[rpriske]

May 7th, 1985

Two evenly matched teams by record (we are 12-12, the Pirates are 11-12).
They have a struggling Jim Beattie (0-2, 7.30 era). We have a major-league debut by Colin Ward. Day game in Pittsburgh.

I am a still underperforming, in my opinion. I am hitting .268 with only one homer. I am stealing up a storm, though, and my defense has been okay.

Let's see how it goes today.

I lead off against Beattie and I blast a double to right field. I make the turn and try to stretch it to a triple... and I am thrown out by Kirk Gibson.

Nestor praised me for my aggressiveness and hustle, but still...

Ward gave up a single to the first batter he faced - Ozzie Smith - but then Kenny Smith and I teamed up to gun him down trying to steal. Then Joe Orsulak smashed a liner up the middle and I got in in a diving grab! We got out of it without giving up a run but Ward looked a little shaky out there. I am sure he will settle down in the 2nd.

Kenny Smith knocked in Terry Harper in the 2nd to put us up 1-0.

I was right about Ward. He got three in order, including two strikeouts.

I came up in the 3rd with one out and nobody on. I popped out to Ozzie at short.

I got the first out of the bottom half - a grounder by Beattie. Then I got the 3rd out - a grounder by Robin Yount. So far, so good.

I was up again in the 5th. This time there was one out and Ken Oberkfell standing on 2nd. Beattie struck me out.

In the bottom half we got the first half of a double play but Greg Gross took out Kenny O to save Denny Gonzalez.

In the 6th Tom O'Malley pinch-hit for Ward and he sac flied to score Jeff Leonard. I came up with Harper on 2nd and Kenny O on 1st, facing Bob Walk on the hill. I singled to centre and Harper scored.

We now lead 3-0.

Curt Brown came in to pitch. He got his 3 in the 6th before giving up one run in the 7th after a triple by Bill Madlock and a sac fly by Greg Gross.

I came up in the 8th with Kenny O on 1st and two out. I grounded out to Gonzalez at 2nd.

Ron Davis came in to pitch the 8th. A bit of sloppy play ended up with the Pirates scoring a run. I got the 2nd and 3rd outs grounders by Yount and Gibson.

Out lead was down to one run... but it held.

We won 3-2 and are now 13-12.

Colin Ward picked up the win in his debut and was named Player of the Game.

Elsewhere today Buddy Bell of the Orioles got his 2000th career hit.

Man, what would THAT be like?

Someone just told me I am 3rd in WAR among NL hitters. Really?

Back home!

I am moving in with Chris Brown. (The team is nervous about me living on my own for some reason.)

The Cubs are in town tomorrow. We have Mike Krukow up there and they are giving us Bob Owchinko. I have never faced him,