Game #1 - vs. Mets #2 (A team that beat us last year - game did not matter)
Day began cool & slightly broken clouds, perfect for getting a game in. Weather is threatening to move in later.
The photos below show the field prep. The grounds keepers do a fabulous job keeping the field in tip top shape. We are fortunate to have our first two games in the Stadium. Great way to begin the tourney.
We jumped on the Mets right away. As we scored 3 in the first. They came back with one in the second and were threatening with the bases loaded, but did not score. We scored single runs in the next 2 innings. Our team played good defense, we did make some errors, attributed to first game jitters. Mike, our new shortstop, played fantastic - has a rocket for an arm. Dan Hoover, also a rookie, got the big hit to start us off. David Miller went 3-3, continuing to hit the ball solid. The big surprise of the day was Wardo, our catcher, who pitched a complete game. Kept their hitters off balance all day. Great start - good win.
I went 1-3 and was hit by a pitch. Also was thrown out at home plate attempting to score from 2nd base, it was a perfect relay from left fielder to shortstop to home. Caught me sliding at the plate. Was coached up by Spanky - as I should have drifted further from 2nd base on initial contact. Hats off to the Mets, they executed to perfection, bang - bang play. Got dirty, which is always a good day at the ballpark.
We had to sit around for 1 game, due to the 7 team vs. 8 team format. A team is always waiting to play. You get stiff and slow waiting to play. We scouted the Twins (who we play in the nightcap) and Phillies. The Twins won their game 22-0, against the Yankees 2 team, which did not play any defense. The Phillies won their game 7 -4, against the Mets 2 team, who we beat in the morning. The Phillies had two guys hit one hop ground rule doubles over the left field fence. Very impressive.
More details to follow on the Twins game - gotta get off to throw batting practice.
Twins scored first, not hitting the ball very well. Popup between second basemen and shortstop was the hit that broke our back, should have been caught. That hitter eventually scored.
We tied it in the fourth. I started the inning with a solid single to left. Then came around to score on hits by David Miller & David Gibbon. It stayed that way until the 6th, when again the Twins scored without really hitting the ball well. The first hit came on a flare to right center field, that dropped between David Miller & I. With two outs a right handed hitter, slapped a ball between our first basemen and second basemen. I charged the ball, made a decent throw to home plate, that was cut-off by our pitcher! Looked as though the throw was on line and there would have been a play at the plate. Oh well.
We got a guy to second in the top of the 7th, but Dan Hoover struck out and could not deliver the run. So our goal of attaining the #1 seed, which would give us a bye on Monday, is gone. However, the goal of winning the tournament is still within reach. In fact, this may have been just what we needed to adjust our pitching rotation to be better positioned to win on Monday. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Today we have to play two, which will determining our seeding position for Monday. The goal being - be the #2 or #3 seed, as we would not see the Twins again until the final.
So if things align well for us - that is what we are aiming for.
Let's Go Bucs!
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