Tigers#1
07-23-2003, 04:15 PM
Struggles continue for Van Hekken
Monday, July 21, 2003
By Alan Babbitt
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- Andy Van Hekken got rocked again.
The 23-year-old lefthander from Holland took the loss for the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves in their 9-2 defeat at home Saturday to the Altoona (Pa.) Curve.
Van Hekken gave up nine runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings during the second game of an Eastern League doubleheader. It was his worst outing since joining the club from Triple-A Toledo early in June.
Altoona, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, struck for three runs in the top of the third inning. Erie had held a 1-0 lead since a first-inning RBI single from leftfielder Tonaye Brown.
Curve catcher Ronny Paulino blasted solo home runs in the third and fourth innings. He went 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs.
Van Hekken has now given up eight homers in seven games with the SeaWolves and 18 in appearances for Erie and Toledo.
Altoona broke open the contest by producing five more runs in the sixth. All were charged to Van Hekken.
Curve first baseman Brett Roneberg stroked a two-run triple during the rally. He had homered twice in the first game, a 9-5 Altoona victory. Relievers Mark Johnson and Brian Schmack completed the seven-inning game for the SeaWolves.
Eight of the hits Van Hekken surrendered went for extra bases. All but one of the runs was earned. Van Hekken walked one and struck out none.
Altoona starter Rick Palma (4-2) tossed five innings of three-hit ball to register the decision. He struck out one.
The performance lowered Van Hekken's record at Erie to 2-4. It also raised his ERA there to 6.41. SeaWolves opponents have totaled 28 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings against Van Hekken.
Ironically, Van Hekken owns the same ERA with the SeaWolves as he did when the Detroit Tigers demoted him from Toledo. The plan to get him back on track has not worked so far.
The losses were the sixth and seventh in 10 games for Erie. The SeaWolves rebounded Sunday to beat Altoona 7-6 and improve their record to 47-53.
Erie remains 12 games behind Altoona for the final playoff spot. Altoona (58-40) is in second place in the Southern Division.
Monday, July 21, 2003
By Alan Babbitt
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- Andy Van Hekken got rocked again.
The 23-year-old lefthander from Holland took the loss for the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves in their 9-2 defeat at home Saturday to the Altoona (Pa.) Curve.
Van Hekken gave up nine runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings during the second game of an Eastern League doubleheader. It was his worst outing since joining the club from Triple-A Toledo early in June.
Altoona, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, struck for three runs in the top of the third inning. Erie had held a 1-0 lead since a first-inning RBI single from leftfielder Tonaye Brown.
Curve catcher Ronny Paulino blasted solo home runs in the third and fourth innings. He went 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs.
Van Hekken has now given up eight homers in seven games with the SeaWolves and 18 in appearances for Erie and Toledo.
Altoona broke open the contest by producing five more runs in the sixth. All were charged to Van Hekken.
Curve first baseman Brett Roneberg stroked a two-run triple during the rally. He had homered twice in the first game, a 9-5 Altoona victory. Relievers Mark Johnson and Brian Schmack completed the seven-inning game for the SeaWolves.
Eight of the hits Van Hekken surrendered went for extra bases. All but one of the runs was earned. Van Hekken walked one and struck out none.
Altoona starter Rick Palma (4-2) tossed five innings of three-hit ball to register the decision. He struck out one.
The performance lowered Van Hekken's record at Erie to 2-4. It also raised his ERA there to 6.41. SeaWolves opponents have totaled 28 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings against Van Hekken.
Ironically, Van Hekken owns the same ERA with the SeaWolves as he did when the Detroit Tigers demoted him from Toledo. The plan to get him back on track has not worked so far.
The losses were the sixth and seventh in 10 games for Erie. The SeaWolves rebounded Sunday to beat Altoona 7-6 and improve their record to 47-53.
Erie remains 12 games behind Altoona for the final playoff spot. Altoona (58-40) is in second place in the Southern Division.