by O.B.

VICTORY! Rockin' Robins' Couch Potatoes, April 17, 1988

The shouts from the crowd were gone suddenly and the high fly ball to Steve out in right merely had to come down. And Steve squeezed it, thus closing the curtain on Act I of The BEAT's existence and setting the stage for Act II, whatever that may be. And drama it certainly was. The BEAT's first victory had all the elements of a great play: suspense, excitement, stars, role players, Greg Luzinski-type villains, and a loud, jubilant audience to inspire the players.

Perhaps it was foreshadowing when starting and winning pitcher Anna Sandoval (1-0) pitched through the first inning without a Rockin' Robin run coming across. Last week's horrendous beginning was at the back of everyone's mind at the start of the game. After one inning there was no score.

A fired-up BEAT team came to bat in the seond and scored two runs. Willie Doyle knocked in John Palmer (leadoff single) with a double. One out later, Gary Rothlein displayed some fine hitting, clubbing a rocket just inside the first base line to score Doyle from third. The BEAT was experiencing its first lead of '88.

But the Robins scored four runs in the second and third innings, despite solid defense and good control by Sandoval. Three hits and a sacrifice fly combined for three runs in the third and the Robins took a 4-2 lead.

John Palmer stepped up to the plate in the BEAT fourth and cranked a 2-0 pitch over the right-centerfield fence. There was no doubt about that ball the instant contact was made. The lead was cut to 4-3 after four complete.

O.B. came in to pitch in the fourth inning and was greeted with some solid defense. After a leadoff triple, a routine fly ball was hit to centerfielder Eric Meyer. Meyer threw a four-hopper to catcher Dave Hamner, who made a spectacular sweeping tag to nail the tagging runner from third. Hamner held on, showed the ball while flat on his back, and the ump barked the runner out. Unfortunately, a walk and a triple followed the double play and the Robins score their fifth run.

Defense again was the key in the fifth inning. With a man on first, a sharp grounder was hit back to O.B. on the mound. He threw to second for one and shortstop Kevin Austin could not quite complete the double play. Kevin made up for it a few plays later. With men on first and second with one out, a grounder was hit way into the hole between third and short. Lunging to his right, Kevin stabbed the ball and executed the only play he could, a force at third. Leathery Jim Harvey absorbed a tough slide from some bohunk Robin, and the thrust of the inning was changed. The BEAT came out of the inning unscathed and still close.

The BEAT sixth produced the last three runs of the game, and ended up being the key to the victory. Eric Meyer led off with an 0-1 single over the second baseman's head. Tim Hesselgren, despite few at bats so far this season, stood patient at the plate and drew an important walk on four pitches. The stage was set and the spotlight beamed on John Palmer once again. Palmer launched the second pitch deep to right field. Going, going, and it went. The BEAT took the lead 6-5 to stay, and besides the odor of rotting potatoes, The BEAT began to sniff a win in the Lang Field air.

The Robins came up twice more. In the sixth, a controversial call down the third base line and great pitching by the returning Sandoval, produced a called strikeout, plus two routine fly balls. The BEAT failed to score in the top half of the seventh, and a one-run lead was theirs to protect.

The first batter of such an inning is often times the key, and Michael Harvey decided it was also the case for this game. A smash off the first batter's bat was stolen out of mid-air by the newly bespectacled first baseman, and everyone on the team received a charge, as well as the partisan crowd. The next Robin earned a walk. The heavy bats were now due up for the Robins. The outfield decided to play extra-extra deep to avoid a ball hit over their heads. The Robin up smartly decided to try to drop a single into vacated shallow center. Too bad for him, the ball hung up and was chased down by center fielder Eric Meyer. The next guy up singled to left and suddenly the Robins were one single away from tying the game. Momentarily rattled, Sandoval gave up a walk to load the bases with two outs. The tension was so thick it hummed. Nowhere to put runners, the Robin up next was certainly looking for a game-tying walk. On a crucial 2-1 count, Anna bore down and threw a strike to a taking Robin. The walk was now too risky. The next pitch was the final, and the veteran Bruckman hauled it in without making anyone too nervous.

All-around great defense combined with great pitching and John Palmer's heroics gave The BEAT what its been looking for so long: the thrill of victory. The BEAT joins the ranks of the victors for the first time, but certainly not the last.

The BEAT's First Win!

View The BEAT's 1988 Batting Statistics

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