Rookie Bret Prinz shared the Arizona Diamondbacks' closer's job with strikeout maven Byung-Hyun Kim after torn elbow ligaments sidelined incumbent stopper Matt Mantei in June 2001. Prinz, a 24-year-old right-hander, converted nine of his first 12 save chances while picking up four wins and posting a 2.63 ERA in 46 games. The Diamondbacks had used Prinz mainly as a starter during his minor-league career, but switched him to short relief in 2000 after he adopted a sidearm delivery during spring training. Prinz excelled at Double-A El Paso that season, saving 26 games and winning nine others. (AGL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 18, 2001:
The Diamondbacks defeat the Cubs, 4-0, as Randy Johnson (5 innings), Byung-Hyun Kim (3 innings), and Bret Prinz (1 inning) combine on a one-hitter. The Cubs have now lost eight in a row. Before tomorrow's game, Julio Zuleta will borrow a scene from the movie Major League and use a voodoo stick on the Cubs bats to instill hits. It works.
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