The players held a team meeting before Friday`s game. The coaches and manager Jim Fregosi were not invited. The subject was losing and how to avoid it. They haven`t done too well in that department lately. ”It`s not like we`re being overmatched,” said Carlton Fisk. ”Most teams we play aren`t better than we are.”
Fregosi said Scott Nielsen would take Neil Allen`s spot in the rotation. Allen, sidelined with a pulled hamstring, loosened up his arm by throwing from one knee. ”Hey, Neil,” Fregosi said. ”Your velocity is much better that way.”
Fregosi`s early workouts continued Friday. The team bus left the hotel at 1:45 p.m. The Sox will do the same Saturday. ”We had a good workout today,”
Fregosi said.
Are the Sox trying to turn Dave Cochrane into a pitcher? The infielder made his third appearance on the mound Thursday, pitching the final inning of Hawaii`s 4-0 victory over Vancouver. Reports say he threw hard. Joel McKeon threw six shutouts innings to record the victory.
The Islanders completed a sweep with a 7-5 victory in the second game. Joel Davis picked up the victory, allowing five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Kevin Hickey, a pitcher on the Sox`s 1983 team, picked up his second save.
