In their unlikely run for the playoffs with a bunch of youngsters, Las Vegas manager Henry Rectenberg did the unthinkable last week: he announced that for the time being, Todd Stone would no longer be the Hustlers' primary closer. "We need to know if Augusto Dominguez (pictured above) can do the job," Rectenberg explained. "I talked to Todd about it, and while he's not happy, he gets it. After all, the boys upstairs have a decision to make on Stone's team option for next year."
So Monday, August 16th at Phoenix, with a three run lead in the ninth inning, the Hustlers called on Dominguez, not Stone.
Pitching: RHP Augusto Domínguez
Batting: LHB Juan Cabrera 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Called Strike
2-1: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 5, EV 88.1 MPH)
Batting: SHB Naruhiko Okada 0-0: Ball
1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F
1-1: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7, EV 87.5 MPH)
After the pitch to Okada resulting in the second out of the inning, Dominguez clutched his shoulder, fell to his knees, and Hustlers catcher Claudio Morgan beckoned for trainer Lothar Verlaan. Dominguez was pulled from the game, and following a battery of tests, the horrible realization that his season was over was made public.
"I fought to get here," said the rookie Dominguez, who is 25 years old. "I was excited when I got traded here. They told me they had big plans for me. I'm determined to come back stronger than ever next year."
Stone is expected to return to the closer role that he ceded for just one day.