That's about how it feels right now.
In what has become typical Ducks' fashion, South Oakland spotted the opposition a seven-run lead, then put up a furious rally in the game's dying moments. The Ducks brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the seventh, but on this night, it was not to be.
The Ducks led 1-0 going into the bottom of the first, then the Eagles scored eight straight runs. Trailing 8-1 in the top of the fifth, South Oakland cut the lead to five when Gwin singled ahead of McCray's walk, then on a well executed double steal, the Eagles' catcher threw the ball into left field allowing Gwin to score, and McCray to advance to third. On the next pitch the Eagles would balk McCray home.
Trailing 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth Ducks' reliever, Smith, after throwing two scoreless innings, had two outs with two runners on, when a somewhat routine fly-ball to right field allowed two Eagles to score. The ball dropped and the Ducks' right fielder chose to watch the runners instead of throwing the ball to the infield, then he blamed the infielders for not telling him what to do.
I wouldn't throw that guy under the bus if he didn't try to blame his teammates for the two runs that scored while he stood around demanding the ball be called foul. I was playing first and I ran out to make a play when it dropped in front of him, I said to him, "CUT FOUR". I suppose there was a miscommunication. Everyone makes errors, be they mental or physical, but it takes a certain kind of person to blame someone else for their own misreading of a pop-up and not quickly getting the ball into the infield.
He somewhat atoned for this blunder with a single in the top of the seventh.
It was not because of one play or one player that we lost this game. The little things continue to eat us alive.
The late comeback was frantic, the Ducks torched the Eagles' bullpen for four runs in the seventh, but came up inches short when a would be double skipped foul, before the game ended in a deflating 1-6-3 double play. The inning started when Les Geis (sp.) drew a walk, followed by a single, and a fielders' choice by Jim From CMU. KT Murphy reached base via walk for the third time in the game, then Wojoton delivered with an RBI single. Gwin walked, then Jesse followed with an RBI single of his own. Then just like that, it was over.
The first three innings were filled with booted grounders, and bat at-bats, for the Ducks.
I don't think we've played a game this year with our best starting infield. (our starting second baseman hasn't shown up since the third game of the year).
The baseball always seems to find the guy who doesn't want it, never fails. The outfield was uncharacteristically, fundamentally terrible, except for Wojoton's 8-3 double play in the sixth.
Bullet points
- We've got fifteen games left, I don't know if that's a lot or not. The rest of the division has approximately three games-at-hand on us, and it will be hard to gage where we stand until some games get made up and the games-played get squared.
- 3-5-1 is an ugly record, and I mean ascetically as well as in terms of personifying our under-achievement.
- We are much better than we were last year.
- We have to start playing in the first inning, not the fifth.
- I've grown weary of alluding to our absent players, I feel as though it takes away from the guys who show up. Still, we played without both our home run and batting average leaders; the two of whom are the starting left-side of our infield.
- We don't need to hit the panic button, but we have to put a few together before July rolls around and slams us in the balls with a 6-10-2 record.
- Rick played hurt tonight.
- Smith rebounded from a rough start against the OweleZ. He held the Eagles to two runs over three innings, and gave us a chance to pull another one from the jaws of defeat.
- It seems as if we've played the whole season tip-toeing around the jaws of defeat.
- Jesse threw out six guys and no one could hold onto the ball, he also had a clutch hit in the seventh.
- KT was on base every time I turned around.
- Jim the mysterious pitcher from CMU will fit in nicely, he plays a mean game of pepper, and he hustles.
- I have as many walks through nine games as I did last season.
- There were many broken bats.
- Where are you, Brett and Chris?
Quack, quack
