For the first time since last summer the Beat took the field with the nucleic Tim Smith and Armando Lopez in the lineup and the team responded with a power barrage reminiscent of last summer's record setting offense. The Beat had only one homer all summer coming into this game but today they blasted four.

The Beat trotted onto the Jackson 1 field at 10am with a brilliant sun rising above the backstop. It was the type of sun that gives outfielders fits and it would play a big role today as well. Beat hurler Austin, unable to see the top of the high arc in the sun, nevertheless started strong with three quick outs after leadoff hitter Simmons reached on an error at short "Willie Doyle style" (that's an inside joke for the old timers). Jacq Wilson (0-4) had a tough day at the plate opening the Beat first with a fly out. But the team had Jacq's back as Rob (1-4, run), Jacque (4-4, HR, 3 runs, RBI), and Tim (4-4, 3B, HR, 3 runs, 5 RBI) all singled. Dylan Essen (2-4, HR, run, 2 RBI) stepped up with Tim on first and drove a moonshot to the skin of Jackson 2 for a monster 2-run shot that put the Beat up 4-0.

Glove's second went much like the first as Neighor's leadoff single was followed by three quick outs. The Beat hit the ground running in the bottom of the second with singles by Jim (2-3, run) and Kev (2-3, run, RBI). Next up, Brian (2-3, HR, run, 3 RBI) drove a liner to center that looked like the first out of the inning but the outfielder crumbled under the sun. "Lightning" raced around on Kev's heels while Glove was playing fetch and came across with the Beat's second homer in two innings, a 3-run shot. With two down, Jacque punched a gapper of his own for the team's third homer and the Beat headed to the third up 8-0.

Glove finally got on the board turning a couple hits and a couple walks into two runs as K began to struggle with the sun and narrow strike zone. Two grounders to Brett at short ended the inning, the last out an outstanding grab in the hole and quick throw across his body for the force at second. Brett (3-3, 2B, run) then led off the third with a single and advanced to second on an outfield fly. With two down, Kev drove a shot past the mound for the Beat's ninth run.

Glove rallied after a 4th inning error with four 2-out runs aided by another fly lost in the sun to tighten the score to 9-6. But with runners on first and second, Brett made another great backhanded stab in the hole and threw across his body to force the runner at second by a hair and end the threat. The Beat bounced back with some 2-out lightning of their own. In what started to look like a three and out 4th, Q and Big Daddy (1-4, 2 runs) both singled. Tim stepped up and scorched a long drive into the gap in center for a 2-run triple. Tim then came in on an error at short and the Beat was back up 12-6. Brett capped a 3-3 day with a double giving the Beat runners at second and third but the rally ended there on a fly to left center.

Now I'm not sure what's up with the Beat's mid-game defense these last couple games, but much like last week the Beat 'D' suddenly collapsed. Two hits were followed by four Beat errors and Glove was now successfully fighting their way back into the game, down now only 12-10. Jim and Brian reached in the 5th, but Jacq grounded back to the mound for an inning ending double play with Beer Beatch written all over it. That's three weeks in a row now that the Beat 5th has ended with a double play.

Glove rallied all the way back opening the 6th with four hits to tie the game at 12. In four innings the Beat had let an 8-0 lead disappear, aiding Glove's comeback with three walks and six errors. With two outs, Glove now had the go ahead run on third and an insurance run on second with lefty Neighor (2-3 on the day) at the plate. Pete made the percentage call giving Neighor four fingers (much to his disgruntled grumblings of wanting to hit) to load the bases for Glove pitcher Matt Scarconi. Kev got Scarconi to pop out to third on a wicked backspin killing the rally with the bases jacked, but the game was now tied. The Beat still had the hammer in their pocket and this time they needed it.

Q rounded out his 4-4 day with a 1-out single but a deep fly to left center brought the hero of the day, Big Tim, up to the plate with two outs and the game on the line. Tim capped off his banner day with a monster 2-run blast to put the Beat up 14-12 with just minutes left on the clock. That's as clutch as it gets! Dylan followed with a single but time was called with Brett at the plate and this game was in the books. The Beat had broken out to a big lead, given it a way, and then snatched it back in the final minutes to win by two runs.

This was a game where the Beat offense came out big with 21 hits including four homers, a double and triple and a startling .923 team slugging percentage; while the defense booted hoppers and threw balls away to the tune of six unearned runs on seven errors. While the defense has struggled with errors lately, 14 in the last two games, Special K and the blazing speed of the Beat's outfield have held opponents to only two home runs all season. The Beat offense doubled that total in just one game. The 'O' has also turned in 20+ hits in four straight games as the ship seems to be righting after the brief collapse early in the season. But I think the most incredible stat of the day is once again the Beat's ability to come through in the clutch with two outs. It's been a recurring theme this summer and has kept the team in games they could have lost. On this incredible day the Beat offense picked up the errant 'D' to the tune of 11 2-out runs! How huge is that?!? Brian's 3-run shot in the 2nd were the only runs scored with less than two outs.

The star of the day was unquestionably Big Tim. In his first appearance of the summer season, Tim turned in an incredible 4 for 4 with a triple, homerun and five RBI to add another game ball to his mantle. He also gets the nod for the web gem with a diving grab of a liner to shallow right center early in the first. 

In other action, the division was turned on it's head this afternoon. First, Clamhouse was playing a pretty tight game with JMC. A JMC loss would put the Beat in the driver's seat for the wildcard spot. But the Clam's pitcher argued some calls with Blue Henry behind the plate and Henry ran him. With the infuriated hurler jawing all the way out to his car, just as play was to resume Henry had had enough, called the game a forfeit, and walked off the field. JMC was handed the win. BUT....BUT.... in the upset of the week, Clamhouse came back and put a thumping on first place Ronin for the Clams first win of the summer. Suddenly this division is a 4-team race again with only one and a half games separating first from fourth and a week to go: in which two teams will play a double header. Ronin still holds a half game lead over JMC and must play Glove next week. The Beat are a game back of Ronin, half a game behind JMC with whom they play next week. Glove is half a game behind the Beat and plays Ronin AND a makeup with JMC. This one is going to come down to the wire!

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