Sunday, July 11, 1999
Small Vizquel proves to be big-time player
Shortstop not likely suspect to hit home run
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Omar Vizquel
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CLEVELAND — When you look at the Cleveland Indians lineup, Omar Vizquel is not the guy who scares you. Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and David Justice are scary. Vizquel is better known for his glove than his bat. His bat has more slap in it than pop.
“But in this game, the little guy can get you in trouble,” said Vizquel, who qualifies at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds.
He used every ounce of that to drive a pitch from Scott Williamson out to right field for a two-run homer in the ninth inning to beat the Reds 11-10 Saturday at Jacobs Field.
“I put a little extra butt in to it,” Vizquel said.
The home run was only the 32nd of Vizquel's career and third of the year. But it was the second to give the Indians a walk-off-the field victory this year.
Vizquel's homer was the final wild play on a wild day at the Jake. The Reds led 3-0, 7-4, 9-4 and 10-9.
“It was pretty wild and pretty exciting,” Vizquel said. “Two of the best bullpens in baseball gave up some runs today. It shows you both teams have good lineups, good talent and smart players.”
The Reds took a 10-9 lead in their half of the ninth when seventh hitter Mike Cameron walked, stole second and scored on leadoff man Pokey Reese's single.
The Indians used the same formula in the bottom of the ninth. Jim Thome, the seventh hitter, walked.
“Walks are really important in a game like this,” Vizquel said.
Kenny Lofton, who wasn't in the starting lineup, came up as a pinch hitter and bunted pinch runner John McDonald to second. Williamson struck out Jacob Cruz to put all the pressure on Vizquel, the leadoff man for the day.
Vizquel came into this season with a .268 career average. But he has hit above .280 each of the last three years. He's hitting .325 this year.
So Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove was happy to have Vizquel up there.
“Omar has been a guy who's come through for us this year,” Hargrove said. “Omar gives you quality at-bats in those situations.”
Williamson threw a pitch that was on the middle third of the plate.
“I didn't hit it that well,” Vizquel said. “But I saw (right fielder Michael) Tucker running back and back. He was playing so shallow. I thought I would have had a good chance for a triple if it hit the wall.
“So I kept running until someone stopped me.”
Almost everyone in the park lost the ball. Tucker hit the wall hard and lay face-down at the foot of the wall.
“I thought the ball hit the fence,” Hargrove said. “I was screaming for Omar to keep running. Then I didn't see the ball. I thought, "Oh God, it's in his glove.'”
The ball wasn't. It was in the stands, and the Indians had a dramatic win, their 34th comeback win of the year.
All because of one of the little guys.
Vizquel, who's going to the All-Star Game for the second straight year, is getting more comfortable in such situations.
“It's experience,” he said, “playing in big games, the playoffs, the World Series. That shows you the level of intensity and how big one pitch can be.”
Vizquel gave the Reds a lesson in that Saturday.
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