[luckymann]

Boston Beacons (9-11) @ Connecticut Colonials (12-8)
Community Stadium – Hartford, CT; 7.05 pm
BOST: Bert Blyleven (1-2, 5.91)
SEAT: Urban Shocker (2-2, 4.31)

Hello and welcome to Community Stadium for our Game of the Week telecast, tonight featuring two North Division rivals in the Boston Beacons and the Connecticut Colonials. It’s a bit overcast tonight here in Hartford, but I doubt there’ll be any rain, and there’s just a slight breeze favouring the hitters.

A fascinating series so far, with the home side squeezing past the visitors in a couple of close ones. I’m sure the boys from Boston won’t want to leave their swing here empty-handed, so I don’t see much chance of this one being anything different.

The Colonials sit stop the division at 12-8, three games ahead of the third-placed Beacons and will be keen to stretch that advantage with another win tonight.

A couple of real tricksters on the mound this evening, with Bert Blyleven going for the Beacons and Urban Shocker getting the call for the home side. Don’t expect many strikeouts in this one, and both sets of defensive units will have to be at the top of their games as they are sure to be kept busy tonight with lots of balls getting put in play both on the ground and in the air.

Tonight’s first pitch isn’t far away but, before that, here’s Juliana Scott down on the field with one of the home fans’ favourites. Juliana, not even a month into the season and apparently this young man has already picked himself up a “splendid” new nickname. What can you tell us about that?

Juliana Scott: Thanks Nik. Yes, I’m down here with star Connecticut outfielder Ted Williams, or as his teammates apparently have started calling him, “The Splendid Splinter”. Ted thanks for talking to us, what can you tell us about that?

Ted Williams: Hi Juliana, yeah I guess the guys think I could do with a few more pounds. I like the “Splendid” part. Let’s face it, it’s better than “The Stupid Splinter” or some of the nicknames a few other boys have gotten lugged with.

JS: Oh, really? Care to share?

TW: Oh, no, ma’am – not too many of them are fit for TV (laughs).

JS: Fair enough then. You’re a California native, how are you enjoying the East Coast and New England in particular?

TW: Love the people here, they’re real friendly – especially when you’re doing OK on the field (laughs). But the weather’s a bit of a shock to the system, I’ll tell you that for nothing. Wouldn’t mind it a few degrees warmer, especially at night! But thankfully the way the league’s set up means I get a few chances every season to head home, see the folks, enjoy the sunshine, which is nice. Makes living away from home just that little bit easier.

JS: A couple of close wins in this series so far – how’s this New England rivalry coming along?

TW: Yeah, it’s pretty spirited already, and how this series has played out has certainly helped it along. Give it another few games and series along those lines and it’ll only make it more intense. I like it, gets the juices flowing for competitive types like me.

JS: Those two wins have got you into first place in the North Division, are you guys happy with how you’ve started the season.

TW: Yes and no. I mean we’re happy to be at 12-8 and on top of the division, even at this early stage. But we all know we’ve been way too hot and cold. “Streaky” I believe one of you media types called us and, for once, that’s pretty close to the mark (laughs). So we’re looking to be more consistent, that’s for sure.

JS: Yourself and young Freddie Freeman seem to have forged a strong partnership in the top third of the lineup. He’s certainly benefitted so far from having you hitting behind him meaning he’s seeing a lot more pitches than he might otherwise.

TW: Oh I don’t know about that – he’s a bit more dangerous with bat in hand than I am at the moment (laughs)! I think you’ll find that it’s me who’s benefitting from him being on base so often to distract the pitchers. He’s a great hitter and we look forward to many years working in tandem, hopefully like we’ve been able to do so far this year.

JS: Well it's certainly working well to this point. Finally, Ted, as you start out, what are your goals and ambitions career-wise?

TW: Same as every other feller in the league, I reckon. Be the best player I can be, both for myself and for the ballclub. Come up with the big hit, the big play, whatever helps the team win. But also, if Mr Mack tells me to lay down a bunt then I can assure you, even though I’m not very good at it, I’ll be trying to lay down the very best bunt I ever have. Sure don’t want to get in Mr Mack’s bad books (laughs). Any individual stuff is fine as long as it happens in the course of my contributing to the team.

JS: Great, thanks Ted, hope you have a good game tonight.

TW: Thank you ma’am, much obliged, I’ll do my best.

Thank you, Juliana, I do think that young man is one to watch out for – he looks pretty special to me. OK, a quick station break and we’ll be off and running.

TOP 1ST
A hit but nothing more for Boston.

BOTTOM 1ST
Henderson leads off with a double and Colonials manager Connie Mack gets aggressive, calling for a steal of third. But it backfires as Henderson is cut down by Carter and, in the end, the home side goes scoreless.

TOP 2ND
The visitors strike first when Mullin leads off with a single, advances to second on a wild pitch and scores on a two-out single by Carter. Another single by Cobb gets the Beacons a second run and yet another by Tinker adds a third, before Vaughn lines out to end the inning. Just the start I’m sure Boston skipper Terry Francona would have been after.
Boston 3, Connecticut 0

BOTTOM 2ND
That early setback on the basepaths doesn’t deter Mack one bit, as Larkin steals both second and third after getting aboard on a fielder’s choice. Catcher Jason Kendall then singles him in to get the home side its first run.
Boston 3, Connecticut 1

TOP 3RD
Mullin singles with one out but a GIDP by Doerr ends the inning.

BOTTOM 3RD
The hosts go three-up, three-down.

TOP 4TH
Shocker is having all sorts of problems getting the ball past hitters, and gives up another two singles here although they eventually go nowhere.

BOTTOM 4TH
A single puts the dangerous Larkin aboard and Mack wastes no time setting him in motion as he swipes second. A walk to Kendall puts Blyleven under heaps of pressure but he does well to escape the inning without conceding.

TOP 5TH
A solo shot to the opposite field by Clarke extends the visitors’ lead.
Boston 4, Connecticut 1

BOTTOM 5TH
A runner but no runs for the Colonials.

TOP 6TH
Shocker gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.

BOTTOM 6TH
Blyleven sends them down in order and is looking strong.

TOP 7TH
Another up-and-down inning for Shocker.

BOTTOM 7TH
No dramas again for Blyleven.

TOP 8TH
11 retired in a row now for Shocker.

BOTTOM 8TH
A leadoff single by Henderson comes to nought when Freeman grounds into a double play. Williams pops out harmlessly to CF to end the inning.

TOP 9TH
Shocker finally allows a baserunner but he snuffs out the rally without further incident.

BOTTOM 9TH
Down to their last three outs the home side starts the inning the right way with a triple by Crawford. Schang, hitting for Larkin, reaches on an infield hit that doesn’t score the runner but at least brings the tying run to the plate. A Kendall single does score Crawford and puts that tying run on base, still no outs. Bob Johnson strikes out and Reggie Jackson then grounds into a fielder’s choice, advancing the runner to third but leaving the Colonials with just one more out. Chipper Jones is sent in to pinch hit, but can only ground out to 2B to end the game.

Boston 4, Connecticut 2 (final).

WP: Bert Blyleven (2-2)
LP: Urban Shocker (2-3)
POTG: Bert Blyleven 9 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 2 K.

The visitors certainly deserved that win and have been super competitive the entire series. Blyleven was fantastic, keeping the big Colonials bats quiet for the most part, and the Beacons offence did just enough early to get them home.

That’s it for tonight, thanks as always for tuning in. Next week we head across to the west coast for another huge rivalry match with the Las Vegas Lizards hosting the Los Angeles Canaries. Hope to see you then, goodnight!