BACK IN THE SWING : DODGERS ASSERT POWER EARLY ON ?DODGERS 5, PHILADLEPHIA 1.Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer At issue in the Dodgers' decision to move Raul Mondesi from fifth to third in the lineup this year was whether the hot-blooded Dominican would be a patient-enough hitter in that role. Is one pitch enough? Runners were at first and third with no outs when Mondesi stepped to the plate in the first inning Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies “Phillies” redirects here. For other uses, see Phillies (disambiguation). The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. . The thunder of Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Eric Karros Well, in leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory before 37,195 at Dodger Stadium • • [ , Mondesi pretty much took care of matters on his own. And wasted little time in doing so. He looked at one delivery from rookie right-hander Calvin Maduro Calvin Gregory Maduro (born September 5, 1974 in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles) is a retired Dutch baseball player. Maduro represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where he and his team became sixth. for a ball. Then he could restrain himself no longer. Mondesi jerked a home run deep into the left-field corner, giving the Dodgers - so punchless in their opener the day before - a commanding lead even before the plastic coverings were peeled off the relish and onion trays. Before the chilly, windy night was finished, the Dodgers right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield had driven in four runs and scored another with a 3-for-4 effort. It was more than enough support for Hideo Nomo Hideo Nomo (born Aug. 31, 1968 , Osaka, Japan) Japanese baseball pitcher whose success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 created new opportunities for Asian players in Major League Baseball. (1-0), who struck out eight in his seven innings and then held his breath as relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever Mark Guthrie With the victory, Dodgers erased the memory of their weak, two-hit shutout loss to Philadelphia and ace Curt Schilling on Opening Day. The Phillies - and fate - were contributors to the rebuilding of the Dodgers' ego on Day 2 of the season. Philadelphia, which was expected to have a horrid season at its best, began the year under the worst of circumstances, with three starting pitchers - Tyler Green, Mike Grace and Mark Portugal - on the disabled list. That mandated the promotion of Maduro (0-1), a 22-year-old from Aruba who came to the Phillies last year from Baltimore as part of a trade involving current Dodger Todd Zeile. Maduro had already been sent to Philadelphia's minor-league camp this spring before being summoned to the rotation. He entered his fifth major-league appearance with a reputation for impeccable control . . . and promptly walked leadoff man Brett Butler. The Dodgers' reports on Maduro indicated he was ``very poised,'' said manager Bill Russell, ``with good control. He's always around the plate.'' True. But on this night, so were the bats. Rookie second baseman Wilton Guerrero moved Butler to third by pulling a single through the right side, and Mondesi cleaned the bases with one swing, collecting his first home run of 1997. It was a surge of early support for Nomo - and a luxury the Dodgers' starters don't commonly enjoy. Nomo made certain he didn't waste such generous fortune. The one nicknamed The Tornado didn't seem the least bit perturbed per·turb tr.v. per·turbed, per·turb·ing, per·turbs 1. To disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious. 2. To throw into great confusion. 3. by the brisk winds that swirled through the stadium. In addition to the eight strikeouts, he limited the Phillies to four hits and walked no one. About his only indiscretion in·dis·cre·tion n. 1. Lack of discretion; injudiciousness. 2. An indiscreet act or remark. indiscretion Noun 1. the lack of discretion 2. was a wind-blown, opposite-field home run to right by Philadelphia catcher Mike Lieberthal - an event that touched off a raucous celebration among Lieberthal's Westlake High School Westlake High School may refer to:
The Dodgers' bats resorted to their customary silence after the fourth inning, but by then they had plenty of cushion, having collected five runs on eight hits in Maduro's short stay on the mound. Although none of the Dodgers had any clue as to what they'd get from the rookie pitcher, the observation was keen, the assimilation swift. ``You see some pitches and try to work him a little bit,'' said Zeile. ``Make him throw a few pitches per at-bat and get a feel. ``And you pay attention on the side to see if he's falling into any patterns, if he's happy with one pitch or whatever.'' After Nomo was lifted from the game, the Phillies mounted a threat in the eighth inning, but they left the bases loaded while failing to push across a run. After Guthrie gave up a one-out single to Mickey Morandini, Kevin Stocker followed with a bunt hit that Zeile couldn't field cleanly along the third-base line. Dreifort came on with two out and the two runners on but promptly issued a four-pitch walk to pinch hitter Rex Hudler. The uprising was quelled, however, when Dreifort got Rico Brogna on a broken-bat bouncer back to the mound. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) Raul Mondesi is welcomed by Brett Butler and Wilton Guerrero after his first-inning three-run homer. John McCoy / Daily News |
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