It was an ugly win; much closer than it should have been, but the Beat eked out it's revenge for the 9-5 loss at the hands of Finnegan's in game six with a nail-biting 16-15 victory.

The Beat hit a season-high .595 for the game, higher than was posted in any of the games during the team's 3-game, 70-run streak in April and May. And that came in spite of the fact that the 6 thru 9 spots in the order combined to go 1 for 13. The rest of the team hit lights-out led by Jacq Wilson (4-4, 3 runs, RBI) and game ball winner Mark St.Georges (4-4, run, 4 RBI).

The game started with Finnegan's leadoff man Penagos hitting a Texas-league blooper to shallow right. First baseman Jim Colletto turned in the play of the day chasing the ball down with an over-the-shoulder catch. A couple quick groundouts and the side was retired in order. With the 5-run first goal in mind, the Beat led off the bottom of the first with five consecutive hits by Jacq, Colletto (2-3, 2 runs,  3 RBI), MSG, Jacque Wilson (2-4, run, RBI) who doubled and Tim Smith (3-4, run, RBI). Mondo Lopez sacrificed in the fifth run and the Beat met their goal entering the second up 5-0.

Finnegan's only lefty, Murai, who was shut out in the last game, drilled an curve away and outside for a lead-off homer to center field to put Finnegan's on the board. An infield error followed by three singles pulled Finnegan's to within two. The Beat answered back with singles by walk-on Mike Licari (3-3, HR, 3 RBI), Derek Rey, and Jacq. A sac fly by Colletto and single by MSG brought the score to 7-3.

In the top of the third the wheels fell off the Beat defense. With a runner on first a grounder to third looked like an easy double play but the throw sailed into right field with the lead runner scoring from first. A comebacker to Austin on the mound got the force at second for the first out. Another error at short put runners at first and second. With two outs, Finnegan's then strung together 4 hits including a single and error in the outfield until Austin induced a pop-foul strike out on a double backspin to end the bleeding. The damage was done, however, and Finnegan's had taken an 8-7 lead. The Beat managed only two runners in the bottom of the inning on a single and error, but no runs were scored.

With the top of the order coming up, Finnegan's scratched out another run for a 9-7 lead on three singles. The Beat struck again with another run of five singles by Licari, D-Rey, Jacq, Jim, and MSG. The Beat had taken a 10-9 lead before the first out was recorded. Another single by Tim made it 11-9 heading into the 5th.

Finnegan's scratched back for one on a rare double-error at short making it 11-10. Then the Beat laid the hammer down. G-Man led off with a single. Pete Wenner, hitting for Austin, popped up to third but the third basemen booted the fly and the shortstop booted the attempted force at second. Two on, no outs. Up came Mike, already 2-2 in his Beat debut, and he launched a 3-run shot over the high fence in right-center and into the tennis courts. Now I've been playing this park for about ten years and I've seen a few rare shots over the short fence in right, but I've never seen a shot over the high fence in right center! Hell of a debut! D-Rey, Jacq, MSG, and Jacque singled driving in two more runs and the Beat had a comfortable 16-10 lead going into the 6th with time running out. All that was left was to close it out. Right....

With the top of the order up for Finnegan's, Austin walked the leadoff batter for the first walk of the game. Shortstop Fanelli singled then Alling popped out to left center for the first out. Murai singled to right but the ball scooted by the outfield and to the fence for a 2-base error scoring two. Third baseman Doucette singled driving in Murai from third. A pop-up to Mark Briscoe at third made it 2-outs and the Beat still held 16-13 lead. Up came Finnegan's manager Steve Deluco, 2-3 on the day, and Steve split the outfield with a line drive homer that suddenly made it a 1-run game. 

Pete came in with the hook and brought in Mondo in relief of Austin. Mondo struggled to find the strike zone early walking the first batter he faced. First baseman Saling then singled putting the tying run in scoring position at second base. Right-fielder Fabbro grounded up the middle; the ball was bobbled by D-Rey at short but he recovered and shuffled the ball to G for the force to end the game.

It was not a pretty game by any means with 13 errors committed by both teams. Finnegan's managed to hold their six errors in check allowing only one unearned run, while the seven committed by the Beat lead to eight unearned runs making it a much closer game than it should have been. Finnegan's stranded ten including the bases loaded in the third, while the Beat left seven on base. Thankfully, the majority of the Beat lineup had their hitting shoes on this week piling up 22 hits compared to the mere 11 in the last Finnegan's matchup.

Mark St.Georges took home the game ball for his 4-4, 4 RBI performance bringing his average up to .696 for the season. Mark Briscoe takes beer bitch honors for the second time this season on an infield popup to close out the 5th.

Next week is the makeup game for an earlier rainout against Spread the Glove. Gametime is 10am. Be there or be square!