Wow! Talk about your crazy, exciting and exhausting roller-coaster rides of a game. The Beat, trailing for the first four innings, battled back to tie the game at 10 in the bottom of the 5th then dropped a big 5-spot in the bottom of the sixth to beat the Onsters 15-12 at a windy Jackson #2. Both teams hit well but in the end it was most likely the Onsters 4 fielding errors and 5 baserunning blunders that tipped the scale in the Beat's favor. However, this was a game marred by countless critical and controversial calls making it impossible to say what would have happened had the game been called by competent officials. By the time the game ended, both teams were spewing vitriol and the blues bid a hasty retreat to the clubhouse. Between the wild craziness on the field and the Onsters' incomplete scorekeeping, I'll attempt to piece this together as best I can.

In this wild division in which four of six teams came into the day tied for first with 3-2 records, every game is important and no team can be overlooked. Halfway through the season the Onsters were still the only team the Beat hadn't seen as they pulled a brain fart forfeit of the season opener. So in reality, this Onsters team was 3-1 on the field and was one of the big surprises of the division coming into game 6.

The Onsters jumped out for 7 runs in the top of the first pounding line drive after line drive; stringing a walk and five hits--including a 3-run Jackson-bad-hop homer--into four quick runs. With two outs Dylan Essen (0-3) snared a grounder at short and raced to the bag at second for the force beating the runner by half a step only to have the runner called safe. That's terrible call #1 and the extension of the inning cost the Beat 3 more runs and a quick 7-0 deficit.

The Beat came back with a bang in the bottom of the first. Jacq Wilson (2-3, 3 runs, BB) walked to lead off and Kevin Austin (3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 runs) lined a shot to the gap in center that Jackson-bad-hopped it's way into an RBI triple. Jacque Wilson (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs) and Tim Smith (3-4, HR, RBI, 3 runs) both singled and Brian Greenblatt (0-3, 2 runs, RBI, BB) grounded to the infield plating Q. A couple outfield flies ended the threat at 7-3 but with the gale wind to left and the choppy, unpredictable outfield, you just had a feeling that this was going to be one of "those" games.

The Onsters opened the second with two monster fly balls to Q in left. Then five hitter Kuo drove a ball into the jet stream and over Brian's head in left-center for a solo homer. Macapapl (?) tried to make it back to back with a ball that Jackson-bad-hopped the outfield and kept rolling 'cept he missed second on his way around for base running blunder #1. Donnell Moody (3-4, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 runs), alert as always, called for an appeal and the inning was over with only one run across. The Beat got nothing but a single by Gunnar (1-4) in the second.

In the top of the third with one down and a runner on second, Rautkin (?) grounded to Dylan at short. Dylan fed MSG and Mark threw to first in an attempt to double off Rautkin who beat the throw. However, Majahata (?) running from second fell rounding third; Jim rifled the ball to Brett who applied the tag to the prone runner for BRB #2 and a 6-4-3-5 double play to end the inning.

The Beat posted two quick outs in the bottom of the third and you had to wonder if the Beat's offense struggles from last week would continue; the last 10 Beat batters had only one hit and a walk. But up stepped the Intimidator. Looking to make up for an off game last week against Ronin, Tim crushed the ball so far over the outfield that it took only a few hops before ricocheting off the backstop of the opposing diamond. Tim's hit was the spark the team needed to bring back that two-out lightning. Brian drew a walk and then Big Daddy hit a moon shot behind third that the left fielder just couldn't quite get to as it fell in for a double. Lightning, running on two outs, scored easily from first. Two infield errors plated another run and Mark St.Georges (2-4, 2 RBI) singled in the Beat's 4th run of the inning to make it a suddenly close 8-7 game.

The Onsters went right back to work in the top of the 4th as their top four all singled; fortunately for the Beat they were a little too aggressive on the bases. After cleanup hitter Hsu's single, the throw from Tim in right to Dylan at short caught Hsu's brother off the bag at second. Dylan tagged the prone runner on the foot the rifled the ball to Jim at first. Hsu had also overrun the bag and lost his footing falling to the dirt as Jim tagged him out for what I guess was a 10-6-3 double play on two more baserunning blunders. Still the blues needed to conference on this because I guess it wasn't obvious enough to them that two runners tagged while laying in the dirt were actually out? Anyway, the final call was the right one, to the chagrin of the Onsters, and that's where the threat would end with the O's up 10-7.

The Beat got one back in the bottom of the 4th on a single by Jacq, double by Austin, and a sac fly by Jacque. Kev drew the third out for leaving second early (which I didn't!) for bad call #2 (or was it 3 or 4 by then? I lost count.) Onsters 10, Beat 8.

The Onsters led off the 5th with two singles. Brett Goldstein (2-3, RBI, 2 runs, BB) logged the first two outs at third on an infield fly and a take-it-yourself fielders choice advancing Majahata (?) to second. Leadoff hitter Bitsu singled and Majahata stopped at third but Rautkin rounded second and headed for third also. With both runners at the same bag Majahata broke for the plate; Brett tossed to K in the baseline who tagged the runner for the third out and BRB #5.

The Beat finally fought all the way back and tied it up in the 5th on singles by Tim, Big Daddy, Brett and Jim Colletto (1-4, RBI). With the bases jacked and one out the Beat was looking for a big inning; however, back to back comebackers all but killed the inning had it not been for an error on one throw home that allowed Big Daddy to score. Dylan popped out to end the threat and garner Beer Beatch honors for the week. The Beat had tied the game at 10, but failed to turn the really big inning leaving the bases loaded. The Onster's went down scoreless in the 6th but not without a fight. With two on and two out, Dylan knocked down a grounder up the middle, smothered the ball and tagged second for the force while lying spread eagle on the ground.And now with the hammer for the first time all season, the Beat was ready to take advantage.

With the top of the order leading off, Jacq, Kev and Q all singled to put the Beat up 11-10. An infield error and 2-run single by D made it 13-10. Brett and MSG added RBI singles and the game headed into the 7th, Beat 15, Onsters 10.

At this point Special K lost the zone allowing two singles and walking two, including the O's 11th run. A grounder to the infield became yet another controversial call--this one a double play--pushing across another run but that sucked all the wind out of the Onsters' sails. A pop fly to Jacq in right-center ended the game and the Beat walked off victorious.

This was one the Beat really needed to hold on to first place. The boys in gray battled back from a 7-run deficit through all that craziness and played alert defense taking advantage of every opportunity the Onsters provided. So let's summarize this game full of BRBs:

• second inning: Macapapl homers but misses second for the third out.
• third inning: Majahata slips rounding third and is tagged out for the third out on a 6-4-3-5 double play.
• fourth inning: 4 straight singles and no outs, Hsu and Hsu are caught over running second and first for a double play
• fifth inning: Majahata and Rautkin both end up at third and Majahata is tagged breaking for the plate for the third out.

The defense was tight with only one throwing error. The offense was outhit 24-19, but managed to parlay those 19 hits, 3 walks and 4 Onster errors into 15 runs and a 3-run margin of victory. That's opportunistic play on both sides of the ball and it's just what the doctor ordered with four more big games remaining. The Beat has the hammer for the rest of the season and will look to ride this momentum into the playoffs. In other games, Monte Carlo defeated Old Clamhouse and Ronin annihilated Flor de Cana to remain in a two-way tie for first with the Beat. Flor comes to town next week at 3pm; they may be 1-5 but the reigning City Champs always play the Beat hard.

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