Springer throws well in 51s loss

Victoria Sun

Monday, May 6, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

When Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and final homer of last season off knuckleballer Dennis Springer at Pac Bell Park, Springer earned his place in baseball history, so to speak.

The 37-year-old pitcher laughs about the incident, saying there were 72 others before him and admits the hoopla was "kind of neat."

Springer's last start for the Las Vegas 51s was no laughing matter. He had to go the extra distance because of a thin bullpen, allowing 11 runs in 5 1/3 innings.

He kept his confidence up and rebounded with a solid performance, but didn't get the run support Sunday afternoon.

Springer gave up seven hits, one run, two walks and struck out one in five innings during the 51s' (17-14) 5-0 loss to the Iowa Cubs (16-14) at Cashman Field.

"I've been telling them the last two, three times I felt good," Springer said. "I hadn't lost my confidence.

"I wasn't that far from pitching good again."

The lone run to score off Springer was the result of a leadoff walk to Bobby Hill in the first inning.

Iowa starter Ben Ford scattered five hits, struck out five and allowed no runs in eight innings for his third win.

Ford wasn't just fantastic on the mound, he was one of numerous Cubs who robbed the 51s of base hits, accounting for two putouts and four assists.

"I think their defense beat us today," 51s manager Brad Mills said. "Not only did he make good pitches, he made five good plays.

"He kept himself out of trouble and his defense kept him out of trouble. You are not able to get anything going (when that happens)."

Guillermo Mota followed Springer and struck out the side in his first inning of relief but struggled in the seventh as the Cubs padded their 1-0 lead with two runs.

With one out, Mota gave up a single to Cubs second baseman Bobby Hill, who stole second, went to third on 51s catcher David Ross' errant pick-off throw and scored on Ivanon Coffie's double to left. Julio Zuleta hit his second run-scoring single of the game, scoring Coffie, before Mota was able to get the final two outs.

Solo home runs by Mickey Lopez in the eighth off Shane Aldred and Zuleta's solo home run off Ricky Bones in the ninth sealed the win for the Cubs.

Before each game, Parker has spent about half an hour teaching 51s first baseman Chin-Feng Chen the finer points of playing the position. Chen was converted from an outfielder to first baseman during spring training.

"He has no glaring weakness," Parker said. "I'm just here to fine-tune him.

"The one thing he needs to work on is his stretching, going out to meet the throws. He's not accustomed to that because the balls are normally coming to him. Now he has to reach for the ball at times."

Parker wants Chen to concentrate on thinking like a first baseman instead of an outfielder.

"He has good footwork, speed and quick feet," Parker said.