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Monday, April 23, 2001 National League Dempster faces Big gameFlorida Marlins right-hander Ryan Dempster faces his toughest opponent of the season tonight, when he squares off against the Arizona Diamondbacks and defending National League Cy Young winner Randy Johnson. It's a matchup of strikeout pitchers, the majors' best in Johnson and arguably the best up-and-comer in Dempster. While it is still far too early to compare Dempster to The Big Unit, their early career numbers are strikingly similar. In their first three seasons in the majors, Dempster and Johnson had near identical won-loss records (22-23 for Dempster to 24-24 for Johnson), earned run averages (4.45 for Dempster to 4.21 for Johnson), innings pitched totals (428 to 436) and strikeout sums (370 to 375). Last year Dempster, in his third season in the majors, started 33 games for the Marlins and went 14-10 with a 3.66 ERA and struck out 209 in 226 innings. In Johnson's third season in the majors for Seattle in 1990, the left-hander also started 33 games and was 14-11, with a 3.65 ERA and collected 194 strikeouts in 219.2 innings. Both Dempster and Johnson will be looking for their third wins of the season, although in the strikeout department Johnson has a sizeable lead on the youngster by a 39-19 margin. The 23-year-old Dempster has a jump on Johnson, as the veteran left-hander didn't fan 200 until he was 27 in 1991. The Sechelt, B.C., native is 1-0 lifetime against Johnson with a 1.20 ERA. Reds don't help Reitsma Four Cincinnati Reds' errors led to all five runs scored off starter Chris Reistma in a 5-2 loss to the New York Mets on Saturday. Reitsma, of Calgary, AB, took his first loss of the season, despite not allowing a run. "It's baseball," Reitsma told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's a long season. It happens. If this game was perfect, it'd be a lot of fun to play every single day." After Pokey Reese's error, Reitsma allowed an RBI double, but then struck out Mike Piazza on a full-count curveball. "I see myself as someone who had to run through a wall to reach a dream," said Reitsma, who has now gone 15 innings without allowing an earned run. "I'm just thankful. It doesn't take a lot of courage to put on a major league uniform every day." Despite the loss Reitsma lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.03. Happy Birthday Cormier Philadelphia Phillies reliever Rheal Cormier celebrates his 34th birthday today The Cap Pele, N.B. left-hander will likely see action in tonight's game between the Phillies and San Diego Padres. Cormier, who signed with the Phillies in the off-season, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in six games this season. Stairs on ballot While Matt Stairs continues to struggle for the Chicago Cubs, his name still appears on the National League All-Star ballot. Stairs, who is hitting just .235 this season, joins 15 others in the voting for the starting first-baseman for the NL team. The Fredericton, N.B., native and Maple Ridge, B.C. outfielder Larry Walker are the only two Canadian position players to make the ballot. Anola, Man. third baseman Corey Koskie is the lone position player on the American League ballot. American League Koskie has great week Minnesota Twins third baseman Corey Koskie piled up eight RBI and hit .364 to lead the Twins to a 5-1 week. The Anola, Manitoba, native had his second four-hit game of the season and clubbed two two-run homers to increase his RBI total to 14 and his batting average to .355. He also walked twice and stole his first two bases of the season. Quantrill stretches streak With another 1 2/3 shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Paul Quantrill stretched his scoreless innings streak to 15 2/3. The Port Hope, Ont. reliever's streak leads the majors, as does his 11 appearances. -- with files from the The Canadian Press, Associated Press and Sportsticker |
