Sluggers Game Summary
STATE STREET
June 15
Sluggers Walk All Over State Street
Sluggers remain undefeated with 14-6 win over Capitalist Pigs
--BOSTON, June 15, 2004
Two teams entered this contest with 3-0 win/loss records. After six and a half strong innings, the Sluggers emerged with a 4-0 record. The Sluggers never trailed in this contest.
"Despite four errors [only one of which led to a run]," said Sluggers coach, Ted "Ballgame" Johnson during the post-game press conference, "this was the cleanest game we've played all year." Johnson is referring to the Cardiac Kids-type comeback wins the Sluggers had in their first three games this season. "This type of win
leads to far less late-night pacing and drinking…well pacing anyway."
"Just because we're the only undefeated team in the league," Sluggers short fielder, Ben "Kenobi" Hardigg said during his post-game rubdown, "we're not getting big heads.
We know that we gotta play it one day at a time. I just want play hard and contribute. The good lord willing, things will work out."
No one would fault the Sluggers for gloating just a bit after tonight's game. The Sluggers managed to put a crooked number on the board in every inning except one. Most notable is that
the Sluggers held the until-now-undefeated Capitalist Pigs scoreless in all four of the odd-numbered innings. State Street eked out two runs each in the second, fourth, and sixth innings.
Offensive Play of the Game
Tonight's Offensive Play of the Game occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning when George "The Hit Man" Hart hit a three-run homer to drive in the winning run.
Other Offensive Highlights
Ben "I Have a Bad Back" Hardigg led off the game with a solo home run in the Sluggers' first at-bat of the day. He is only 80 shy of Ricky Henderson's record for leadoff home runs. But he may catch Chuck Knoblauch in that category this season.
BASH (Bald Ass Stan Hunting) hit a two-run job in the third inning, giving the Sluggers a 6 to 2 lead.
Hart also hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, though the official scorer put it in the book as a single and a three-base error with no RBI.
Defensive Play of the Game
This week's Defensive Play of the Game was performed by Teddy "Ballgame" Johnson, who was filling in for the missing Dan "Dinger" Landesman at center field. Johnson threw out a runner at third base all the way from center. Playing third base, BASH (Bald Ass Stan Hunting) caught the throw and applied the tag.
Honorable Mention
Will "The Natural" Jamieson had an unassisted double play in the top of the second inning. He caught a line drive and ran down a runner leading off second. Jamieson made all three outs that inning when "Shades Adidas" (as the official scorer called him) lined out to short to end the inning. In fact, Jamieson had six putouts, which is only two more than he had on any given weekend in college, and two assists on the day.
In the top of the third inning, with the Sluggers clinging to a 3 to 2 lead, Ben "Kenobi" Hardigg used the Force to overcome his bad back and turn a double play from short field. He caught a flyout and threw out "Pink Wife Beater" (as the official scorer called her) at the plate. Brian "Wightman Can't Jump" made a great play to catch Hardigg's throw and apply the tag.
Stats from the Maniacal One
Here are this week’s off-beat
stats from the Maniacal One:
- Stranding on a Corner: The efficient Sluggers only left two runners on base; State Street left eight runners
on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning after loading the bases with one out.
- Order in the Court: The Capitalist Pigs were
set down in order in the first inning, setting the tone for the game.
Just a Second
The following Sluggers batted 1.000 on the day:
- Craig "Trump Card" Trumm went 1-1 with a single in the second inning while playing second base.
- Tony "Skip" Vinciguerra, Trumm's alter ego at second base, went 2-2 with a stand-up triple in the fourth inning and an RBI-single in the fifth. He also scored one run.
Player of the Week
George "The Hit Man" Hart knows how to get off the shneid. He went 2 for 3 with two bombs. His three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning drove in the winning run. Hart also showed enough patience to walk, something he equates with getting a root canal.
See Hart's Player of the Week stats and photo here.
In the Running
Ben "Kenobi" Hardigg went 2 for 4, with a HR, an RBI, and 2 runs and recorded 6 putouts, 2 assists from short field.
Injury Report
Tony "Former Skip" Vinciguerra (shin) took a line drive by the left-handed batter, "Edison T-Shirt" (as the official scorer called him) off of his left shin while playing his first game at second base. Vinciguerra is listed as day to day.
Ben "Kenobi" Hardigg (back) claims to have intense back pain though his offensive and defensive performance showed no sign of discomfort. Hardigg is listed as day to day.
Kevin "Mordecai" McKeon (wallet) is being treated with prescription anti-depressants by team physician, Craig "Trump Card" Trumm because McKeaon, a rookie, is being paid the league minimum $120,000 (half of which goes to his agent, Noah "n$" Cushing) even though he is batting a team-leading .727.
The
Rumor Mill
The Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japanese Baseball League have reportedly shown interest in taking on the hefty contract of Steve "Wheels" Baer. The Sluggers have reportedly been looking to get out from under Baer's 4-year, $92 million contract so they can shore up some bullpen help.
Quotes of the Week
- "I'm done trying for singles. I'm just gonna let it fly. If I fly out, I fly out."--George "The
Hit Man" Hart, Sluggers first baseman, discussing his strategy prior to tonight's game
- "Only rain and the Democratic National Convention can stop us."--Teddy "Ballgame" Johnson, Sluggers coach, getting a bit pompous
- "That's comically small."--Noah "Cruise Missile" Cushing, Sluggers right fielder showing no empathy for State Street's third baseman
Next Game
The Sluggers go back on the road as they take on the Shriners Fez next Tuesday, June 22 on Field 2. Any fan wearing
a "Jam the Fez in a Little Car" shirt gets a free beer at the Red Hat after the game.
Batting Summary
| Linescore | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | R | H | E | | State Street |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 | 0 | |
6 |
13 |
1 | | Sluggers |
3 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 | x | |
14 |
15 |
4 |
Pitching Summary
| 
Sluggers
