 JUNE 14, 2007 - Thursday - Dodgers vs. Nationals - City Center - Nationals Win 7-6
This was a beautiful evening for a ballgame, yet a very difficult loss. This was a ballgame all the way to the bitter end with us giving it up late in the game in extra innings. I am certain that the sting of the last play will not soon leave the memory of Adam as he was tagged out stealing home, but I prefer to remember the following play early in the game.
Adam was on third and ready to steal. He was leading off third with enough of a space to get the pitcher's attention. When the windup started he took off to the plate and once he say it pass the catcher he continued racing to the plate. The sequential photos show the high throw, the slide, the dust, the ump giving the safe call, and the smile on Adam's face as he ran back to the dugout. The joy of the team was evident by their screams of approval for the job well done.
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 AARON PITCHES A GREAT GAME - Aaron pitched all the way until his 95 pitches were expired. At that point the score was tied 6-6 and we were almost out of the woods without having to go into tournament play extra innings. Aaron was consistent, accurate, and gave up very few walks. We had two innings that went one, two, three. Eli took over and with one pitch ended the top half of the inning. Unfortunately we did not score and this brought on extra innings.
For extra innings they place the last out from the prior inning at second base and then give your team one out. In the top of the 7th they got the runner from second to home to take the lead. Since Adam struck out to end the 6th, he was out runner now in position to tie the game. He quickly stole third and watched Nathan go down swinging. With two outs and Jeremy at the plate, we were ready to tie the score to prolong the game.
Adam had his lead, took off towards the plate, and sure enough the ball sailed high over the catcher's head. Instead of keeping his stride he hesitated and slowed his momentum. With that slowdown he tried to reaccelerate and he came in sliding hard. The throw from the catcher was on the money and the pitcher made the play. Hearing the ump yell "You're Out!!!" was a very hard pill to swallow. I must admit that I took it very hard for the team, and for my son. Why the hesitation? We will never know and we can only hope that it will not happen with any of our runners in the future. The opportunity was ours to tie the game. We still would have had to get some other offense going to win, but it could have been extended a bit longer.
The last play was the hardest to get over, but it was out last 3 innings that did us in. We had a hard time hitting their replacement pitcher. We will most likely see him again in the tournament. If we do face him then we will be up against a curve and a fastball that is tough for anybody to hit.
This was a game that we should have won. We were up the majority of the way and it was a heartbreak loss.
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