Cardinals 5, Expos 4
Norris Division rivals go down to the wire
Rainy weather greeted the players as the oldest of the Norris Division rivalries tipped off at Sky Hill on Monday night. With bad storms looming in the horizon on this breezy night, this game took on special importance for the Cardinals as they looked to snap an 0-3 start to the season, while the X tried to tighten their hold on 1st place in the Norris. The X have owned the Cardinals in the past, especially J-Ski, the heart and soul of the X Hitting Machine. But on this nite two of the league's elder statesmen provided a little 'magic' of their own.
Marcus Munson took the mound for the X in his first pitching appearance in the HRL. Facing off against veteran Steve 2, it would be easy for any 'rookie' on the mound to be intimidated, but Marcus more than held his own. With a confident mound presence and change of speeds, Mr. Munson kept the X within striking distance all night long.
The X struck quickly in the 1st, with 2 quick runs. The Cardinals scored their first run of the season in the bottom half of the inning, as rookie Bombo planted one over short-left even with a good breeze blowing in.
The Cardinals picked up another run in the second to tie the game at 2-2, but in the 3rd, Marcus lost a bit of control and walked in 3 runs, putting the Cards up 5-2. J-Ski came on in relief in the 4th, to hold the Cardinals to their lead.
In the 5th the Expos bats put together a string of hits and with solid baserunning they scored 2 quick runs. Then with a runner on first and 1 out, a high fly ball in the wind blew far away from Steve 1 in the right field corner. Hustling over to track it down, Steve 1 fired a perfect relay pass into Steve 2 covering home, who only had to turn around to tag out the tying Expo run hustling towards homeplate.
After picking up the 3rd out, and the X down by only 1 run in the final frame, Steve 2 survived a couple base hits and a near-miss on a 2-run bomb by J-Ski, which wrapped the wrong way around the foul pole, to pitch his way into the first W of the season for the Cards.
J-Ski continued his torrid hitting pace, going a 'paltry' 4-for-6, leaving his league-leading average just under .700.
Game 2 was called due to weather, as some wind, lightning and heavy rain started to really douse Sky Hill. It is tentatively rescheduled for the next X-Cards matchup in Week 16.
Recap by Craig "Dee" Deelsnyder
Submitted: Craig "Dee" Deelsnyder
May 3, 2007