Baseball Journal 6-23-13

In the bottom of 8th, Alcides Escobar came to the plate for the Royals with the bases loaded and two outs. Opposing him, Jesse Crain of the White Sox could scarcely contain the pressure. It had been a hard fought, long game with the Sox getting the better of Royals’ ace James Shields for four runs early, courtesy of Adam Dunn. The home team had come back to tie it, but the visitors had gone ahead again by two runs, 6-4 Sox.

The 8th had been nothing but labor for Crain. Hits and his own error had loaded the bases. The statistics on the screen said that Sox pitchers were 100% likely to give up a run with bases loaded and nobody out. Then a strikeout, then another. Crain’s scoreless 29-inning streak might stand. But statistics don’t lie. A walk drove in a run without a play. 6-5 Sox. Then Escobar came to the plate. A sharply hit ground ball to Alexei Ramirez to end the game. . . bounces right through the wickets. Two runs score, unearned, but they still count. Royals win 7-6. This was one of the more entertaining games I’ve seen all season.

“Houston Street has come to dead end.” Why do I just know that Charley Steiner had been waiting to use that line for the entire series? It was appropriate nonetheless. I tuned in late to the game, but seemed to catch all the action. A scoreless game between the Dodgers and the Padres was broken up in the 7th by both teams getting a run. In the 9th, Street struck out Puig and apparently forgot that some of his teammates could hit as well. For example, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, who both came up and hit home runs. The seemingly overwhelmingly pro-Dodger crowd there in San Diego roared in approval. (I felt terribly sorry for the Padres. I guess they don’t get any home games against the Dodgers.) Kenly Jansen somehow managed to lock down this save without too much dramatics.

Somewhere after 9:00 my time, the Ranger-Cardinal game started. It’s after 10:00 in St. Louis. Most of the crowd left after the three-hour delay, but those there are loudly enthusiastic. I think I heard that both teams have an off day tomorrow. Somebody really wanted this game played tonight for some reason.

Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks on the Rangers’ broadcast discussed their disrupted New York travel plans. Matt mentioned he was going to be going out to dinner with friends there. Ah, it was just like old times listening to Matt discuss his meals on Diablo broadcasts with his partner.

The teams played like they were sleepwalking. The first run wasn’t scored until the 6th with Matt Carpenter’s home run for Cards. The Rangers would come back the next inning with two runs. That was all of the scoring, though not all the drama. Nathan came out for the fourth day in a row for a save. With two on and one out, the game ended on a caught line drive and a doubled off baserunner. Well, I was pleased at the Rangers 2-1 victory, but it was after midnight. I can only imagine the disappointment in Busch Stadium after 1:00am and a lackluster loss and a series sweep. At least they got to see a great fireworks show afterward. Just kidding, although that has happened.