Sunday, May 15, 2011

From Nothing to "Are You Kidding Me!"

The Cardinals entered the top of the ninth inning in today's game trailing the Reds 9 - 2.
The entire game was played in a steady drizzle and the play of the game matched the level of excitement only a steady drizzle can equal. Apart from the back-to-back homeruns by the Redbirds in the second inning, there wasn't a memorable moment during the first eight innings of this game. These two runs were the only tallies of the day for the Cardinals as the game entered the ninth inning.
The drab, dreary weather and the drab, dreary game were both equally responsible for the size of the crowd to be about half of the announced 32 thousand plus when the game entered the ninth inning.
A Reds reliever started the ninth and walked 4 of the first 5 batters and the score became 9 - 3. The control problems of this pitcher are well documented and, as expected, a new pitcher was brought into the game.
This pitcher was greeted with a double and the score became 9 - 5.
The Reds closer was brought into the game and was greeted with another double and the score changed to 9 - 7 and the great Albert Pujols was coming to the plate.
Are you kidding me!
We were going crazy in the truck!
The Reds closer throws a pitch up and in and hits Pujols on the left wrist.
A scary moment for all Cardinals fans. Albert stayed in the game and the leading batter in the National League, Matt Holliday, was in the box.
You gotta be kidding me!
Matt hit a picture perfect double play ground ball to the shortstop. True to the form this game had taken, the Reds botched the double play and runners were on first and third. Coming to the dish was Lance Berkman. Lance Berkman holds the record for the most home runs and most rbi by a visiting player at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
Are you kidding me.
The energy in the TV truck was unreal.
The Cardinals were not only going to tie this game, they were absolutely going to win it.
Back in 2005, the Cardinals overcame a 9 - 3 deficit in the top of the ninth at this same ballpark. Amazingly, we played a flashback of this comeback to start the inning.
As Berkman entered the batters box, we aired a graphic showing that he was 0 - 13 in his career against this pitcher.
Berkman struck out on a 1 - 2 count and the game was over.
Are you kidding me!

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