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Sunday, June 30, 2002

Compiled by Robert Dvorchak

Pirates vs. Tigers, 2:05 p.m., Comerica Park, Detroit. TV: WCWB. Radio: KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. RHP Kris Benson (1-4) will be on the mound for the Pirates, LHP Mike Maroth (1-1) for the Tigers.

It's been a long time coming -- about 10 weeks actually -- but Aramis Ramirez is starting to look like the player he was a year ago. He's still not 100 percent, but Ramirez is hitting, running the bases and fielding his position without showing any visible signs of his severe right ankle sprain. Going into the game last night, he was hitting .318 in his past 44 at-bats. He scored the deciding run on a sacrifice fly Friday by taking an extra base. Although his average and the team's offensive output suffered because of the injury, Ramirez said he never wanted to go on the disabled list. "I didn't want to come out of the lineup. I just had to play through it," he said.

There was some criticism of how the Pirates handled the situation, notably that a hobbled Ramirez was hurting the team by not producing. But Manager Lloyd McClendon defended his decision to play Ramirez through the ordeal. "Number one, the medical staff told us he was doing absolutely no damage to the ankle. It was not going to get any worse. It was going to be a slow process as far as him getting better, and putting him on the [disabled list] was not going to get him better any faster," McClendon said. "Number two, we have a player that has a chance to be a pretty good player and maybe some day reach superstar status. Having said that, it's my responsibility as his manager to get him to understand that sometimes you have to play when you're a little dinged up if you want to be one of the quote-unquote superstar players in this league."

Ever wonder what is said during those conferences on the mound when the pitching coach and catcher come out to talk to the pitcher? In the win Friday night, pitching coach Spin Williams went to the mound and talked to Josh Fogg, who had just walked two batters and was visibly upset. "I just wanted him to take a minute and collect himself. Anybody can be cool when things are going right," Williams said. When Williams came to the mound, his words to Fogg were: "Clear your mind." To which C Jason Kendall responded: "What are you talking about, clear your mind. This isn't English class." The exchange prompted Fogg to smile, which was exactly what the Pirates wanted him to do. "I've got to be out there having fun. If I'm out there beating myself up, I'm not going to be successful," Fogg said. Williams barely had taken his seat again before Fogg served up a double-play ball that got him out of the inning.

The Tigers entered the game last night with the worst record (26-51) in the majors and out of the pennant race well before the All-Star break. Manager Luis Pujols called his players together Friday to deliver a message: "I wanted them to know I wasn't throwing in the towel."

Baseball numbers are sometimes tough to decipher. Going into last night, the Pirates had failed to get a hit from their designated hitter in four interleague games. Ramirez, Abraham Nunez and Craig Wilson were a combined 0 for 14. In American League ballparks, however, the Pirates were hitting .301 as a team. In the six interleague games played at PNC Park this year, they batted .206.

NASHVILLE (40-42) won, 8-7, at Iowa. Starter Bronson Arroyo was charged with two earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Jim Dougherty earned his fifth save. RF Adam Hyzdu hit two home runs, his ninth and 10th of the season, and drove in six runs. C Armando Rivera doubled and hit his seventh home run, and 2B David Post had three hits.

ALTOONA (42-36) won, 6-3, at home vs. Portland. Starter Adrian Burnside (3-6) came within two outs of a complete game, allowing one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. Chris Spurling notched his 10th save. LF Dan Meier had two hits and two RBIs, and C John Pachot had two doubles and an RBI. 3B Rico Washington had two hits and drove in a run.

LYNCHBURG (53-26) won, 5-1, at home vs. Winston-Salem. Starter Sean Burnett (11-1) pitched a two-hitter over seven shutout innings, striking out five and walking one. CF Chris Duffy hit his eighth home run, and 1B Ray Navarette had a double.

HICKORY (47-31) lost, 15-7, at home vs. Kannapolis. Starter Jeff Miller (5-3) gave up eight runs on 10 hits without getting out of the third inning. DH Manny Ravelo was 3 for 4, and 2B Jeff Keppinger had three hits, including a triple, with two RBIs.

WILLIAMSPORT (8-3) swept a doubleheader at home vs. Aberdeen, 3-0 and 6-1. In the first game, starter Roberto Novoa (1-0) allowed four hits in five innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Alex Hart got his first save. 2B Domino Cuello singled, tripled and drove in a run. C Victor Ramos had a double. In the second game, Josh Shortslef (2-0) won in relief of Nicholas Gravelle, who gave up one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. CF Matt Meath singled, tripled and drove in a run. SS Michael Collum had two hits and an RBI, and 3B Chris Bass had two doubles and an RBI.

BRADENTON (5-3) lost, 10-5, to the Twins. Starter Kurt Shafer (1-1) went five innings, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. DH Rajai Davis had two hits and two RBIs. CF Joe Hicks also drove in a run.