Rodriguez finishes job
October 12, 2005
Gregg Patton
Press-Enterprise
CHICAGO - The error that opened the door for Chicago in the ninth inning was the kind of exasperating mistake that can suck the energy out of a pitcher.
Frankie Rodriguez just got tougher.
The Angels' closer shrugged off Chone Figgins' misplay Tuesday night and retired the next three hitters to nail down a 3-2 victory over the White Sox in the opener of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.
"I don't think Frankie gets like that," said catcher Bengie Molina, when asked if the relief specialist showed any signs of frustration. "When guys get on base, he finds a way to get them out. He finds a way to get the job done."
That he has.
The save against Chicago comes on the heels of two saves in the first round of the playoffs against New York, including a valiant effort preserving the clinching victory the night before.
"It didn't affect me at all," said Rodriguez of Figgins' error, a strange play on a one-hopper that came softly off the end of Carl Everett's bat, but looked as if it were hit harder. Figgins went to the ground and knocked the ball down, but he couldn't pick it up in time to make a play at first.
"I'm just trying to make pitches," said Rodriguez, 23. "I'm mentally ready to get out of the inning, and that's it."
Looking to get the tying run to second, the next Chicago hitter, Aaron Rowand, bunted. Figgins redeemed himself by getting to the ball quickly and whipping a strong throw to second to get the lead runner.
A. J. Pierzynski smoked a line drive to right fielder Juan Rivera for the second out. Then Rodriguez struck out Joe Crede, who hit a home run earlier, with his trademark nasty slider.
"I've got to put him away," said the man known as K-Rod since his flashy introduction to the baseball world in the 2002 postseason. "I don't want to give up a base hit there and make everything more difficult for us."
So far this postseason, Rodriguez has not been razor sharp -- except when he has had to be.
In 3 1/3 innings against New York, he gave up five hits, including a home run to Jorge Posada. But he was able to get the last out of each of the Angels' three wins. In Game 5, he gave up three hits in the ninth inning, but no runs.
In 2002, Rodriguez was the setup man for Troy Percival. He assumed the closer role this year when the Angels chose to let their all-time saves leader depart as a free agent. He was more than up to it, saving 45 games in 50 chances.
Despite the work load, and the crazy Angels schedule that put them in three cities in three days, Rodriguez wasn't worried about needing time off.
"I'll go three, four, five games in a row if they want," Rodriguez said.
The way the Angels score runs -- sparingly -- he may need to.
|
|
|
|
|