On a hot, hot, hot day for baseball Sunday at the Satellite field, the Reds out-slugged the Royals 12-10.
Joe Burns for the Reds vs. lefty Rich Koster on the hill for the Royals. Don't have the book, but the Readers Digest version..Reds jump out to an 8 -3 lead after 4, mostly behind the bat of Bob Davis, who had a 2 rbi double, then a 2 run homer,followed by a solo shot off the bat of Brian Mueller, as they went back-to back, or as John Stearling would say "belly to belly".
In the 5th, the Royals battle back after the Reds defense decides to give them 5 outs..with the bases juiced,a grand slam by...?..cut the deficit to 8-7..
With rookie Marc Fiacco now pitching for the Royals, and keeping the Reds off the board, the Royals mount a comeback in the 6th, and take a 10-8 lead heading to the top of the 7th. ( one run came in on the fake to 3rd to 1st balk rule that caused some confusion..not sure where that stands).
The Reds mounted a final rally of their own, as Ed Class tied the game with a" no-doubter" to left center. Three batter later, Jonny Martin broke the tie with a sac fly, and Ron Collins provided some insurance with a sharp rbi single..
Joe Burns came back into the game in the bottom of the seventh, showing great heart after being relieved earlier, and nailed down the save..!
With the win, the Reds improve to 7-2. The Royals are made up of some great guys, (former Blue Thunder men), and have some nice additions as well..
Love the fence at Satellite..really makes for a better game..
1 - I found a catchers mask/helmet on the reds side after we finished our game which followed yours .... I have been meaning to post it but keep forgetting.... we play you Sunday so i will have it with me.
2 - We follow MLB rules unless stated otherwise .... so there is no fake to 3rd, throw to 1st allowed ..... it was confirmed and emailed to all managers.
A big THANK YOU to Steve VanGelder and the rest of the Royals for lending us a player because we only had 8 at the start of the game. Thanks again to a class'y bunch of guys.
Thanks for posting about the fake to third/throw to first rule. I hadn't heard that MLB made it balk. Though it hadn't seem to work in a long time, growing up in Kansas City, I saw Steve Busby use it effectively often back in the 70s.
I don't really understand the logic of making it a balk (isn't a fake to third allowed generally? can't a pitcher throw to first whenever he wants to?), but that's above my pay grade.
I think it falls under one of the quirky rules of baseball...
By definition, a balk is"intentionally deceiving the base runner".... Isn't that what a good lefty does with his move to first?...or the righty who lifts his leg, then turns to second to throw, or fake the throw?
In our league, I can count numerous times when Ron Mazzaroni has pulled the 3rd to 1st move successfully! Let me qualify that by saying successfully, meaning the runner at first takes off...whether us Cubbies or Reds can execute the subsequent rundown is a whole different story..!!!
stay cool!
Jonny
PS..after my crappy MRI ...torn this or that..degeneration after 40 years of throwing...two cortisone shots in the shoulder today....!! I'll be baaack...!
