Cashman Field grounds crew plugs leak in time for start

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

A broken water main under the Cashman Field infield nearly derailed Monday's scheduled start of Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez.

The two-inch main broke early Monday afternoon at the 22-year-old ballpark, flooding the infield and creating a sinkhole at least five feet deep approximately five feet behind the pitcher's mound.

The Cashman Field grounds crew was able to dry out the infield and fill the hole, covering an approximately 16-square-foot area with new sod.

A replacement layer of turf about three inches thick was set but was flimsy, and the Rainiers considered asking the game be postponed.

"I was concerned that if anybody came running through it, our infield would tear it up," Tacoma manager Dan Rohn said. "I was worried about knee injuries or anything like that."

Undoubtedly, two knees Rohn was particularly concerned about were those of shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who is in a four-year, $3.65 million contract with the Mariners and was promoted from Double-A on June 2.

On the other side of the field, the utmost concern was getting Perez in for his rehabilitation start. But even 51s manager Jerry Royster acknowledged that the initial solution was insufficient.

"With the 11 runs and as many guys on second, their first baseman, their cutoff man was there the whole time," Royster said.

By about 5:45 p.m. Monday, the grounds crew had begun tearing up six-inch deep sections of turf from the warning track area in right field foul territory, laying the heavier, larger sections on the field. At 6:14, umpire Dave Aschwege arrived and checked on the repairs, and 12 minutes later, the turf was put down to everyone's satisfaction. The game started at 7:07 p.m., two minutes late.

"They picked it up, put some sod in there and made it fine," Rohn said. "It was good. They (the grounds crew) did an outstanding job."

Singer Celine Dion and her husband Rene Angelil were in the crowd.

The singers from Dion's show at Caesars Palace performed the national anthem, and Dion took a seat in the plaza section of the stadium, declining the team's invitation to sit in the air conditioned restaurant instead.

Dion stayed for the whole game, cheering and even dancing to Kool 'N' The Gang's "Celebration" after the 51s' 11-1 win.

Eckert's 4.82 ERA is the third lowest on the team this year.

"He's pitching better than anyone," Royster said.

Eckert will remain in the bullpen until the team needs another spot start. The team cut struggling reliever Tom Farmer, with Beau Dannemiller called up from Double-A Jacksonville. In 43 innings, Dannemiller had a 4.81 ERA with five saves.

Harden has been on the disabled list since May 16 with a strained left oblique muscle. In a rehab start at Colorado Springs last week, he gave up one hit and struck out seven in three innings.

In his last game at Las Vegas, on May 24, 2003, Harden went 4 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and seven runs while striking out just two batters.