The Senators and Golden Marlins got together on a beautiful day to play two Sunday at New Scotland. Both games were not decided until the seventh inning.
In game one, the Marlins were down to their last strike, before rallying to win. The Senators had grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Joey Burns was on in relief to close out the game for the Senators, and Mr. Burns retired the first two Marlins in order in the seventh and had two strikes on TJ Scorsone, before TJ ripped a single. Jim McQuade then battled back from a 0-2 count to work a walk. Both runners moved up on stolen bases to bring up Phil Gadomski with two outs and runners on second and third. Phil delivered the tying and go ahead runs with a single. Chuck Sohl then came on to pinch hit and drilled a long two-run homer to left. The comeback was sudden a dramatic. John Latorre then retired the Senators in order in the bottom of the seventh to cinch the victory.
Game two was no less dramatic! It was a see-saw affair with the Marlins leading 1-0 though 3 1/2 innings. The Senators tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single by Collins. The Golden Marlins plated four runs in the top of the fifth, just to have the Senators bounce back with a four-spot in the bottom half of the inning. The Marlins used a sacrafice fly by Randy Craft to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Senators answered again in the bottom half with a RBI single by Ron McArthy to tie it at 6. Ed Class got the first two batters in the top of the seventh, then walked Jim McQuade. McQuade then stole second on the first pitch to Gadomski. Before Gadomski had a chance to deliver him, McQuade was erased on a slick pick-off move by Eddie. The bottom of the seventh started with Alex Marin being hit by a pitch and stealing second. Collins then bunted him to third. The Goldens decided to walk the next two hitters to load the bases. It looked like a stroke of genius as Ed Class hit a hard ground ball to short. Randy Craft fielded it cleanly and threw to second, but the relay from second to first was too high and the winning run scored as the Marlin's first baseman could not come down with the ball.
The two teams got together after the double header for a couple of cold ones on a beautiful summer evening. Fun was had by all!!!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Monday 19th of July 2010 12:46:16 PM
The first game was played beautifully by both teams. Great plays by the Senators, including one on a wicked mid-hop grounder to 3rd by Girard leading off the 7th and another by SS Chris Leahy ending a Marlins threat I believe the inning before. Randy Craft, once again making key off-balance throws from the hole and up the middle, and Skip Treece with a sensational and potential game-saving catch running full tilt in right heading toward the line with runners on base, and on and on.
Then, Ron Lochner, on bench with a hammie pull, sat with scorebook in hand and predicted Sohl's home run, vowing to be on the field next week.
Wish I could have stayed for Game 2.
I don't know exactly who the Senators had that day, but it was not the same team the Giants defeated this year. Yesterday's team was stacked with talent throughout the lineup. And as always, the Marlins were the Marlins: Simply put, great baseball players top to bottom.
Anyone who says, "Ah, it's just 45-year-old baseball,'' doesn't appreciate baseball the way it's meant to be played. I'd pay for a ticket to see these two teams play again. Truly great for "just 45-year-old baseball!''
JimK P.S. - I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the umpires on that game. Don't know who they were (can't see that far), but they worked a helluva game. Nice job guys.
