|
In 1986, the California League had added a brand new team. The Ventura County Gulls. An affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
We were 10-20 on May 11 when the Gulls came to Reno. They were 13-17 on the season.
It would be my second start of the season.
They got a 2 out double in the top of the first but I got their cleanup hitter to ground to short to retire the side.
In the top of the second, Frierson took care of their one out single by throwing the guy out trying to steal second.
I set them down in order in the third, including a strikeout.
In the bottom of the third, Fred Carter got us on the board with a bases loaded sacrifice fly.
1-0 Padres.
The Gulls tied it in the top of the fourth with back-to-back-to-back one out singles. I worked out of the jam but the score was now 1-1.
I got a strikeout in the fifth but gave up a single and a walk. With two on and two out, Bobby Green worked the count full before grounding to short to retire the side.
I had the chance to strike out the side in the top of the sixth but Darryl Landrum hit a two out single. Frierson, however, caught him stealing as well!
What a great asset to have as a catcher.
The Gulls got a lead off walk in the top of the seventh but he got no further than second as I recorded another strikeout.
It was still 1-1 as I took the mound in the eighth innning.
The count went full before John Kritsonis led off with a single to left. Bobby Green then flew out to right.
I was winded. Arm was aching. But I could do two more outs. I could!
I got behind Foster 2-0.
Frierson just nodded and called for the fast ball.
It didn't have the speed or movement my best pitches have.
Foster got ahold of it real good.
It sailed deep into center field.
Lee Grimes gave chase.
It dropped and rolled to the wall.
Instinctively, I moved behind Frierson to back him up in case the throw came home.
The only thing that crossed the plate was Kritsonis.
Foster stopped at third with a triple.
2-1 Gulls.
Son of a....
Amazingly, Foster was stranded there.
As we got to the dugout, Keith Stephen patted my shoulder. "You did a helluva job out there tonight. Take a seat and we will try and win this for you."
Richard Scales led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. But Grimes hit into the 6-4-3 to wipe him off the base paths.
We got the first two guys on in the ninth but couldn't advance them. Frierson came to bat with two out and popped up to short.
We had lost 2-1.
My line:
8.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, L
You know how I feel about that L.
Broadway could see my frustration.
"I want you to look at this." He wrote the number 89 on a note pad and then wrote the number 41. "These were your walks and your strikeouts last year."
I nodded.
Then he wrote the number 5 followed by the number 11.
"This is your total walks and strikeouts this year."
I nodded again.
"You have more strikeouts than walks now. You never had a chance at that last year. Keep pushing, James. You keep making vast improvements and you'll be a Cy Young winner. Maybe even before the 80s are over."
Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk
|