On the MLB free game, the Astros were leading comfortably against the Royals until Alex Gordon tripped over home plate to tie the score at seven. The Astros had had a six run lead. Mike Moustakas homered in the ninth for a 9-7 win and snapped Houston’s 11-game winning streak. At least Royals fans will have this game to look back on at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, light-hitting infielder, Scooter Gennett, hit four home runs for Cincinnati against St. Louis. His final line was five hits and 10 RBI’s. Four homers in a game is actually a rarer feat than a perfect game.
6-7-17
6-5 win for the Chihuahuas over the Isotopes in Albuquerque. I had to listen through heavy static from a storm in the area, but I was glad I did. The pups were down 5-1 in the seventh, but managed to get the score to 5-4 going into the ninth. The Isotopes loaded the bases in the sixth, seventh, and eighth without scoring. With runners on first and second, there was a clutch single on a full count with two out, that tied the score. A wild pitch brought in a runner from third for the lead. The Isotopes led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple, but closer, Phil Maton, stranded him there for the win. Tim Hagerty called this “The best game of the season.”
6-8-17
Today was a day game for the Chihuahuas versus the Isotopes in Albuquerque. Manager Rod Barajas was hit on the hand by a foul ball while coaching third. Tim Hagerty was immediately concerned as Rod didn’t just laugh it off, since it was a hit by one of his own players. He stayed out for the inning, but went into the dugout and didn’t return for the rest of the game. Albuquerque’s manager, Glenallen Hill, got ejected in between the eighth and ninth, after an ongoing argument, so both managers weren’t involved in the end.
The Isotopes had the lead late, but after a double, River Stevens was down to his final strike for the last out. A disputed check swing gave him new life, and he singled to tie the game. Another single brought in the go-ahead run. The Chihuahuas must be living right, as they won 5-4. Albuquerque’s closer was the second best in the league behind the Chihuahuas’ Phil Maton, so these two comebacks were pretty impressive.
6-9-17
This was migration night at work and the functional end of my main job there. At least the ballgames were interesting. The Rangers beat the Nationals 5-1 (I think) behind seven strong innings by Andrew Cashner. The only blemish was an inexplicable dropped fly ball by Jered Hoying that would have ended the game. No harm done though.
Meanwhile in El Paso, because of all of the confusion at work, I missed most of the Chihuahuas’ game versus the Grizzlies. This was not the game to have missed. The pups were down 4-3 early, but then in the fourth there was an eight-run explosion to give the Chihuahuas a comfortable lead. They had a ten-run lead until the sixth, when the Surfin’ Bears (my nickname for them) put up six runs. Even in the ninth, it wasn’t over as the Grizzlies scored twice and left the tying runs on base. 14-12 Chihuahuas. The fans in attendance got their money’s worth.
6-10-17
It was noon in Washington DC and 10:00 am here for the next game between the Rangers and Nationals. “It’s like watching the game from an airplane,” complained Eric Nadel. The guys are really unhappy with the pressbox at the stadium. I remember watching Cubs’ games where the announcers were making similar comments. Matt Hicks continued his fascination with the Presidents’ Race. They also had an interesting discussion about umpire accuracy and the possibility of an electronic strike zone. Current officiating is judged to be at 88%.
In other words, nothing much was happening. In the fifth, Martin Perez loaded the bases with no outs. There was even an error on a foul pop up. Somehow, he got out of it. In the sixth, Adam Lind hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run inning for the Nats. 3-1 at that point. Jared Sandler mentioned Adam West had died today in an update. I even saw this story on Mexican TV later in the day.
In the ninth, Shin-Soo Choo hit a home run. Nomar Mazara hit a double to drive in a run to tie it. They would have gotten the lead, but for an overturned call. In the bottom, a lead-off double was stranded at third, and we went to extras. In the eleventh, Robinson Chirinos hit a three-run homer just over the wall and a leaping outfielder. Keone Kela locked it down in the bottom, striking out the side. 6-3 Rangers win.
In the Fox pre-game recaps of earlier games, I noticed an interesting contrast. In San Francisco, there was another full house, though the team is crappy. At the Braves’ new stadium, it was barely occupied. Admittedly, their team isn’t all that great either. The featured game was the Yankees against the Orioles. The game was functionally over so quick, if you blinked you missed it. Man-child-giant Aaron Judge blasted a homer in the first with two outs and floodgates opened. I didn’t even write down the final. It was in double digits.
It didn’t go better in El Paso, where the Grizzlies hit six home runs and won the game 9-5. It shouldn’t have been that close, but the Surfin’ Bears committed an inexcusable four errors in the seventh inning, resulting in five Chihuahuas’ runs. It still never felt like their lead was in jeopardy.
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