You have those so-called *walk-off* homer wins in the bottom of the ninth (or later) that everyone is so fond of. At least the mediots any way. Well the Houston Astros provided the "run-off" ninth inning win on Saturday night as Willy "Paisano" Taveras motored around the bases from first to score the winning run on a ENO Vizcaino double. It was the one and only time the Astros had a lead in this close game, as they played catch-up all night long with the Dickities. Kaj Backe had a shaky first inning, allowing a walk and a double to produce Cincy's first run, before any of the patrons had a chance to sit down.
Backe eventually settled down and held the opposition to just two runs over five innings of work (81 pitch count for you math fans out there). 2-0 lead and Paul Wilson on the mound for Cincy is not a recipe to panic, as you knew eventually someone would get to Mr. Wilson quicker than Dennis the Menace could. After tagging on yet another run going into the sixth inning to up the ante to 3-0, Wilson faced off with Jeff Bagwell who hit a flat changeup into the Crawford Boxes for his and the team's first homerun of the season. It didn't take long for the team's second tater to get registered as Train Lane hit a two run bomb to left center to score Hobbs and himself and tie the game. From then on, the game went back to pitching and defense, old style, by both teams.
Dot Wheeler was first to come up huge, as he got Rich Aurilia to pop out to left in a bases loaded jam in the seventh. This was after Legit Businessman Johnny Franco got an out to start the inning. In the 8th, Scraps brought in the Bridge to work and he got into a mini jam. With a man on second base and two outs, up stepped Junnah. This is one of those scenarios that is often cited by Bill James-onites as to the value of your best reliever should not be your closer. The inning ended, however, when PigPen made a miraculous and athletic catch in short right field to rob the Reds and Junnah of going ahead. The Pontiff pitched the ninth with less than sharp stuff, but dominate enough to take care of the opposing nine and allow Paisano his heroics in the bottom of the frame. A run-off win? I'll take it and it's as exciting a play as a walk-off to me!
The Mud and Blood nine now face off with Eric Milton and the Reds on Sunday afternoon, 1:05 pm start time. Roy "Sparky" Oswalt takes the hill for the good guys looking for his first win of the very young season.
