Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Three up, three down for Wohlers
Boone likes reliever's accuracy in intrasquad game
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — A neat, scoreless inning pitched by Mark Wohlers is no longer news. But it's still encouraging.
Wohlers retired all three batters he faced to end Monday's 5 1/2-inning intrasquad game, which resulted in a 4-2 victory for Ron Oester's squad over Bill Doran's.
Manager Bob Boone and pitching coach Don Gullett praised Wohlers, whose career almost ended two years ago due to lack of control, an anxiety disorder and a serious elbow injury.
Said Boone: “That's the guy who used to have trouble? He was dropping breaking balls in there like it was nothing. He showed me better accuracy than when he was in his heyday. You can tell he's comfortable with himself.”
Wohlers, who revealed he has been coping with mild soreness in his right (throwing) forearm, acknowledged the importance of self-correction.
“To be able to do that from pitch to pitch is a big key,” he said. “It doesn't take you three or four pitches or a visit from the pitching coach. I certainly needed the pitching coach to come out for a lot of my career. You get to a point where you can figure it out for yourself.”
Gullett was pleased with the overall command of the 11 pitchers who threw an in ning apiece in the intrasquad game. They issued just four walks, including two by non-roster right-hander Mike Grace that abetted the Oesters' three-run third inning.
Sean Casey's sacrifice fly and Michael Tucker's RBI single accounted for two unearned first-inning runs for the Dorans off Rob Bell before Alex Ochoa's two-run double and D.T. Cromer's sacrifice fly off Grace put the Oesters ahead. Dane Sardinha doubled in the fourth and scored on Kelly Stinnett's single for the Oesters' final run.
Deion Sanders and Pokey Reese, neither of whom will open the season at the top of the order, each went 2-for-2 and scored a run as the leadoff hitters.
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Three up, three down for Wohlers
