AP Wire 04-05-1999 - Sacramento

It has been a long winter.  For many players and owners - too long.  However the Raccoons and Kings are both looking to recover from disappointing 1998 seasons where the teams were both in the bottom half of the NL West standings.  Arizona (72-90) has traded away most of its Marquis players in the hopes of rebuilding while the Kings (68-94) have a nucleus of solid players and youngsters that they are hoping can help them contend this season.

Arizona wasted no time getting on the board against the Kings starting pitcher - Shane Reynolds.  Eric Young, Jeff King and Albert Belle all started off with base hits and Scott Hatteberg added another RBI single to bring in two runs in the first inning.   After Reynolds struck out the side in the second, Belle got things moving again with two outs in the third - beginning 4 straight singles, capped by Willie McGee's 2 RBI single to cap the 3-run inning.

Arizona held the lead strongly giving up only a single run in the 5th inning on Vina's RBI double and a pair in the bottom of the 9th as Bob Wickman came in to get some work and looked very rusty - giving up 3 straight singles to start.

Carlos Perez went 7 solid innings allowing only 7 hits and a walk, giving up the single run and striking out 6.   Reynolds finished up after 6 innings allowing 8 hits, 2 walks and giving up 5 runs even while striking out 8.