Monday, October 21, 2002
Giants' Rodriguez throws one pitch too many
The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — All through the postseason, the San Francisco Giants had been able to rely on Felix Rodriguez. In Game 2 of the World Series, he threw one pitch too many.
The Giants' top setup man gave up Tim Salmon's two-run homer in the eighth inning Sunday, sending the Anaheim Angels to an 11-10 victory that evened the Series.
It was a familiar spot for Rodriguez, who's pitched in nine of the Giants' 12 games this October. The hard-throwing right-hander had allowed just one earned run before the eighth, when the Giants hoped he could preserve a tie in a topsy-turvy game.
Afterward, Rodriguez was upbeat and unapologetic. In the highest-scoring World Series game in five years, he wasn't the only pitcher who made big mistakes — and he knows he hasn't faced his toughest Series moment yet. He'll be back on the mound soon, and once again, the stakes will be high.
“It was a good pitch,” he said with a shrug. “A guy who hits something like that, you have to give him credit. That's the way it happens in a game like this. It happens quick.”
Manager Dusty Baker often depends on Rodriguez to get the tough outs in big games. His playoff performances were similar to his outstanding work in the second half of the regular season, when he recovered from a dismal start to reclaim his high-profile role as closer Robb Nen's lead-in.
Rodriguez worked a scoreless seventh. After retiring Adam Kennedy to open the eighth, Rodriguez went deep into the count with David Eckstein, who eventually singled to right. Darin Erstad then fouled off several more pitches before flying out to left.
“That was the tough one, because he hit so many foul balls,” Rodriguez said. “I think I threw a lot of good pitches to (Erstad). Maybe I didn't have another good one left.”
When pitching coach Dave Righetti went to the mound before Salmon came to the plate, Rodriguez said his arm felt strong. The Giants already had used three relievers, and Baker wanted Rodriguez to get Salmon before going to Tim Worrell or Nen in the ninth.
“I didn't know the situation — I knew they had Worrell out there warming up — but I thought they'd leave him in there to face me,” Salmon said.
Baker checked the notes he relies upon for pitching matchup decisions, and he saw that Salmon was 4-for-8 in his career against Worrell.
“Felix had enough fastball to get by Salmon,” Baker said. “Usually Salmon hits the ball down better than up. He hit a ball up, and I give him credit for it.”
Rodriguez had already thrown 36 pitches, though it's not a particularly high count for his resilient arm. His 37th was a 93 mph fastball — but Salmon hit it into the left-field stands.
As Salmon rounded the bases and fireworks exploded, Rodriguez pulled on the bill of his cap in disgust. When Baker came out of the dugout to remove him, Rodriguez walked off the mound with his head hung so low that he nearly walked past first base into the stands before correcting his course.
“I feel great, and there's still a few games to go,” Rodriguez said. “In a game like that, one hit is going to do it. It just went the wrong way.”
Rodriguez had a 1.47 ERA after the All-Star break, holding hitters to just 13 hits in the last 103 at-bats of the regular season. He was the Giants' most impressive reliever a year ago, going 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA.
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Giants' Rodriguez throws one pitch too many 
