Stankiewicz gets fresh start with Las Vegas

Steve Guiremand

Friday, June 22, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

Knuckleballer Dennis Springer, who improved to 3-3, turned in another strong outing, yielding just five hits and two runs in seven innings to lead Las Vegas to the win.

Thursday was the first official day of summer. But for Las Vegas 51s infielder Andy Stankiewicz, it must still seem like spring.

That's because the 36-year-old Stankiewicz, who has spent parts of seven seasons in the big leagues with the Yankees, Astros, Expos and Diamondbacks, was playing in just his 11th game of the season for the 51s in Thursday night's 3-2 win over Salt Lake at Cashman Field.

Stankiewicz injured his right hamstring in the 51s' first game of the season against Tacoma back on April 5.

He then reinjured the hamstring twice while trying to rehab the injury at extended spring training in Vero Beach, Fla., before finally rejoining Las Vegas on June 9.

"It's better," Stankiewicz said of the leg. "It's good enough to be playing with. I'm just excited to get out of Vero Beach."

The scrappy Stankiewicz, a former prep football standout at famed Southern California prep powerhouse St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., said he still is only 90 percent healthy.

Stankiewicz twice suffered setbacks at Vero Beach, which prolonged his absence from the 51s.

"I was just glad the Dodgers were patient with me," he said. "Now I just have to get my game together, stay healthy and good things will hopefully happen."