Bandits 17, Challengers 6

There are certain times when the Baseball gods make it clear that you are not going to win. The Challengers' first game against the Jona Bandits on Saturday was one such game. The visitors pounded out 17 runs on 20 hits en route to a 17-6 victory that didn't really even feel that close. A 9-run outburst in the top of the second inning doomed the Challengers before the game was more than 25 minutes old.

The game actually got off to a decent start: similar to the last time the two teams met the Bandits started things off by running themselves into an out when Oli Christen picked off yet another runner after issuing a lead-off walk. When Oli was able to manage a come-backer by the second batter without completely freaking out or throwing to the wrong base, it looked like he was ready to continue his run of high quality starts. When third baseman Yusuke Azuma botched an easy grounder that should've ended the inning, however, things started to unravel. Three walks and 2 singles later, the Bandits had an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, the Challengers got one back, but it could have been more: With one out, Adderly Sarmiento walked, stole second and took third when the second baseman couldn't handle the catcher's throw. After Azuma went down swinging, Juan de la Rosa hit a routine fly to center that should have ended the inning. However, the centerfielder somehow failed to make the catch and the ball dropped in for an error. Sarmiento scored, but de la Rosa, moping due to the apparent out, didn't run hard to first and was unable to take further advantage of the misplay. A few pitches later, de la Rosa was "caught" stealing to end the inning (I use quotation marks because although the throw beat him to the base, the fielder also dropped the ball when trying to apply the tag...although that apparently didn't bother the umpire who still called the runner out), with the score 2-1 Jona.

That would be as close as the C's would get the rest of the game. What followed was a half-inning that could at best be described as "painful"...and even that is being charitable. After walking the number 9 batter, Christen gave up a double and an infield single to make it 3-1 with no outs and runners on the corners. At that point, it was already clear that Oli just didn't have it this game. When he wasn't missing the strike zone, which was often, he was getting hit hard. The next batter hit a sinking liner that Alex Gordon slid for, but couldn't reach. Both runners scored and the batter ended up on third. At that point in time, my thinking was that we desperately needed an out, which justified the decision to go for the ball rather than playing it safe. Unfortunately, I got a poor jump on the ball and it ended up bouncing past me. When Christen followed by uncorking a wild pitch, and then surrendered consecutive singles, it kind've mooted the point. Oli finally managed to get the first out by inducing former Challenger Halvar Dil to pop out to second, but then another walk loaded the bases. A passed ball by catcher Nick Lehmann allowed another run to score, making it 7-1 Bandits. Then came a play that perfectly encapsulated this game for the Challengers: With runners on second and third and one out, the number 8 batter hit an easy bouncer to Azuma at third, for what would've been out number 2 had Azuma thrown the ball to first - but he didn't. Apparently losing track of how many outs there were, Azuma instead threw home despite there being no force in play. Yikes. After walking the number 9 batter to force in another run, Christen was mercifully (and quite belatedly) pulled in favor of Lehmann - although that didn't seem to slow down the Bandits much. The first batter Lehmann faced singled to make it 8-1. The next hit a weak liner to Daiki Sato at second, who intentionally let the ball drop in order to set up a double play. Unfortunately, Sato had trouble picking up the ball and that, combined with the batter's speed, allowed only a force at second rather than a double play as another run scored. The inning finally ended with the next batter - although not before that batter doubled over Willy Schaub in right (who was playing way too shallow given the batter's power to all fields), bringing home another run, the 9th of the inning. Ultimately the trail runner was ruled out for failing to touch home plate (how does that even happen---the throw wasn't even close and there was no slide)...or else the inning might still be going.

The rest of the game was pretty much one giant suck-fest, but I would be remiss if I left out the play that delivered the final kick to the collective nuts of the Challengers. In the bottom of the 4th inning, it was 14-2 Bandits, so it's not like the game was in much doubt. Nonetheless, when Schaub led off with a walk, and then Gordon followed with a single, the C's seemed to have something going. Sato was up next and hit an absolute bullet - I swear I could hear the ball yelling - that seemed headed down the right field line. Except that, for a reason that continues to defy explanation, the first baseman was holding me on. Even though there was a runner on second. Naturally, the ball flew right into his glove for the first out...he then took one step to his left to double me off first for the second out...and then threw to second for the TRIPLE PLAY! Are you kidding me? We should've just gone to lunch then. I'm feeling queezy just writing about this disaster.

by Alex Gordon