walk-off victory

Saturday's Dodgers game against Kennesaw was too exciting. The Reds were a bunch of solid players, but even without Christian and Alex, the Dodgers were capable of winning, if they played a good game. Both teams played with nine players.

Allen struck out their best hitter to lead off the game. The next hitter hit a Texas League single, just out of shortstop Kurt 's reach. The third batter grounded one just out of second-baseman Russell' s reach, but the cleanup hitter popped out to Mark at first. A walk loaded the bases, but Allen struck out the next hitter to end the inning.

Allen and Will both singled to lead off the bottom of the first. After Mark struck out, Garrett grounded it hard up the middle. Allen took off home from third, before the pitcher stabbed the ball. Allen tried to avoid the catcher, but was tagged out on a close play. I wish I could've held him at third. Kurt struck out to end the threat.

Kennesaw scored three unearned runs in the second. Allen got the first two batters out, and the third hitter grounded sharply to Kurt, now playing second. The ball took a nice bounce, but Kurt, expecting a lower bounce, missed it. The leadoff hitter nailed a payoff pitch deep into right-center. Curtis chased it down, but the hitter circled the bases for an easy homer. The next hitter hit it over Curtis' head in center, but was held to a double. Will went deep in the hole to field the next grounder, but made an ill-advised, off balance throw nowhere close to first, and two runners scored.

Russell led off the bottom of the second with a walk. Since he was catching, Kurt ran for him, and stole second. He took third on Curtis' groundout, but Joe struck out. With two out and Nathan up, I told Kurt to go for home if the ball got away from the catcher, an unlikely event, given the solid battery. But the ball did get away, and Kurt scored on a close play.

In the third the batter dribbled the ball out in front of the plate. Catcher Russell scooped it up and looked to first, then back at the runner on third, who had ventured too far down the line. The runner from second arrived at third base, and Russell ran the ball all the way back to third and tagged out the runner. With two on, the dangerous leadoff hitter hit another ball deep into the outfield. This time Curtis was there, making a nice running catch to kill the rally.

Allen had thrown 65 pitches, 23 in the third inning alone. Thirty-seven strikes, 28 balls, four strikeouts, two walks, five hits, only one earned run...a nice outing.

Down three runs in the bottom of the third, the Dodgers only scored once. Will singled to left, stole second and third, and scored when Garrett reached on an error.

The momentum started to change in the fourth, as Will got three outs on seven pitches, including a three pitch strikeout for out number three. Before that, Russell had fielded two grounders at second-base for the first two outs.

After Russell's leadoff popout, Curtis hit a line drive single to right. He hit it so hard I was afraid the rightfielder was going to throw him out at first. Curtis reached second on Joe's dropped third strike. Nathan walked, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. I was worried about Allen, as he was swinging off-balance as he fouled off two. But then he drove a ball over the right-fielder's head for a triple, his best hit of the year. On the play the ball got away from the catcher, and Allen scored as well. Will walked and again stole second and third, and Mark walked as well. Garrett's single scored Will and advanced Mark to third. Then Kurt swung, dribbling the ball out in front of the plate. The catcher scooped it up and threw wildly past first, allowing both runners to score. Russell walked, but the first-baseman made a great play to rob Curtis of a double down the line.

Things were looking good...up 8-4 with ten minutes to go, and the bottom four in the order up. But after a groundout, Will walked two and hit one, loading the bases for Kennesaw's best hitter, who promptly singled to right. The next batter also dumped a single to right, tying the game. I had a chance to talk to Will at the foul line when the other coach called time, telling him to hang in there. The runner on first took on the first pitch on a steal of second. Kurt moved over to take Allen's throw, but the batter swung, grounding it right where Kurt had been. The next hitter also hit a grounder through the hole between third and short, and kept rolling, allowing the batter to reach second. Will was starting to hang his head, so I paid him a visit to encourage him, trying to lighten his mood. He was making good pitches, but was falling behind in the count, allowing the hitters to look for their pitch. He allowed an easy grounder to short, but Kurt let it go through his legs. After a walk, I changed pitchers.

Six runs had scored, and there were two on and still only one out. As Garrett warmed up, I was out there, still encouraging Will. Kurt asked who was playing where, so I moved Kurt to third, with Will at short. Garrett's first pitch was lined low into the hole, well out of Kurt's reach. Will extended his body fully and speared it...inches off the ground, an amazing catch. He stood up, and had all the time in the world as he tossed the ball to Russell covering second, doubling off the runner to end the inning.

Still, things looked bleak, as Kennesaw led 10 - 8. But Joe lined a single into center, and Nathan walked. I didn't give the take sign to Allen or Will, but both walked, bringing us within a run. During a meeting on the mound, I spoke with Allen and Nathan, the runners on second and third, noting how shallow the centerfielder was playing.

I wanted Mark to take, but forgot to give the sign. He swung and missed a low pitch for strike one. Mark had a tough day so far, twice striking out swinging. But he drilled the next pitch into leftfield, driving in Nathan to tie the game. Allen rounded third just as the ball got to the leftfielder, who didn't come up with it cleanly. The throw came home, but Allen scored easily. The team ran out and mobbed Mark. Dodgers win a thriller, 11-10!