or mora (5450 aa) Rsf Pitas ISASesi mufh 1 175 Lawn Tractor 14-hp 4-cycle Kawasaki engine with full-pressure lubrication Hydrostatic drive allows one lever speed direction control 38-Inch cutting width Overhead valves provide more torque and better fuel economy Sector-and-plnion steering and tight turning radius for superb handling Full-length welded steel frame adds Mows one acre In about an hour OTHER TRACTORS from 1799 1 tWEiLUhONORALUOUfUOYO competitorsTcoUrons XJS XJt SOVEREIGN CONVERTIBLES all modals NEW 90 XJ6 IS months NO MONEY DOWN REFUNDABLE 850 DEPOSIT In XidsAt If ivtr you thought Jaguar luxury wtu out of roach ot 288 por month you won probably wrongll BUma ms AD WITH YOU ANO PRESENT AT T1HE OF WRiTE-UP inmu3 7808 I mmi i ONt-SfOP SHOPPING for IOYOTA QUAinrsewicc parts 90 DAYS SAMEASCASH rKl Nothing Runs Irnl UteaCfecnf Sale good thru 82490 hwktfto r-h liMmunl CONNECTICUT SUZUKI 1 192 North Colony Rdf Wallingford OUT Of TOWN CALL 265-1206 1-80M43-4FUN CENTURY TOYOTA (niozacnrxtti 0'oaann 1 TOTRrsror Bl iWAI AUtNOFORDMBOt 58417436.