Tuesday, April 14, 2009
I remember the exact moment I decided to never leave a Royals game early.
August 9, 2005. It was my birthday, and an important one: my 16th. It was my first time driving to something other than school without my parents by my side. I was so excited my hand shook as I handed the parking pass to the parking attendant.
All was going well in the game too: the Royals were up 7-2 going into the top of the ninth with fireballer Mike McDougal on the mound. I stood and applauded as he jogged on the field to the Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and a frightening video montage.
It was the perfect way to celebrate the biggest birthday I’d had so far.
Too perfect, evidently.
One Indian double led to another, and another, and another. The Indians threw in some singles too. A homer off Jimmy Gobble, the pitcher who came in to stop the bleeding, made the score 13-7 Cleveland.
I think pink socks would have made a better gift.
Ambiorix Burgos both walked and balked in a run to lose two different games. Joel Peralta wasn’t much better. From then on, I always resolved to stay or watch until the end of the game, just to see what the Royals closer would do to lose the game.
I had more confidence in Mike Tyson becoming National Scrabble Champion than in the Royals’ bullpen.
But on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the K, that all changed.
The Royals had a two-run lead on the Yankees in the ninth. As I usually do in these situations, I thought back to my worst birthday ever and Mike McDougal’s entrance to the game. Similar song: this time, “Welcome to the Jungle”. Similar montage: lots of fire, lots of fastballs.
But it wasn’t a similar result. Joakim Soria, the Royals’ All-Star closer, made the Yankee batters look foolish. Hideki Matsui watched a fastball hit the outside corner and walked back to the Yankee dugout shaking his head. Xavier Nady looked like a little leaguer in striking out.
And I still wondered what Soria would do to lose it.
Soria finished the game with a curve ball that Robinson Cano swung at when it hit catcher John Buck’s glove. It was “The Mexicutioner’s” third save in three appearances. He’s coming off a season where he picked up a save in 42 of 45 opportunities and held a 1.60 ERA.
The Royals actually have a closer who doesn’t open the game for the opponents. The game is effectively shortened to eight innings.
I can now officially say that I have confidence in the Royals to win a game they are leading in the ninth inning. I might even leave a few games early this summer to avoid the highway traffic. It’s a birthday gift given three years, eight months, two days and seventeen hours too late.
But at least it’s finally here.
— — Edited by Susan Melgren
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