Baseball Journal September 8-9, 2017

9-8-17

Tonight was the big homecoming game for the Chihuahuas versus the Aces as a possible closeout game for the pups.  I had at least two co-workers going to the game.  (I’m not sure if they went together.  It’s a really sorted relationship.  I’m refusing to ask about them anymore.)  I did miss the first part of the game to listen to Aggie Volleyball.  I can’t resist the girls, even if it’s just over the radio and I can’t wait to see them on Saturday. 

I didn’t miss much good in that time.  The Aces scored one in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 lead.  When I got into it in the third, Tony Cruz hit a two-run homer to make it 3-2.  The Aces scored again in the fifth, 4-2.  In the seventh, the Aces went through three pitchers trying to maintain the score.  One of the pitchers was serenaded with a “Na na na na . . .” going off the field.  Regardless, Tony Cruz doubled in two runs to tie the score at 4.

  

Meanwhile for the Chihuahuas, Jason Jester came in and had a good two-inning bounce back after the Labor Day debacle.  Tim Hagerty sarcastically commented during the game, “The postseason is all about pitching.  In Colorado Springs right now, they’re up 16-14 over the Memphis Redbirds.”  (The Sky Sox would win 16-15.)   

In the bottom of the eighth, the crowd started getting into it, chanting, “We want a hit.”  Somewhere in the Great Beyond, Paul Stelzin wiped away a happy tear.  Jose Rondon may have gotten hurt on a foul ball in his at bat.  Tim pointed out this was a problem, since Manager Rod Barajas had already used most of the bench.  (Rondon took the field in the ninth thankfully.) 

Hunter Renfroe became the man of the hour during the inning.  He doubled down the third base line, just past the glove of the third baseman.  Rafael Ortega scored all the way from first.  Diego Goris then singled Renfroe in.  The inning continued and Goris scored from third on an error.  Jack Reinheimer had two errors on two plays in the inning.  7-4 Chihuahuas.

Corey Mazzoni came into close in the ninth.  After one out, an Aces’ batter got on, and then Christian Walker, the league MVP, came up and hit a two-run homer, 7-6.  The exuberant crowd was stunned into complete silence.  It wasn’t just the home run, but the distance on it, as the ball cleared the stadium.  Mazzoni still managed to get control and get the final two outs for the win.  Now the crowd of 5,000+ could safely celebrate another trip to the PCL championship series.

The team came out on field together to tip their hats and salute the crowd.  That was a great gesture.  With eagerness, but some trepidation, Tim asked to bring up the audio from the locker room celebration.  He had the station put on a delay first.  Barajas didn’t make a speech, but everyone could hear the cheering.  The stadium even put up the celebration on the video board.  Okay, the Chihuahuas’ odyssey continues next week.  I can hardly wait.

9-9-17

This morning, Fox Sports put on the Aaron Judge Show.  At least, that’s what it seemed like in the pre-game.  Judge is going to be the “Face of Baseball,” no matter what.  Not that he might not become great, but I’m suspicious of any agenda to overhype anyone, especially a rookie.  Our game was the Rangers versus the Yankees in Arlington.  OMG, what’s up with Matt Vasgerian!  He looks like bum who found a tube of hair gel and used the whole thing on his head.  #emergency makeover.  (Oh, I should be on Twitter.)  Whatever.  I put on the radio call instead.

In the first, Carlos Gomez made a nifty rundown of a short fly ball.  He then doubled off Brett Gardner, who was off with the pitch and thought the ball would drop.  Not to be outdone, Jacoby Ellsbury made a similar catch on a sure double in the bottom.  Aaron Judge’s first at bat came in the second and he set a rookie record for walks (or it was another AB during the game, do I work for the Ellis Sports Bureau?).  Joey Gallo was playing first.  Gallo is a large young man, who looked puny next to Judge. 

Flipping channels, I was surprised to find the alternate Fox game, the Indians versus the Orioles, on a Juarez station.  It’s not a good reception station for me, but I kept checking back, since the Tribe is on an epic winning streak.  With a 4-2 win today, they extended their streak to 17.  I mention this because nobody scored in my game until the fifth.  Brett Nicholas, starting a catcher today, doubled in Will Middlebrooks from first.  He also broke up Yankee pitcher, Luis Severino’s, no-hitter. 

Severino came out after seven.  On the other side, Andrew Cashner started the eighth with a hit batter and was taken out.  He was mad, probably with himself.  A sacrifice later brought in that runner to tie the score.  In the ninth, Roughned Odor made a bad throw on the back end of a double play to let on a runner.  In fairness, it was going to be close on a good throw, and he also made some good plays in the field today.  That DP not turned would later turn into two runs on a single and a bases loaded walk.

Gary Sanchez was the final out of the inning.  On the first pitch, he tossed his bat 10 rows up into the stands.  An overjoyed Yankees fan (of which there were many in attendance) got it and danced with it.  In the bottom, the TV crew showed a woman being treated by a paramedic in the stands.  She’d gotten hit with the bat and had a bruise on her shoulder I think.  She now had the bat as she was escorted from her seat.  She didn’t look as happy as the guy, but it was nice of him to give it to her.  I wasn’t happy as the Rangers lost 3-1.  Eric Nadel was also not happy.  With Mike Napoli’s strikeout to end the game, it left Joey Gallo on deck, and his first power versus power meeting with Aroldis Chapman will have to wait for another day.  #Cheated!