'Birds Save Best for Last

The Firebirds finished the 1997 regular season with a 88-55 record and the best winning percentage (.615) in the franchise's 34-year history. The club's 49 second-half wins were also a team record.

Phoenix's second-half winning percentage (.690) was the PCL's second best half season mark since the league went to split seasons in 1979. And the 'Birds won the second half Southern Division title by 17.5 games over Las Vegas, the PCL's largest margin of victory ever.

The record-shattering regular season, however, seemed unlikely in mid-July 1997. When the Firebirds took the field against Vancouver on July 15, the club had a 12-12 second half record and trailed first place Albuquerque by 1.5 games.

Over the next 39 days, the Firebirds were almost unbeatable, winning 33 of 38 games--a .868 winning percentage. In the process, Phoenix opened up an 18.5 game lead over second place Las Vegas and clinched the Southern Division title.

The remarkable hot streak started with nine straight wins, including the first seven on the road at Vancouver and Colorado Springs. Manager Ron Wotus said "talent" was the key to the streak.

"We had some guys who are quality players," Wotus explained. "What helped us is keeping the position players mostly intact. The nucleus of the team positionwise was here all hear long. Guys really came together as a club. Anytime you have that kind of continuity, it helps the chemistry and it helps the team. We really put it together as a team."

Here are some highlights from the 33-5 streak:

**There was almost no difference between the club's performance at home or away. The Firebirds went 18-3 at Scottsdale Stadium and 15-2 on the road.

**RHP Shawn Purdy won the first game of the streak on July 15 and earned five victories and a save over the 38 games.

**Dan Carlson appeared in 11 games (two as a starter). He racked up six wins and three saves. Phoenix's second all-time most winning pitcher improved his record from 7-3 to 13-3.

**In 15 of the 33 wins, Phoenix scored the winning run in the final three innings.

**Phoenix went 9-1 in one-run games.

**Over the 38-game period, the club never lost back-to-back games.

**Phoenix hit 26 homers. Dave McCarty and Dante Powell each had four roundtrippers during the streak.