Rusty Priske - Future Hall of Famer

[rpriske]

May 1st, 1993

Has there been a day more appropriate for us than Mayday?

Today the Expos are pitching Eddie Portillo (2-3, 3.74).

The Giants have John Burkett (0-4, 8.31).

I am hitting second.

I came up in the bottom of the 1st with Ruben Sierra standing on 1st. I snuck a cutter through the right side for a single. Ruben went to 3rd.
Ruben then scored on a Ken Caminiti sac fly.
Stolen base #14.
I was left there.

Giants lead 1-0

I caught a Shane Mack liner for the 3rd out in the 3rd.

I came up with two out in the bottom of the 3rd and flew out to Mack in centre.

I handled a Turner Ward grounder for the 1st out in the 4th.
I then did the same to Jose Offerman for the 2nd out.

I was still active in the 5th, taking care of a Michael Urzendowski grounder for the 2nd out.

Tim Naehring led off the bottom half with a dinger!

Giants lead 2-0

I took care of Offerman again for the 3rd out in the 6th.

I then led off the bottom of the 6th by blooping a cutter into right for a single.
Two batters later, Manny Ramirez hit a two run blast!

Giants lead 4-0

I handled a Rey Sanchez grounder for the 1st out in the 7th.

In the bottom half, Antonio Martinez scored on a single by Ruben.
I came up next, with one out, John on 3rd, and Ruben on 1st. They brought Cris Carpenter in to face me. I hit into a fielder's choice, erasing Ruben, but driving in John!
Stolen base #15.
I scored on a double by Ken.

Giants lead 7-0

With one out and two on in the 8th, Matt brought in Joe Hall.
He gave up a single and then Offerman hit a three run triple.
Then Offerman scored on a Sanchez sac fly.

Giants lead 7-4

In the bottom of the 8th, Tim scored on a single by Antonio.

Giants lead 8-4

With two out and one on in the 9th, Matt brought in Mark Ross.
He got the out and we had the win.

8-17. We are now tied with the Dodgers for 5th in the division.

Big day for John Burkett, who has struggled so far this season.

I went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, two runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases.

[rpriske]

May 2nd, 1993

We are on a two game winning streak and wrapping up our series with the Expos.

Today the visitors are pitching Roger Pavlik (2-0, 3.46).

The Giants have Al Leiter (0-2, 6.75).

I am hitting sixth.

I handled a Shane Mack grounder for the 3rd out of the game.

I took care of a Rey Sanchez grounder for the 3rd out in the 2nd as well.

I then led off the bottom of the 2nd by grounding out to Scott Cooper at 3rd.

For the 3rd straight inning, I handled a grounder for the 3rd out. This time it was Pavlik's.

In the 4th, Ken Caminiti scored on a Ryan Klesko fielder's choice.
I came up next, with one out and Ryan on 1st. I grounded out to Sanchez at 2nd, advancing Ryan.
He didn't score.

Giants lead 1-0

In the 5th, Antonio Martinez scored on a Craig Grebeck sac fly.

Giants lead 2-0

After skipping a couple of innings, I get the 3rd out in the 6th off a Sammy Sosa grounder.

I came up in the bottom of the inning, with two our and Cris Carpenter pitching. I lined a slider into left for a single.
Stolen base #16.
I scored on a Matt Mieske single.
Matt scored on a double by Antonio.

Giants lead 4-0

In the 7th, Cooper scored on a Mack single.
Then Mack scored on a Michael Urzendowski single.
Reggie Sanders and Jose Offerman scored on an Israel Seda single, tying the game.

Game tied 4-4

I caught a sky-high pop up by Cooper for the 1st out in the 8th.

With one out and one on, Matt brought in Mark Ross.

I led off the bottom of the 8th, now facing Alejandro Pena. Mack made an incredible catch, hitting the wall in centre and robbing me of a double at least.

Mike Perez took the ball for us in the 9th.
I caught a liner by pinch hitter, Pat Bailey, for the 2nd out.

With two out and two on, Matt went to Kip Gross.
Pinch hitter Turner Ward scored on a Cooper single.

Expos lead 5-4

We lost.

8-18. We are tied in last with the Dodgers.

I went 1 for 4 with a single, a run scored, and a stolen base.

We now get a day off before the Phillies come to town. I get to spend it with my family and try to get my mind off our dreadful season.

