Games

Turner Field
Atlanta, Georgia

	Team	R	H	E
	Washington Nationals	2	4	0
	Atlanta Braves	0	2	1

Highlights

The streak is over at 2—the home team lost. Not much action in this one with both teams surrendering only 1 hit each thru the first 7 innings. The Nationals starter Jason Bergmann mixed 4 walks with 8 strikeouts thru 6 innings including striking out the side in the first. The Braves John Smoltz was equally impressive striking out 4 and walking 2 thru the first 7 but was finally reached in the eighth for 2 runs that turned out to be the only runs scored in the game. Smoltz added some offensive excitement when he flied deep up against the wall to the center fielder in the second and again with another deep fly ball to the right fielder in the fifth.

We spent Easter Sunday enjoying the beautiful Florida weather at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Florida. The Florida Marlins won which was an added bonus to the day. (Check out the Game 02 of 30 page for highlights of the game.)

The first game was April 6th. There were 17 of us that attended the game. A limo picked us up at Coasters and delivered us at Tropicana Field. Thanks to the Gang from Coasters who joined us for our kickoff game. We had a great time and hope everyone else did as well. (Check out the Game 01 of 30 page for highlights of the game.)

Dolphins Stadium
St. Petersburg, Florida

	Team	R	H	E
	Philadelphia Phillies	4	7	0
	Florida Marlins	6	11	0

Highlights

Two games down and the home team has come away the winner in both. It’s not often when a team gives up 11 walks (3 in a row at one point) in a game and still comes away the victor, but that’s what the Marlins were able to accomplish in their Easter Sunday game with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies jumped out to an early lead by scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning. Jimmy Rollins lead off with a walk and Jayson Werth followed with a double moving Rollins to third. After Chase Utley struck out, Ryan Howard doubled driving in Werth and Rollins. Then Pat Burrell singled to right moving Howard to third. Wes Helms followed with a walk to load the bases and Aaron Rowand hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Howard. Rod Barajas finished the inning that sent 8 men to the plate with a strike out. Things didn’t look good for the home team in the bottom half of the inning when leadoff hitter Hanley Ramirez pulled up limping after attempting to beat out a grounder to shortstop. Alfredo Amezaga replaced Ramirez in the field and went 1 for 4 with a triple in the 7th driving in Aaron Boone who had previously singled while pinch-hitting for the pitcher. Amezaga was later thrown out at the plate while attempting to score on a fly ball to right.

Although the Marlins were able to send only 3 men to the plate in the 1st, they quickly got back into the game by sending 7 batters to the plate in the 2nd. Mike Jacobs led off the inning with a homer to right (the only one for the game). Cody Ross followed with a double to right and Joe Borchard singled to right sending Ross to third. Alejandro De Aza drove in Ross with a sac fly to right and then Matt Treanor plated Borchard with a triple. The pitcher Scott Olsen helped his own cause with a beautifully placed sacrifice bunt to score Treanor with the 4th run of the inning. Amezaga finished the inning with a pop fly to left.

Tropicana Field
St. Petersburg, Florida

	Team	R	H	E
	Toronto Blue Jays	5	9	0
	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	6	12	0

Highlights

It’s hard to imagine that we’ll see a more exciting game than this one. It had everything (home runs, good defense & excellent base running) except good relief pitching and the home team won!!! It was extremely satisfying to see a sold out crowd at the Tropicana Field cheering for the home team and being rewarded for it. It was equally gratifying to see the Rays come from behind to win the game after losing the lead earlier for the 2nd game in a row. This showed maturity not witnessed in the past from this young team and propelled them into an early sole possession of 1st place in the AL East. The Devil Rays young pitcher James Shields pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings before tiring and giving up 3 runs to tie the game. He spread out 3 hits while walking 2 and hitting 1 batter before surrendering 3 hits in a row in the top of the 7th sending him to the showers.

Akinori Iwamura had a 4 for 4 night for the Rays including a home run, 2 singles and a perfectly placed bunt during the winning rally in the bottom of the ninth and then displayed some savvy base running by moving to 3rd on a single by Elijah Dukes. He then scored the winning run on B.J. Upton’s infield hit. He was mobbed by his teammates in front of the home dugout ala the emotion you might more likely expect at the Little League World Series. It was great to see!!!! The Rays also displayed good power with 5 of their 6 runs coming from the long ball. Toronto’s big guns (Wells, Thomas & Glaus) went 3 for 11 with 1 home run and a walk accounting for 2 of their 5 runs. The Jay’s All-Star closer B.J. Ryan surrendered 5 hits and 3 runs for the loss