Command performance/ Sky Sox put on a superb show for Rockies general

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 7, 2003 | by DANNY SUMMERS

The boss came to town Tuesday to take a look at his junior Rockies. He left pleased.

The boss, otherwise known as Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd, sat comfortably in his box seat behind home plate as Colorado Springs defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 11-1 in front of 2,174 chilled fans at Sky Sox Stadium.

"I always like to see the Triple-A team play before the draft," O'Dowd said. "I want to see how the young guys are coming along."

The draft O'Dowd was speaking about is the amateur draft, which takes place the first week of June. O'Dowd has had a hand in Rockies draft selections since 2000.

Jason Young, the second-round selection in 2000, allowed one run and six hits over six innings to earn the victory and improve to 3- 1. The former Stanford star struck out four and walked three.

"I didn't even notice him," Young said of O'Dowd. "When I'm up on the mound all I see is the catcher's glove and the hitter. I can't worry about anything else. I just try to go out and play my game and go after the hitters."

The Sky Sox staked Young to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first when they sent nine batters to the plate against Jeff Heaverlo. Raul Casanova's two-run double was the key blow.

Ben Petrick, batting ninth in the order, tripled in two runs in the fourth to give the Sky Sox an 11-1 lead.

Casanova said O'Dowd's presence had little impact on the Sky Sox's performance.

"Of course you want to do your best," Casanova said. "You want to show him what you have. But you want to play hard no matter who's in the stands."

The Sky Sox tied a season high with 18 hits. Luke Allen paced the attack with four singles. Garrett Atkins had two singles and a double. Atkins entered the game batting .354, which ranked 10th in the Pacific Coast League.

Allen said there was no talk of O'Dowd during the game.

"Coming off your (batting practice) you say your hello and move on," Allen said. "Once the game starts you don't talk about it. It pumps you up a little bit knowing he's in the stands, but it shouldn't intimidate you."

The Sky Sox broke a three-game losing streak, in which they scored eight runs in 28 innings against New Orleans.

Tuesday also was a battle of two .500 teams. By winning, the Sky Sox improved to 16-15. Tacoma dropped to 16-17. The Sky Sox lead Omaha by two games in the Central Division.

Notes:

Atkins is the only member of the Sky Sox to play all of the team's 31 games. . . . Colorado Avalanche radio broadcaster Norm Jones filled in for Dan Karcher on Tuesday. Karcher had to attend to family business. . . . Colorado Rockies roving infield instructor Mike Gallego and roving pitching instructor Jim Wright have been with the Sky Sox the last four days. . . . Sky Sox pitchers are batting .205 (8 for 39), while the club's designated hitters are hitting .156 (5 for 32).

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