Makes me feel like this:
But I digress. We had 22 solid players show up and everyone made a contribution. On paper, the visiting team looked like they would run away with it, but that is what is great about this game, nothing is for certain. Satch was on the mound for the visitors, and Sonny took the bump for one inning for the homers and then gave way to Sean, fresh from a European tour.
I got the lead off out alright, which was Sean. And then the homers exploded in a series of hits and errors that was eerily like the last time I pitched. Then did it again the next inning.
By the third inning, after a long drawn out conversation, it was decided it was 6 and not 5-1.
By the 4th it was 8-1. No one argued that one.
Tony rightly noted that this was definitely one of those 'Is this really happening' games, the weather certainly had been odd, it was an offshore breeze, which blew pop ups in the complete opposite direction that we are used to them going. The air was humid, hot and chilly all at once.
We finally started getting some breaks, and Coney Island James was on a tear all day, at least 2-3 big flies to deep left field, one that cleared the bases. All of a sudden we were right back in it. By the 6th it was 8-6. Then 10-6.
James asked to pitch, then gave me another inning to celebrate my birthday, and after a shutdown inning, we kept bringing the heat and scoring, eventually with the tying and the go ahead runs. 11-10. So, when I bowed out at 7 innings, I still got to be the pitcher of record (for the record). James then entered the game, threw 5 warm ups and promptly removed himself and inserted Greg instead. Hopefully the elbow issue is not serious.
Sean gave way to Mitch, who seems is most vulnerable to the problem that he can't play defense for himself. Certainly seemed to be the case, as a number of hits went to the outfield, which would have been routine flies for him, were extra base hits for us.
The see-saw battle continued, and the visitors finally tied it up and then went ahead for the first time in the game. The homers roared back to within one, but were unable to close the gap. We had played such a quick game that by the end of 9 it was only 3:15, so we played two extra, with Daniel coming in for the visitors and Sonny reentering for the homers. The game slowed and the cold started to move in. We called it after the 11th and everyone went home having enjoyed a great day of ball.
Final Score- Visitors 13-12.
Highlights:
* James was a masher all day
* Jimmy made an amazing defensive play
* John Mcgrath had at least 3-4 hits, including a long gapper
* Tony hurt himself running in after an inning, classic Rojas....
* Tim caught all 11 for the homers, impressive!
* Duane and Jimmy caught for the visitors, Duane and I worked well once he got used to the catchers view of Satch's pitches
* Dennis showed up out of the blue, talked his usual game, departed before the end. He did give me an epic 12 pitch at bat and I did throw a knuckleball behind him.
* I had at least one inning where Don made all the outs in center. A few innings later the homers hit a bunch out there, and he wasn't there anymore....dang!
* In one of the above mentioned hits, Elvin was playing about 12 feet behind second base in center. Not ideally placed for a center fielder. ELVIN!
* We razzed Daniel for not using two hands, praised Jimmy for using two hands, then watched Tony drop a pop up at third....he claimed it moved too much for him to use two hands....I believe him.
* JT has a theory that the last out of the World Series is part of a un-codified Giants play manual dating back fifty years. It takes a while to explain it, so settle in.
* Tyse was victim to the changeup all day
* Abe, Tyse's buddy played pretty well for a guy decked out in brown cordoroy
* First two at bats, I hit two come-backers up the middle, Sean snared the first one some how and Dennis collapsed on the second one and threw me out.
* The homers turned a beautiful double play, to stymie a rally
* Sean seemed to have not lost his stroke in Europe
* Example of Visitors Defensive Acumen- A hit to right went past the right fielder, bobbled by the center fielder, thrown offline past the cutoff, through the second basemen at the base and then was bobbled by the pitcher picking it up.
* Daniel was rocking the bandana neckerchief all game. Bold fashion.
Same place, same time.
S. Paige.
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