[rpriske]

May 4th, 1993

I am feeling refreshed after an off-day and ready to get things going!

The Phillies are in town and they are pitching Meld Perez (1-0, 1.64).

The Giants have Charlie Vinson Jr. (0-2, 4.83).

I am hitting sixth.

In the 1st inning, I made my third error of the year and what should have been a double play ball.
It didn't end up costing us any runs.

I took care of a Bo Jackson grounder for the 2nd out in the 2nd.

I came up in the bottom of the inning, with one out and Bryce Bernardin on 2nd. I grounded out to Ryne Sandberg at 2nd, advancing Bryce.
He didn't score.

I handled a Perez grounder for the 3rd out in the 5th.

I then led off the bottom of the inning by grounding out to Sandberg again.

Charlie didn't allow a hit until the 6th, but then Tiny Martinez scored on a fielder's choice by Juan Gonzalez.
I couple of batters later, Jeff Carter hit a three-run homer.

Phillies lead 4-0

Bret Lachemann took the ball for us in the 7th.

I came up in the bottom half, with none out and Ryan Klesko on 2nd. I walked.
We both moved up on a sac fly by Matt Mieske.
We both scored on a single by Antonio Martinez.

Phillies lead 4-2

Kip Gross took over on the mound for us in the 8th.
I handled a Gonzalez grounder for the 2nd out behind him.

In the 9th, Gonzalez scored on a single by Tony Fernandez.
Then Kip walked in a run.

Matt went to Joe Boever then, with one out and the bases loaded.
He got out of it, but...

Phillies lead 6-2

I led off the bottom of the 9th, now facing Mark Winters. I grounded out to Martinez at 1st.
We did not score and lost.

8-19. We are in sole possession of last in the NL. Only Cleveland is worst in the AL.

I went 1 for 3 with a single, a walk, and an error.

[rpriske]

May 15th, 1993

We are trying to salvage a split in a short, two-game series.

Today the Phillies are pitching Juan Guzman (2-1, 3.77).

The Giants are going with James Terrill (2-2, 5.67).

I am hitting sixth.

In the 1st we turned a Grebeck - Priske - Klesko double play.

In the bottom o half we took eh lead when Ruben Sierra scored on a Ken Caminiti groundout.

Giants lead 1-0

They got it back in the 2nd when Jose Vizcaino scored on a Darrin Fletcher single.

Game tied 1-1

I came up with one out in the bottom of the 2nd and hit a solid liner to left for a single.
Stolen base #17.
I went to 3rd on a Matt Mieske fly ball.
I was left there.

I got the 3rd out in the 3rd off a Ryne Sandberg grounder.

Then I got the 3rd out in the 4th off a Juan Gonzalez grounder.

I came up in the 4th with one out, Manny Ramirez on 2nd, and Ryan Klesko on 1st. I hit into a double play, ending the inning.

I continued the trend by getting the 3rd out int he 5th, taking care of a Tony Fernandez grounder.

Yet again, I got the 3rd out in the 6th. It was another Gonzalez grounder.

In the bottom of the 6th Ruben scored on a sac fly by Ken. Then Manny scored on a single by Ryan.
Then I came up and after Ryan stole 2nd, I was intentionally walked.
We were left on.

Giants lead 3-1

I shook things up by getting the 2nd out in the 7th, off a Fletcher pop.

In the bottom half, Ruben his a solo shot.

Giants lead 4-1

After a one inning shift, I got the 3rd out in the 8th. It was a Sandberg grounder.

I came up with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, now facing Jeremy Hernandez. I grounded out to Sandberg at 2nd.

Mike Perez took the mound for us in the 9th. I left the game in a double switch.

And, as if on queue, Craig Grebeck made an error at short in the first play.

Dave Hollins followed with a two run homer.
A few batters later, Alex Cole hit an RBI triple to tie the game.
Two walks, one intentional, one not, and Matt brought in Mark Ross to take over.
He gave up a Grand Slam to Sandberg.

Phillies lead 8-4

And that is how it ended.

We watched a winnable game vanish in the smoke.

If I had been in and didn't make that error, they would have scored once.

8-20

I went 1 for 3 with a single, a walk, and a stolen base.

Now we have a day off as we wait for the Dodgers to arrive.