Candelaria Gets Even With Samuel
In the most unusual incident of the spring, pitcher John Candelaria has admitted hitting Juan Samuel on purpose in an intrasquad game Tuesday because Samuel hit a game-winning homer against him six years ago.
Candelaria has promised to buy Samuel dinner on the first day of the regular season for being a good sport after Candelaria plunked him on the left arm with a fastball.
“It is unbelievable, but it is the truth,” a smiling Samuel said Wednesday. “Candy told me that he finally got even with me after hitting me with that pitch. I said, ‘Why do you need to get even with me?’ He told me about the home run, when I was with Philadelphia and he was with Pittsburgh.
“I didn’t even remember the home run. But now I got a bruise to prove it.”
In answering a question immediately after the intrasquad game, Candelaria acknowledged that he hit Samuel on purpose. But it was assumed he was joking.
Candelaria had said, “I had to hit him . . . it’s been six long years, and pay-back can be a pain.”
Then he laughed.
Samuel has no hard feelings.
“The guy is a competitor, I guess this proves it,” he said.
