I can't even begin to describe this one. Arguably the greatest game ever. Everytime
time the Red Barons clawed and scratched to get a run, the Pawsox would slug in 2.
Millions of little things fell into place for this victory. I'm choosing to write it all
in order for the benefit of anyone who missed it, or committed the ultimate sin by
leaving!
The first inning signaled a rough evening for the men in pinstripes. Evan Thomas, our
most reliable pitcher, was horribly shelled for 5 runs and only got 1 man out. Garey
Ingram led off the game with a mammoth solo home run and things quickly deteriorated from
there. At the end of the top of the first after Manny Barrios rescued the game for the
time being, it was 5-0. Reggie Taylor led off with single on the first pitch and promptly
stole 2nd base. Kenny Woods drove him with an RBI single. Pawtucket struck again in the
2nd with a 2 run homerun by Vinas off Barrios so it's 7-1 after 2 full innings. Fast
forward to the 6th inning. Umpire Jeff Spedoski gave Barry Johnson the shaft twice in the
top of the inning. He claimed a foul ball hit a batter and thus awarded him 1st base.
This was evidently bulls*** to the 7,000 plus in attendance. Then the Red Barons turned a
double play on the aforementioned baserunner. But the umpires rules the batter safe at
first which prompted the rath of Barry Johnson and a second funny Bombard argument, you
know the ones where he turns sideways and yells at the ground? Well Barry was as pissed
as I've ever seen, but he had the self-control to not be thrown out, regain his composure
and pitch and important scoreless 6th inning. In the bottom of the 6th, the Barons almost
blew a golden oppurtunity. P.J. Forbes reached base and went to 3rd when a long single by
David Newhan crashed off the wooden base of the wall. Cesar King struck out and Reggie
Taylor flied weakly to shortstop. Kenny Woods came up and with an 0-1 count was hit by the
ball and nearly broke his hand. The ump, the jackass that he is, ruled it a foul ball.
Kenny was in obvious pain, and proceeded to have one of the biggest "gut-check" and most
memorable at bats. He fouled off pitch after pitch, in obvious pain since he couldn't
even grip the bat. He finally swung and hit what amounted to a bunt up the right side
which Tim "The Jackass" Spehr booted and Kenny was 4-4 with 3 RBI and the respect of
thousands. WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!?? RED BARONS 5 - Pawtucket 8
Pawtucket struck what seemed like a mortal blow against Mark Brownson by scoring twice to
make it 10-5. The Barons scored one in the 7th which set the stage for the greatest
inning in Red Baron history. After Schrenk tosses a scoreless 9th, I'll turn it over to
Bob Williams (who wrote this whole thing really) for the play-by-play.
...Pritchett hits one into the left field corner, he's heading for second and he'll
make it with a STAND UP DOUBLE.
...P.J. Forbes swings and sends one to Right-center field, Pritchett is held at third.
INGRAM BOOTS IT!! PRITCHETT COMES HOME STANDING UP TO MAKE IT 10-7 PAWTUCKET!
...Newhan at the plate, he waits and he smashes one to right field but right at
Chamblee...CHAMBLEE MISPLAYS IT!! IT GOES OVER HIS HEAD TO THE WALL! Forbes rounding
second into third! Newhan into second with a double on a ball that Jim Chamblee totally
misplayed!!! This takes away the possibility of a ground ball double play. Gary Jones
has seen enough of Joel Bennett. Rob Stanifer will be called on to put out the fire for
the Pawsox. And it seems Bombard will pull Cesar King and go with David Francia as a pinch
hitter. Francia is batting .287 with 1 Home run and 11 RBI in 46 games for the Red
Barons. Known mostly as a contact hitter...
Stanifer's first delivery is a ball...Stanifer sets, the 1-0 pitch...SWUNG AND BELTED HIGH
INTO THE AIR!! CHAMBLEE GOES BACK TO THE WALL!! IT'S OUTTA HERE!! HOME RUN! DAVID FRANCIA! THE GAME IS TIED! 10-10!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!...
...Reggie hits a chopper past the mound, they may not have a play! and they don't, Reggie
is safe at first!...
Kenny Woods the warrior lays down a bunt, it's a good one and Kenny is out, but he advances
Reggie into scoring position!...
...1-1 pitch to Doster, grounder towards third, Veras looks Taylor back and throws to
first for the out, REGGIE TAYLOR BREAKS ON THE THROW!!! HE SLIDES!!! HE'S SAFE!!!
SAFE!!!!
...that's ball 4 to Schall and this place is going crazy! Most of the 7,509 in attendance
stuck around to witness the mammoth blast by Francia. Jimmy Rollins now strides to the
plate...
...first pitch to rollins....HE BUNTS!! IT ROLLS DOWN THE THIRD BASE LINE!! STANIFER
OVER! HE SLIPS! RED BARONS WIN! RED BARONS WIN! 11-10!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THE PLACE IS
GOIN BONKERS!!!! RED BARONS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, it was as unbelievable a comeback as Charlotte or Lou Lucca last year against
the Sox. But it meant more. John Davies said it and I couldn't agree more that the only
thing missing was Sean Fesh. Sean, I really wish you could have been with me and Jeff and
Ben enjoying the game. I knew things would turn out good when Ben was given 3 box season
tickets with who else but good old #66 on them. It's off to Rochester tomorrow. WHO LET
THE DOGS OUT??!
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