Hamlet Nalbandyan
Glendale -- Well, so much for having a hot month of May for Chicago
White Sox pitcher Jim Parque. The former Crescenta Valley High standout
had been pitching well until Wednesday.
In a 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees, Parque was chased after four
innings, giving up three earned runs and seven hits.
Parque had an earned-run average of 1.98 in May and had lowered his
overall ERA to 4.25 entering Wednesday's contest. The 24-year-old hurler
had begun to play well after a bench-clearing brawl.
On April 23, Parque was one of 11 players ejected in a 14-6 victory
over the Detroit Tigers. Parque hit Tiger third baseman Dean Palmer in
retaliation for Detroit starter Jeff Weaver' plunking of teammate Paul
Konerko the inning before.
Since that outing, Parque has been one of the more consistent pitchers
in the American League. On April 27, Parque went 6 2/3 innings in a 3-1
win over Baltimore.
He then missed a start due to suspensions, but has been reliable
since. Even though he dropped to 3-2 Wendesday, he has given the White
Sox innings.
In 46 1/3 innings this season, the third-year veteran has struck out
21 and allowed 53 hits. He has walked just 20 for the White Sox (22-17),
who are in a first-place tie in the AL Central with the Cleveland
Indians.
But Parque isn't the only local big leaguer having success this year.
Milwaukee's Mark Loretta, San Diego's Matt Whisenant, and Kansas City's
Gregg Zaun are all having strong seasons. Loretta is currently hitting
.307 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in for the Brewers (15-24).
The 28-year-old St. Francis High graduate has struck out just 13 times in
140 at bats and walked 16 times. He has scored 21 runs and has an on-base
percentage of .376.
Loretta has heated up recently, hitting .444 (12 of 27). He has hit a
home run and driven in five runs.
Whisenant started strongly for the Padres, who are in last place in
the National League West at 15-24, but the 29-year-old relief pitcher has
struggled recently. In May, Whisenant has an ERA of 6.00. That came after
an impressive April where the former Glendale Community College star went
2-1 with an ERA of 1.54.
Overall, Whisenant has an ERA of 3.05 and a 2-2 record this year. He
has appeared in 18 games, pitching 17 2/3 innings. It's been a tough
year for Zaun so for. The Royals are right up there in the AL Central,
just one game behind the White Sox and Indians at 22-19, but the former
St. Francis high player hasn't had much of a hand in the success, thanks
to an elbow injury suffered in mid-April.
Zaun hasn't played since April 14. Up to that point, the catcher was
headed for a strong year, hitting .353 (six of 17) with a home run and
four runs batted in during seven contests. There is no update as to
when the 30-year old will be available to play.
