The original plan was to come home after the game and write the blog post that night, like a real game story, but this little move called The Dark Knight Rises got in the way of that. So, for your enjoyment, here is the game story for last night's Chiefs-Norfolk Tides game. I promise you, this is one of the most exciting games I have even blogged about.
The game was pitched by two guys people may actually know: Lefty Zach Duke took the mound for the Chiefs, a team that for some reason is represented by a train, while lefty Brian Matusz, of Baltimore Orioles fame, was on the Tide's bump.
Duke did not begin the game well, giving up a lead off single to LJ Hoes, who would advance to second on a fielder's choice. Hoes was then driven in by former Minnesota Twin Lew Ford, who hit a deep fly ball to center field for a ground rule double. Two batters later, Ford was driven in by former Pittsburgh Pirate Ronny Paulino. After half an inning, I'd learned that the Tides were made up of a lot of guys who had been in the majors. They led 2-0.
The next inning went six up, six down, and the inning following that was uneventful, at best. After two and half, the Tides still led 2-0.
Former Cubs backup catcher Koyie Hill led off the bottom of the third with a line drive sharply down the right field line. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Josh Johnson (not the Marlins pitcher) then drove him in with an RBI double down the left field line. 2-1 Tides.
Corey Brown the undoubted 1st half MVP for the Chiefs (.301/21/58/13SB) singles Johnson in, and steals second before getting stranded. After 3, it's 2-2.
The Chiefs turned a nice double play to end the Tides' half of the fourth before coming up for some more runs.
Hill hit his first double of the season (at this level) to drive in former Marlin Brett Carroll, followed by Eury Perez's first Triple-A hit and RBI, as he was called up from Harrisburg prior to the game. 4-2 Cheifs after 4.
In the Tides' half of the fifth, the only excitement came from Zelous Wheeler (who is up for the Best Name in Sports Award) reached first when Zach Duke did not catch the flip from first baseman Carlos Rivero. Lucky for Duke, nothing came of it, and he escaped the inning.
Brown singles to lead off the Chiefs' fifth, and scored on a Jesus Valdez double. Valdez would later score after a fielder's choice sent him to third and Rivero hit a sac fly. After 5, 6-2 Chiefs.
The most exciting inning of the game had arrived. With one out in the top of the sixth, Ronny Paulino singled, setting up former Red Sox farmhand Luis Exposito to hit 2-run homer to deep center. 6-4 Chiefs. Jamie Hoffman hit a triple that Duke left right over the plate, but Duke was able to escape without giving up any more runs.
Let me preface the bottom of the sixth with a few notes: Carol M. Baldwin, the mother of the Baldwin Brother's, lives in the Syracuse area. Semi-regularly her sons are in the area for charity events and the like. Carol has a cancer foundation, and July 20th's game was a night where she hosted a fundraiser at the New Alliance Bank Stadium. There was word that Billy was in the building.
The bottom of the sixth began, and it became clear to me and my fellow Newhouser's that Billy Baldwin was in the aisle behind home plate, taking pictures with people. Sure enough, there he was, wearing a pink and black Chiefs uniform (the team wore them for the charity event), taking pictures with a few people. So, my friend Kristina and I got up, and went over to where Billy was, in an attempt to get a picture with him.
With one out, we had reached the level Billy was on when the fans got noisy. Luis Exposito and catcher Koyie Hill had begun fighting, with no obvious reason apparent to me or Kristina, who were focused on getting to Billy. In the end, Hill ended up wrestling Exposito to the ground, and then began pulling at his legs. Not sure why. Here is a picture of the cleared benches, reminiscent of Halloween.
Hill and Exposito were both ejected, and replaced with new catchers.
With the excitement of the skirmish over, it was Billy Baldwin time. Just before the fight, Billy rushed off down the first base line, but was expected back, as his handler was still over where we were. When Billy got back, I immediately approached him and asked for a picture. "Real quick, I gotta go," he responded. So, I met Billy Baldwin!
So, after an exciting 6th inning, the Chiefs led 6-4.
After all the excitement, nothing really happened until the 8th, when Hassan Pena loaded the bases. Relieved by Christian Garcia, the Chiefs walked in a run, making it a one run game. Fortunately for the Chiefs, that would be the last run the Tides scored, and the Chiefs won, holding off a late Tides' rally to win 6-5!
Zach Duke earned his team leading 11th win, and Garcia earned his 4th save of the year.
The Chiefs take on the Tides again tonight, with Mitch Atkins squaring off against Jake Arrieta, who was on my fantasy team fro 2 days earlier this season.
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