Matthews’ hit saves Stars from being KO’d in opener

Steve Guiremand

Friday, April 9, 1999 | 10:48 a.m.

There were wind gusts in the neighborhood of 50 mph during the Las Vegas Stars' chilly season opener Thursday night at Cashman Field.

And not all of them were because of Mother Nature.

The Stars shattered the team record for striking out in a game. The Stars whiffed 18 times, eclipsing the old mark of 15.

But in the end, center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who had struck out three consecutive times, including once with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, drilled a single to the base of the center field fence some 433 feet away to give Las Vegas a 3-2 victory in 11 innings.

It was the first time since 1989 that the Stars won a season opener.

"Was it a team record?" Stars manager Mike Ramsey asked of the strikeoutsfollowing his first triple-A managing win. "I figured it might be. I was hoping we would be under 20."

Matthews' long two-out shot drove in pinch-runner Chris Prieto, who had gone to third on a two-base throwing error by Omaha catcher Sal Fasano on a pickoff attempt. Prieto was running for leftfielder Dusty Allen, who had driven in the Stars' first two runs and singled to right to start the rally.

"You're just looking to put the bat on the ball in that situation," Matthews said. "It had been a rough night for me. Really, you just try and keep it simple and get the bat on the ball."

Every Stars starter except Allen and shortstop Juan Melo struck out at least twice in the contest with Matthews and Aaron Guiel getting the hat trick with three strikeouts each.

"I think I was behind in the count all night," Matthews said. "It was always 0-1 and 1-2. At this level you're not going to dig yourself out of holes that big very often."

So Matthews whacked a 1-0 pitch from Orber Moreno for the game-winner in the 11th.

"It's great to get that first win out of the way," Matthews said. "I think it was great for the fans who stayed around to the end."

"That could be a good sign for us," Ramsey said of ending the nine-year opening game drought. "Obviously, striking out 18 times in the game was not good. But we stayed in the game and battled and finally got the job done."

* ROSTER CHANGE: Mike Ramsey lost his closer before managing his first triple-A game.

Right-hander Carlos Almanzar, who Ramsey said would get first shot as his bullpen ace, was recalled by the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night after ex-Star third baseman George Arias was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right thumb.

Arias, who set a Stars single-season home run record with 36 last season, suffered the injury in San Diego's 2-1 victory over Colorado on Wednesday. He caught the thumb on the second base bag while sliding to successfully break up a double play.

"That's really too bad," Stars batting coach Craig Colbert said. "That will really set George back. He had swung the bat well in spring training."

Rather than call up another position player, the Padres made a decision to bring up another pitcher and go with the platoon of Carlos Garcia and Jim Leyritz at third. Arias is expected to be sidelined two to six weeks.

"We need a 12th pitcher right now more than another position player," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "We've got the versatility and depth that people can move around."

"(Almanzar) was kind of ticketed for (the closing) job," Ramsey said. "But we'll flip (Matt) Whiteside in there and see how he does at it. I've got confidence in him. And we've got (Ed) Vosberg, too."

Vosberg, a veteran left-hander who is making a major league rehab assignment with the Stars after missing the entire 1998 season following shoulder surgery, looked fully recovered in Thursday night's opener, striking out all three batters he faced.

Ramsey said there are no plans currently to fill Almanzar's roster spot.

"We'll see how it works the next week or so," Ramsey said. "(Right-handed pitcher) Matt Skrmettra will probably be the guy (if) we get anybody (from Mobile), but that's subject to change."

* STARS NOTES: The series continues tonight at 7:05 with lefty Heath Murray opposing Omaha left-hander Glendon Rusch. Right-hander Jose Mercedes will start Saturday's 7:05 game for the Stars against right-hander Rick Krivda. San Diego Padres National League championship hats will be given to the first 2,500 fans on both Friday and Saturday. The series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:05 with right-hander Bryan Wolff going against Omaha right-hander Chris Fussell.