Update & Run Support (or lack thereof)

Ok. It's been a while so first a quick update on games since my last post.

June 13: 3-0 loss to the Knights - 8 innings pitched (CG)
June 17: 3-2 loss to the Dirt Dogs - 8 innings pitched (CG)
June 23: 2-1 win over the Barons - 9 innings pitched (CG) Tieing run on 3rd with no outs in the bottom of the 8th - K, pop out, ground out.
June 27: 1 -0 loss to the Valley Cats (meow) 9IP (CG)
June 28th 16-5 loss to the Saxtons River Pirates - Only pitched 1.33 innings but got shelled - 10 runs mostly earned. Probably shouldn't have been pitching but my arm felt fine.
June 30: Rained out after 4 1/3 innings. Losing 5-0 to Knights when the game was called. The game shouldn't even have been started. I took the mound with lightening all around.
July 3: 13-2 loss to the Pittsfield Elms. 8IP (CG)They hit the ball hard but we also made a lot of errors. Maybe half of their runs were earned
July 7: Mustangs/Rebels game postponed because of not enough players for Mustangs. The game on the adjoining field wasn't played either because of rain/lightening and wet field.
July 8: Mustangs/Rebels game postponed again (while we were on the way to the field) because the field was in use by another league.

So to sum this up, in 37 2/3 innings pitched I have had a total run support of 6 runs. The good news is I've been pitching well (I choose to ignore the 1 inning shelling against Saxtons River's 20 year olds) and I've got almost 6 days rest since my last start.

July 9: Putney Fossils (1 -7) at Saxtons River Pirates (8-1)

I got an email from the manager of the Pirates a day or two before our game: "Bring any players you want to add any younger pitchers to your team for the game against us on Thursday." Clearly he didn't proofread his email but his message was crystal clear - Your old pitchers don't stand a chance against my young hitters. Needless to say I took that as a challenge.

1st inning: We score a run on a double followed by a single. Their first batter reaches on an error but I get the next three. 1-0 Fossils after 1.

2nd inning: Fossils and Pirates go down 1-2-3.

3rd inning: Fossils go down P5, single, double play. The first 2 Pirates go down easy but 2 singles (top of the order) followed by 2 errors (dropped pop up to 3rd and booted ground ball) followed by a single and a K lead to 3 Pirate runs (all unearned) 3-1 Pirates after 3.

4th inning: Fossil go down 1-3, single, double play. Pirates score 4 more unearned runs. This is starting to look like another ugly loss. What should be a 1-0 lead is a 7-1 deficit.

5th inning: The Pirates bring in a new pitcher who's had control trouble in the past and is hittable when he's throwing strikes. Definitely not overpowering. Our first batter reaches on an error, the next batter walks and the 3rd reaches on a error. Bases loaded, no outs. Brian Benjamin singles in 2 runs and another walk loads up the bases again. A pop to short is the first out. The following batter lines a 1 hopper back to the pitcher who throw to second to start the double play but nobody is covering second. The ball is caught but everyone is safe and another run is in. Keith Hazard follows with an RBI walk. 4 runs in, bases loaded, one out and top of the order up. Danny Lichtenfeld, our lead off hitter, took a hard hit ground ball off his throwing hand and has been icing it for a couple of innings. He doesn't think he can swing the bat. I'm on deck and he tells me he may have to bunt. I tell him just make sure it's away far enough away from the plate and the pitcher that they can't turn a double play. Danny hits a 2 run double but Keith is throw out at 3rd. I fly out for the final out of the inning but we've tied the game.
I head to the mound with renewed vigor and K the first batter, give up a single, then K the next 2.
After 5 innings: Fossils 7 Pirates 7

6th inning: Fossils and Pirates both go in order.

Top of the 7th inning (This is scheduled to be a 7 inning game): The Fossils start off with 3 singles (the 3rd on an infield single) to load the bases with no outs. Guillermo hits a ball back to the pitcher who throws home for the first out but the catcher's throw to first for the attempt at a double play tips off the first basemans mitt and gets far enough away that the runner now on 3rd scores. 1 run lead. Kevin Fry singles in a second run. Runners on the corners with one out - 2 run lead. Keith Hazard walks again to load the bases. Danny's up again with the bases loaded again. The first pitch is in the dirt and gets away from the catcher. The runner on 3rd starts then stops - he never would have made it. The ball wasn't far enough away - but Keith has his head down and is almost to second before he realizes it's already occupied. He's an easy out. Danny singles in the two remaining runners and takes second on the throw home. 4 run lead. I'm up thinking it would be nice to have that 5 run, grand slam proof lead. The count works to 1-2 and I take a ball way inside and low - definitely not a strike - for strike 3. Oh well, I guess the ump wants to go home. The light is getting dim.

Bottom of the 7th: Single, K, 4 pitch walk (what the heck?), single (one run scores). Runners on 1st and 2nd - still no worries. The next batter K's. 2 outs but they're back to the top of the lineup. Single to left scores another and should leave runners on 1st and 2nd again but the leftfielder overruns the ball and they both move up a base. Now they have the tieing run on 2nd. It's amazing how fast a safe lead can evaporate. Their 2nd batter already has 2 hits and has scored a couple of runs. He swings at the first pitch (if my memory is correct), a slider, and pops it up to first for the final out.

Final score: Fossils 11 Pirates 9 . It's nice to have run support!