I think I need to apologize for something. I literally, completely wrote this game off at the end of my last entry, and now I feel like a total douche for doing it. Because what wound up transpiring last night was most certainly not something to write off – it was something every baseball fan should experience at least once in their lifetime, proof once again that you can never truly write off anything in the sport of baseball.
The turning point of last night’s game may have come before it even started. Instead of going with an emergency callup of AA pitcher Michael Ballard, the Rangers decided the to pitch the game entirely out of the bullpen and start Warner Madrigal instead. Although he’s mostly been a one-inning reliever in the minors, Madrigal (who ironically enough was stolen in the offseason from the Angels on a roster technicality) would make it through the first 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while throwing 46 pitches. That, combined with 3 innings of one-run ball from Josh Rupe, kept the Rangers on pace with the Angels Jered Weaver, who allowed 2 runs in 6 innings. Most likely, that was a much better performance than what Ballard would have been able to turn in, and a couple fine performances any way you cut it.
Also helping the Rangers keep pace with the Angels was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who drove in both of the Ranger runs through the first 6 innings by knocking an RBI single in the 4th, and hitting a sac fly (which was dropped by Vlad Guerrero in right) in the 6th to tie the game after Angels left fielder Juan Rivera had let Marlon Byrd’s leadoff single skip to the wall, allowing Byrd to motor into third with nobody out.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Rangers went to Frank Francisco for the 7th inning, who coming into the game had not allowed a run in his last 9 outings. But with 2 out in the inning, Francisco proved mortal, allowing a 2-run longball to Rivera (who, despite his costly fielding gaffe, drove in 3 of the 4 Angel runs on the night). With a 4-2 advantage the Angels highly effective set up men, Jose Arredondo and Scot Shields would steam through scoreless 7th and 8th innings, allowing just one hit between them to set the stage for the Major League leader in saves, Francisco Rodriguez in the 9th. But the mighty Rodriguez, who came close to blowing the save against the Rangers Monday night, was about to prove mortal himself – and was about to provide Rangers fans with memories to last a lifetime.
It started when he walked the leadoff batter Ramon Vazquez (pinch hitting for German Duran) on 4 pitches. Ian Kinsler (who earlier extended his hitting streak to 21 games) struck out for the third time in the game, but Frank Catalanotto at least made a productive out, grounding to first base and moving Vazquez to second, albeit with 2 out, for Michael Young. Young stepped in and took a strike at the knees and a slider in the dirt before waiting on a Rodriguez curveball and punching it through the left side for an RBI single. The game was still alive for Josh Hamilton, and now the Rangers only needed one more to tie.
Coming to the plate, Hamilton was 0-5 on the night and in the middle of a huge power outage – he hadn’t homered since June 17th, and he had just two extra-base hits over the same period. That was fixing to change.
The gameplan for Rodriguez seemed to be to try and stay away from Hamilton – the first pitch of the at-bat was outside, and the second was fouled away. On 1-1, Michael Young took off for second base, and made it safely as the pitch was ball 2 outside and high. All Hamilton really needed now was a single somewhere – often, this would be where he would start hacking. But ball three was down and away, and Hamilton actually showed some plate discipline for a change, as he waited calmly for his pitch. On three and one, with2 out and the tying run on second, he got it. ”K-Rod” came to the plate with a 79 MPH curveball. That stayed about belt high. That stayed over the plate.
I wish I could embed the video for you here (sadly, I still cannot seem to do that with WordPress for some reason) but beyond that link directly above is a microcosm of what the game of baseball is all about - the one moment of ultimate triumph players and fans either live or die for. From the sweet sound of the ball off the bat, to Josh Lewin’s triumphant scream of ”BALLGAAAAME!!!!” on the TV broadcast - that’s what it’s all about:
“My first walk-off ever,” Hamilton beamed afterward in the Rangers clubhouse. “My first helmet toss ever. I’ve always seen guys on TV toss their helmets and jump into the crowd at home plate. It’s pretty cool.”
“It’s been a real challenge. I was battling tonight until my last at-bat. But when something like that happens, it reminds you how much you love playing this game.”
It also reminds you of just how much we love watching Josh Hamilton play this game – for me, that was the most exciting, most satisfying Ranger moment I have ever born witness to. I do not know where this team would be without Josh, but they would not be where they are now - that much is certain.
I’m afraid I’m short on time right now (I’ve spent more time trying to think of things to write than actually writing them in this entry) so I’ll just leave you with this: in the pandemonium that ensued around home plate, as Josh was greeted by his jubilant teammates, one of the most epic photos of our Rangers that I have seen in a long, long time was snapped. This is my new wallpaper:
That is the kodak moment of the season, folks.
PS – if you want to read a real recap of this game and this moment, Joey Matschulat over at BTiA has once again shamed me, and just about every other Rangers writer out there with this awesome writeup. Do yourself a favor, click the link…
