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Thursday, June 20, 2002

By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Oakland Athletics vs. Pirates, 7:05 p.m., PNC Park. TV: Fox Sports Net. Radio: KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. RHP Kris Benson (0-3) will start for the Pirates, RHP Tim Hudson (4-6) for the A's.

The Pirates had nothing but praise for longtime St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck, who died yesterday. "Jack Buck was one of the finest men I've ever met in baseball," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He was certainly a class act and a professional in every phase. He was first class. It's a tragic loss. My heart goes out to his family and to the St. Louis Cardinal family. He was a wonderful man." Pirates bench coach Bill Virdon played for the Cardinals in their minor-league system and at the major-league level and lives in Missouri, so he was well acquainted with Buck. "I never really heard him broadcast much, but he was always a very intelligent person," Virdon said. "He knew the game. He went out of his way to be fair. He was always congenial. I really liked him. But the thing I'll always remember is how tough he was over the last three or four years. He handled that as good as anybody I've ever seen. He kept going, kept broadcasting. He was still funny, still positive. That's what was most impressive to me."

Jason Kendall talked by phone late yesterday afternoon with Milwaukee LF Geoff Jenkins, whose ankle was hurt Monday night in an injury similar to one Kendall received July 4, 1999. "We talked for about 20 minutes," Kendall said. "I just kind of explained what I went through, that it was a freak accident and that the good thing is that it happened now. He'll be able to rehab and be ready for the start of next season. I knew what it was like to have people call me who'd been through it. When you have something like this, everybody and his mother calls you, but it means more when it's somebody who's been through it."

Josh Fogg is 2-4 in his past six starts and has allowed 22 earned runs in 36 innings. "He certainly hasn't been as dominating or as sharp as the way he got out of the gate," McClendon said. "But this is a tough league. People make adjustments. And he'll make adjustments [in return]. He'll make them quick because he's a strike-thrower." In Tuesday night's start, Fogg got a lot of pitches up early in the game and allowed four runs in three-plus innings. But he pitched six innings and didn't give up any more runs. "He kept us in the game," McClendon said. "If [Tuesday] night is as tough as it gets for him, we have a pretty decent pitcher on our hands." Fogg started on six days' rest -- two more than usual. McClendon thinks maybe that made him too strong, causing his pitches to be up early in the game. It's possible the Pirates will skip Joe Beimel the next time through the rotation because they have an off-day Monday. If Beimel misses a turn, Fogg would pitch Sunday against Texas, then come back on four days' rest Friday in Detroit.

Pirates SS Jack Wilson played his position particularly adroitly Tuesday night, handling eight chances flawlessly and with a bit of flair. "He was very relaxed and knew what he was doing," McClendon said. "It looked like he knew his turf pretty well." Said an admiring 2B Pokey Reese: "I thought he was awesome. He made all the plays. He went into the hole. He handled balls off the pitcher. Jack can do it. Jack is one of the best young shortstops in the game. When he gets to hitting, look out. He's still learning. He works hard. He want to be the best. He's got a lot of at-bats ahead of him."

RHP Kris Benson pitched only three innings in his start in Cincinnati Friday night, but that was long enough for McClendon to continue to be encouraged by his progress. "I think he was dominating," McClendon said. "His stuff was as good as I've seen it all year. He had his breaking ball going early for strikes. He threw some real good sinkers. He threw his fastball in and out." Benson, who missed all of last season because of reconstructive elbow surgery, is scheduled to make his eighth start of the season tonight. "I see much better stuff from him," McClendon said. "And I see the stuff lasting longer. The 'touch-and-feel' stuff is going to take some time, but I see a healthy pitcher, and I see improvement every time out."

Oakland RHP Tim Hudson is 1-0 with a 3.13 ERA in his past five starts. In his past four starts, he has allowed opponents to hit .349 but has yielded only five runs in 26 1/3 innings. In 13 career interleague starts, he is 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA.

NASHVILLE (34-38) lost to Tucson, 5-4. Reliever Al Reyes allowed three runs in the ninth inning. Starter Bronson Arroyo allowed five hits, two walks and two runs and struck out eight in seven innings. RF Adam Hyzdu had two hits and three RBIs. C Mandy Romero had two hits and an RBI.

ALTOONA (37-31) lost at Portland, 8-4. Starter Adrian Burnside (1-6) allowed seven hits, three walks and six runs in six innings. CF Tony Alvarez had two hits. LF Kevin Sefcik had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI.

LYNCHBURG (47-23) is off until tonight because of the Carolina League All-Star break.

HICKORY (44-26) is off until tonight because of the South Atlantic League All-Star break.

WILLIAMSPORT (1-0) won its season opener at Aberdeen, 8-3. Starter Nicholas Gravelle, who had been with Hickory, allowed four hits, four walks and two runs and struck out seven in five innings. 1B Brad Eldred had two hits, including a home run. CF Anthony Bocchino had two hits. 3B Chris Bass had two hits and an RBI. 2B Domingo Cuello hit a two-run home run and scored twice.

BRADENTON (0-0) was rained out against the Orioles.