A Tuesday Night At Blair Field
Momentum. No one can truly explain what it is and how one obtains it; however, the most rookie of sports fan can watch a game and tell you who has it. That allusive elixir was over stocked in the beginning of the season for the Dirtbags, and then the supply ran dry during the longest roadie in school history. After all the ups and downs, Long Beach is sitting pretty only one game back of Santa Barbara and Fullerton, the Big West leaders.
And who’ll the Dirtbags take on the last two weekends at home? The Gauchos and the Titans. With their destiny in their own hands, Long Beach has to sustain momentum against non-league opponents like the Fresno State Bulldogs…
1st Inning- All the lights are on, fighting off the dusk, but I missed the hit that put Danny Muno on second because I stayed at home to watch Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher no-hit the USA national team, which is considered the best lineup in the world. The upset broke the U.S. 185-game winning streak. However, I’m seated and comfortable with my $5 beer in time to see second baseman Jason Tweedy make a leaping catch to save a run. Jason Corder sends a moon shot to the warning track in the bottom of the inning, but the offshore wind keeps it in the park. 0-0.
2nd Inning- Starter Brett Lorin strikes out two in the top, and Danny “The Program” Espinosa reaches third on two errors by the Bulldogs. A soaring fly ball from Brandon Godfrey scores Espy, and all 300 fans erupt… Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. It’s more like 250. 1-0 Dirtbags.
3rd Inning- First and third with no outs, and the Bulldogs try a squeeze bunt, but Godfrey charges the bent and throws the runner out at the plate. On the next pitch, Espy turns two to help Lorin out of the inning. The squeeze bunt has to be one of my top five favorite sports plays. Just behind the flea flicker, and just ahead of the ally-oop. 1-0 Dirtbags.
4th Inning- Espinosa goes deep in the hole at short and shows off his arm to help new pitcher Brian Roberts get the first out of the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Shane “The Franchise” Peterson is running on the pitch and scores on a double by “The Program.” These two, Peterson and Espy, could be leaders on any team in the nation. 2-0 Dirtbags.
5th Inning- Pitcher David Born starts the fifth and struggles, but Dustin “Dirty Rascal” Rossco comes in and gets out of the jam. By the way, the home plate umpire looks like NFL referee Ed Hockley. Wait, maybe that’s just his chest protector… Dirtbags 2-0.
6th Inning- The Bulldogs and Dirtbags both go quietly in the sixth, while Kevin Garnett makes a turn around hook in the lane to give the Celtics a two-point lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semis Game 1. LeBron James has a chance to tie it up with seconds left, but misses a jumper in the lane. Even looking at the computer screen, I’m positive he thought he got fouled. 2-0 Dirtbags.
7th Inning- Nick Vincent comes in and sits the Bulldogs down 1-2-3. Fresno reliever Justin Miller is not to be outdone, striking out Espy and Godfrey. Get up and stretch! 2-0 Dirtbags.
8th Inning- Vincent K’s two, and gives a nice stare down to his fourth strikeout victim. I just looked at Fresno State’s schedule, and they play a softball-esque eight double headers this year. That obviously cut down on travel cost, and I’m pretty sure the surplus cash went to bankroll the stickers on the Bulldog’s helmets. Who do they think they are, Ohio State? I still think Pop Warner football is the only place a helmet sticker is permissible. Dirtbags 2-0.
Take those stickers off – you’re no Buckeye!
9th Inning- Peterson and Bryan Shaw pitch the final inning, as Shaw picks up his sixth save of the year, after giving up one run. The Dirtbags used eight pitchers on the night to post a five-hitter, but could only manage three hits. It’s going to take much of the same pitching, and much more hitting to compete in these important series at home against Santa Barbara and Fullerton. Final, 2-1 Dirtbags.