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And just like that, my ERA in Miami was 6.00.
We were back home for our next six games. A few of us pitchers weren't required to dress when we were tired or exhausted after a long outing so Chris Hammond, David James, Paul McLellan and myself stayed back at the apartments while the team faced the Daytona Beach Admirals the next night.
Hammond found himself entertaining a couple of young females by the pool. I don't think they were 21 but they had a rather generous supply of alcoholic beverages on them.
Chris was letting them know all about the great pitching performance he had put together in his last start. Paul and I snuck into our room and loaded up a couple of balloons with the coldest water we could get.
We got David to distract the girls just long enough to get them away from Chris and then we pelted him with the water balloons.
"Cool off, Hammond!"
Oh, did he ever let loose a string of profanities our way. We both locked ourselves in my room and laughed loud and hard as he cursed and beat on my door.
Finally, Paul yelled out. "Calm down before they call the cops on us, you idiot!"
He did stop beating on the door but the list of foul insults and threats to our physical safety did not decrease for another good ten minutes!
One of the girls was finally able to pull him away and convince him to use that energy doing something else.
After they disappeared, we hung out by the pool and the other young lady came to talk with us.
"You play on the Marlins, too?"
"Oh, I'm just the bat boy."
I quickly pawned her off to Paul, who was more than willing to engage with random female company.
I went back inside and called Beth. I was determined that this lifestyle would not ruin what we had together.
As for the game, the Admirals came in with a record of 39-25. Chris Jones pitched a complete gane shutout, allowing 7 hits and walking 2 while striking out 8 and the Marlins won 1-0. Jones was named the Top Performer of the Day in the Florida State League.
Hammond got the start the next night and was on fire. He pitched six innings, allowing just a run on three hits, walking three and striking out nine. He even overcame three different errors and did not give up any unearned runs. Unfortunately, he was unable to overcome a total lack of run support and left the game trailing 1-0.
The Admirals added a run in the eighth and went on to win 2-0.
Still, Hammond was incredible in the game and especially on short rest.
He just laughed.
"If you would quit waiting around on that girl in Texas, you would be a lot better too."
The next morning, Hammond was boarding a plane for Charleston. He was moving to the Rainbows of the South Atlantic League.
His wannabe girlfriend came by the apartments that afternoon and got the bad news. It was rather amusing if you want to know the truth.
I went to the park and watched the finale against Daytona Beach. Specifically, I went to watch the Admirals starting pitcher Rod Nichols. Rod led the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Without a doubt, I wanted to learn from him from afar and improve my game.
And wouldn't you know it. My guys teed off on him for three runs in the first inning.
But we blew a 5-0 lead and the game went into extra innings.
The Admirals scored a pair in the top of the fourteenth and won 7-5.
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