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Norma and Don Solki of Hephzibah wait out a rain delay in the Augusta-Cape Fear game Sunday.STEVEN SCHRETZMANN/STAFF

Red-hot Rivera carries Jackets

Web posted April 7, 1997

By Rob Mueller
Staff Writer

Carlos Rivera's stay in Augusta may be brief, if his offensive output becomes habit forming.

For the hot hitting 18-year-old, the timely hitting continued Sunday afternoon, adding a bit more padding to his ever-expanding resume.

Not even the downpour that delayed the contest for more than an hour could cool off Rivera and the suddenly streaking GreenJackets.

``Every ballplayer wants to be a consistent hitter, and that's all I have concentrated on this season'' said the Jackets' designated hitter, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI as Augusta made it three straight victories with a 3-2 win Sunday over Cape Fear at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

With seven hits in his first 14 at-bats through the first four games, the native of Puerto Rico already seems to be jockeying for a move up the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league ladder.

Among the South Atlantic League's leaders in average and RBI, Rivera's presence in the No. 3 spot in the lineup has been an obvious key to the Jackets' strong offensive showing so far.

``He's a good contact hitter and that's why I think he's so good in the third spot,'' Jackets manager Whitey Richardson said of Rivera, in his first season in Augusta and only his second in pro ball. ``He swings that bat real well and has a good idea of the strike zone, and I think he'll drive in a lot of runs for us.''

After dropping the first of the four-game series to Cape Fear, 11-8, on Thursday night, Augusta's run production is a promising sign for a club that averaged just 4.1 runs per game in '96 - second worst in the SAL - not to mention its young pitching staff.

The Jackets scored 26 runs and collected 37 hits in the series.

``This is the best start I've ever had in my career,'' said Rivera, Pittsburgh's 10th-round draft choice last June who batted .284 with three home runs and 26 RBI in 48 games at Bradenton, the Pirates' rookie affiliate in the Gulf Coast League. ``I hope for the opportunity to move up to the next level but while I'm in Augusta, I'm going to keep concentrating on being as consistent a hitter as I can be.''

Other than a two-run seventh inning by Cape Fear, five Jackets pitchers combined for another solid outing.

Starter Brian O'Connor was rolling along through the first four innings when the rains came, and the one-hour and 15 minute delay cost him a much-deserved victory.

Back for his second season with the Jackets, O'Connor allowed just one hit and one walk in his '97 debut, and struck out three Crocs in four innings.

Neal McDade, who got the win in relief in Friday's 5-1 victory, struggled a bit in the seventh, but he improved to 2-0 with two innings of work, allowing two runs on four hits.

David Daniels came on in the ninth inning for the third straight game, notching his second save with a 1-2-3 inning.

Crocs starter Edward Quezada took the loss in his '97 debut, giving up three hits and two unearned runs in three innings.

``I'm real happy with what I've seen in the first series,'' Richardson said. ``I think (Cape Fear) is a pretty good club, so to take three of four from them is a good sign.''