(AP - Ottawa) So let's look back at what went so terribly wrong with this game. It was fine until the fifth inning. The first four innings provided very entertaining ball, as it was the first game with the Rogues' new jerseys. The Rogues got great help offensively from Darren, Sim and Seb, and Cox's pitching was solid enough to keep the game close (Including a K against Jay McDonald...hehe). It was 4-3 going into the bottom of the 5th.
Cox gives up a single to their third basemen. McDonald comes up and grounds out to Sim. Their next batter flies out. With two outs, all hell breaks loose. The next batter hits a fly-ball to left field, which could have been caught, but is unfortunately miss-played. Tie game.
Then a ball is blooped into left in front of Seb Soucy, giving Wild Things the lead. Their next batter comes up to the plate, and thats when things went bad.
Cox decided to intentionally walk this batter, because since the Wild Things couldn't field 9 players, the batter after this one would've been an automatic out. With the game 5-4 for the Wild Things already, Cox throws 3 balls...as the runner at third steals home when Dunbar tosses the ball back to Cox! 6-4. On the fourth ball pitched...it wasn't far enough outta the way of the plate...and the batter clobbered a double. Cox tossed his glove into the outfield in shame as the rest of the Rogues shook their heads and walked back to the duggout.
Lo and Behold, the umps call the game!!!
After 5 innings! We still had time to play.
So lots of silly little things happened, but not one person is to blame. What could've been done different? Some might say that perhaps Cox shouldn't have pitched the fifth inning. His strategy was that he'd put Soucy in to pitch in the last inning...but he wasn't aware that there wouldn't be a 6th. And bringing Seb into the 5th when it was already going badly wouldn't have helped because he would've been cold, and the same things would've happened.
The defense was there, and it wasn't too. The outfield was shaky at times, but reliable at times as well. The infield was pretty solid, minus a couple over throws. And the infield needs to practice fielding bunts. They were disoriented and out of practice, and looked like deer caught in the headlights.
But at least we didn't lose to THE COUGARS! The Stingers lost to Monette's Cougars on Friday, which makes Monday's game so very important. With a win over The Stingers, The Rogues will be 1 point ahead of them in the standings, and all will be right with the world again.
