Monday, April 29, 2002
Shades of Fernandomania for Dodgers
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Dodgers haven't seen this kind of start since Fernandomania 21 years ago.
Kazuhisa Ishii became the first Dodgers rookie to win his first five decisions since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-4 Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader sweep.
“I don't recall having won five in a row before,” said Ishii, who made 244 appearances in a 10-season Japanese league career. “But my personal records are not what's important.”
Ishii (5-0) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He is off to the best start for a Dodgers rookie starter since Valenzuela began 8-0 in 1981.
He's not the only Dodger pitching well. After Odalis Perez pitched a one-hitter in the series opener, Andy Ashby finished the three-game sweep by allowing one hit in eight scoreless innings of Los Angeles' 4-1 win in Sunday's nightcap.
“It's not about 'I want to pitch better than this guy,”' Ashby said. “I want to see everybody in here do well.”
In other NL games, it was: Colorado 4, Philadelphia 2; Houston 7, Atlanta 1; Arizona 5, Florida 4; San Francisco 5, Cincinnati 4; New York 9, Milwaukee 6; and Montreal 5, St. Louis 2. Pittsburgh and San Diego split a doubleheader, with the Pirates winning the opener at home 3-2 and losing the second game 7-2.
Los Angeles has won 10 of 13, while the Cubs fell to 8-15, including 4-10 at home. Chicago had just five runs and 10 hits in the series.
“It all looks a lot worse when you're not hitting,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “We're trying to give the pitcher some kind of run early to help him relax.”
Brian Jordan hit a three-run homer in the ninth, and Mark Grudzielanek and Chad Kreuter added RBIs for the Dodgers in the opener.
Juan Cruz (0-5) allowed two runs in six innings of the opener, but remained winless despite a 2.33 ERA. Jason Bere (1-3) lost the second game for Chicago.
Rockies 4, Phillies 2
Jason Jennings (2-2) allowed four hits in even shutout innings and Todd Helton hit a two-run homer off Randy Wolf (1-1) and Colorado improved to 3-0 under new manager Clint Hurdle.
Philadelphia has lost five straight and nine of 10, including going homerless in the three games at Coors Field.
Pirates 3, Padres 2 — Padres 7, Pirates 2
Brian Giles hit a go-ahead triple off Alan Embree (2-1) in the seventh as Pittsburgh rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the opener.
San Diego's Ben Howard — the lone survivor of the Feb. 15 highway accident that killed Padres outfielder Mike Darr and minor leaguer Duane Johnson — made his major league debut and allowed one run and four hits in five innings.
Scott Sauerbeck (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings, and Mike Williams got his 10th save, stranding the potential tying run on third.
Brian Tollberg (1-3), in danger of being demoted to the minors, held Pittsburgh to two runs in six-plus innings of the second game and San Diego scored five runs in the third against Jimmy Anderson (2-3).
Ryan Klesko drove in five runs in the doubleheader.
Astros 7, Braves 1
Carlos Hernandez (2-0) allowed four hits in seven shutout innings and struck out six, and visiting Houston took a 6-1 lead with a four-run eighth off reliever Mike Remlinger.
Atlanta's Chipper Jones left after the seventh with a sprained right thumb. He collided with catcher Brad Ausmus in a play at the plate that ended the third.
Albie Lopez (1-2) allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings.
Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 4
Curt Schilling (5-1) struck out 13 in seven innings, allowing four runs and six hits at Florida.
Steve Finley, Damian Miller and Mark Grace hit consecutive two-out solo home runs against rookie Josh Beckett (0-2) in the sixth as Arizona rallied from a 3-2 deficit.
Byung-Hyun Kim got four outs for his fifth save.
Mets 9, Brewers 6
Mo Vaughn hit an RBI double off Ray King (0-1) that highlighted a six-run rally in the sixth inning and Jeromy Burnitz homered against his former team as New York won its fourth straight. Milwaukee completed an 0-6 road trip.
Kane Davis (1-0) got two outs for the win.
Expos 5, Cardinals 2
Vladimir Guerrero had his second multihomer game of the season and 15th of his career. Guerrero and Lee Stevens hit consecutive homers off Matt Morris (4-2) in a four-run fourth inning, and Guerrero homered again in the fifth.
Tomo Ohka (3-2), who gave up the winning run in the 11th inning Friday, allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings.
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Shades of Fernandomania for Dodgers
