Dodgers move on to Game 3

It is double elimination tournament time in our soon to be ending baseball season. I did not post about Game 1 (#6 Dodgers vs #3 Cardinals) because it was devastating. Heartbreaking. Frustrating. I could go on. They were winning the entire game and in the bottom of the 6th - score is 5-4 Dodgers - 2 outs, 2 strikes, 2 runners on...Cardinals hit a ground rule double ending the game 5-6. I told you, it wasn't good. Our kids were so devastated. They played the game of their lives and just couldn't walk away with the win.

Game 2 was last night against the #5 White Sox. White Sox had the 'upset' after our game the other night and beat the #4 team. No one saw that coming :-)! However, they lost the next night, putting them down in the losers bracket with us.

It was one of those "perfect nights for baseball", cool breeze with some clouds, lots of spectators buzzing around the park - just a nice night. Both Dodgers and White Sox were trying to make it one more game - who ever looses, ends the season for that team. A tough way to go.

Unfortunately, it was another one of those close games. Passing the lead back and forth and never more than 1 or 2 runs. It was painful to watch as both teams battled. I enjoy a game that is tight and competitive, I really do, when it is someone else's team. Not mine. I keep the score book so I always know what is going on (what each batter did, where we are in the lineup etc). It also keeps me focused on the game and maybe that's not such a great idea...

So here we are, back in the bottom of the 6th inning. Let me side track a second and say CAN WE EVER BE THE HOME TEAM ON CLOSE GAMES??? Ok, there, sorry, but boy oh boy, it would be nice to have last bats! Anyway, where were we? Oh ya, bottom of the 6th. 1 out and 2 runners on - score is 7-6 (we are ahead by 1). Out 2 comes with a hit to the pitcher - threw him out at 1st. Now we have 2 outs (feeling like we've been here before because we were...just a few nights ago). This time he swings at the first pitch and hits a grounder to 2nd base and gets thrown out at 1st.

DODGERS FINALLY WIN!!!!!

I am really not sure how many more of those games I can take. I know kids on both teams and I don't enjoy watching a team loose like that. However, after a 7 game loosing streak - they deserved the win. The last 4 games were all '1-Run' games - with only 1 of those being on a win. That's not easy.

So, on to our game 3 on Monday.

For those interested in stats - Alec batted 3 times last night. 2 walks and 1 strike out. In the field he caught 2 fly balls, has 1 put out at 2nd on a grounder and sat out the 6th inning for the first time in 15 games. :-)