Wonders

	WON.net’s David Ruf watches his first-inning home run clear the outfield.

Braun pitched four strong innings and Ruf hit three homers and a triple in the first game of a double header as the WON.net Wonders beat the Antioch Avengers 25-11 Wednesday night to snap a 22-game losing streak.

“He gave us what we were looking for,” said Wonder’s interim manager Ralph Braun of Ruf.

Ruf hit his 3rd homer of the game in the fifth inning off Brad Radke(0-2) as the Wonders won the first game with a mercy and came from behind to win the last game of the series.

“We needed it, especially to start off this short season,” said Ruf. “It was nice to get that 2-0 lead in the league and just nice to get a victory.”

Ruf, 25, has 38 career homers, tying Jim Rice and Frank Howard for 36th place.

“They’re all significant,” Ruf said of his growing career homer totals. “I enjoy every one of them.”

Braun, who was asked by manager Len Skiena to lead the team in his absence against the Antioch Avengers, also had an RBI single in the fifth.

“We’re just going to take this one day at a time.” said Braun, who walked nine and struck out two. “I hoped to get a little deeper into the game, but we won. We were fortunate to get that twelve-run cushion early against a pretty darn good pitcher.”

Braun was replaced by Eric Rittenhouse, who gave up four runs in the bottom of the fifth as the scrappy Avengers pulled to within 25-11.

However, the defense came through in the crunch and shut the Avengers down to end the game with the mercy rule.

“It was a pretty good ballgame,” said Avengers manager Tom Kelly. “I hope that our team can pick up the pieces. Ruf hit some pretty good pitches. He (Ruf) has a very nice swing. I’d love to see him out on the golf course.”

Braun was ejected in the second game when manager Len Skiena arrived from a playoff loss in another league. Umpire Durwood Merril said that Skiena needs to learn to focus on one team. Braun attempted to get thrown out earlier when he argued that the Avengers were not getting out the way of double plays.

“I didn’t think it was a very good call and I had a pretty good view of it,” said Braun. “I knew going out there that I was right and I knew I was going to get kicked out. I just wish he would’ve kicked me out.”

Skiena, who was not at the game at the time, said that he was proud of Braun and was hoping that he would throw a Piniella-size fit (throwing bats and bases) if he was to be thrown out of the game.

“I told Ralph to let it all hang out,” he said. “We need to leave it out on the field, literally.”