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I'm starting today.
Of course I am.
It's Friday the 13th.
We were in Modesto, California taking on the A's.
It was a beautiful afternoon, early evening. Clear skies. 62 degrees. The wind was blowing in from the left at 11 mph.
We got on the board in the top of the first. Vic Hithe and Wayne Davis hit back-to-back doubles and it was 1-0.
I came in and a walk and a single gave the A's runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the first. But then Kurt Deluca guessed fast ball and swung way too early on an off speed with the count 2-2.
Strike three!
I then struck out Dan Winters on three pitches to end the inning!
In the bottom of the second, the A's got a single and stolen base from Camilo Veras but he was stranded at second.
In the bottom of the third, the A's got a lead off double from Rob Lambert but then there straight fly outs ended the innning.
Through three innings, I had only walked one. And we led 1-0.
"That's the way, James! Alright now! Let's get him some run support, guys. Let's go!"
But our bats remained silent.
I issued a walk in the fourth but picked the guy off at first for an unconventional three up three down. I got the regular three up three down in the fifth. A leadoff single and passed ball in the sixth still wasn't enough to slow me down as that runner was stranded at second.
We were still ahead 1-0 with three innnings to go.
Friday the 13th and I am having my best game yet, I thought. That figures.
In the top of the seventh, Richard Scales got a two out single but that's all.
Still 1-0.
"You good, James?"
"Yeah, Skip, I got them."
The first two came to bat and were retired. But then. Walk. Single. Walk.
Bases were loaded. Two down. I just needed one more out.
The batter was James Jones. He watched a fast ball go by.
Strike one!
Jaime Moreno then called for the change up. I had learned long ago not to shake off my catcher.
I nodded. Took the juice off the pitch.
Ground ball.
Between short and third.
Into left field.
No.
No no no!
One run scored. Second run came home.
I just felt like all my guts had been ripped out.
I gritted my teeth and struck out Felix Jose to end the inning.
But we trailed 2-1.
I had failed to hold the lead late.
"We'll get it back! You're okay, James. We'll get it back."
We did get two men on in the top of the eighth but Wayne Davis flied out to right to retire the side.
The A's got a two out single in the bottom of the eighth but nothing more.
Top of the ninth.
All I could do was sit and watch.
Jaime came up with one out and got a single.
Tying run on base. We got a chance!
Scales grounded right back to the pitcher. Jaime was out at second. Two away.
James Torchia came up and grounded a 1-0 pitch to third.
Final score: Modesto 2 Reno 1.
My line:
8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, L
We went back to the hotel and I just went in my room and closed the door.
For the stats junkie, I had pitched a really good game.
But for me, the only thing I could look at was the L.
I ordered a pizza and watched some tv and ignored the ringing phone.
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