Monday, June 30, 2008

AT LEAST TWO PLAYERS ENJOYED THIS 20-INNING CAN-AM MARATHON

The Los Angeles Dodgers' weekend victory when they were no hit was not the only unusual game of late.

Were you aware that the New Jersey Jackals and Worcester Tornadoes played a 20-inning game in Worcester Saturday? The game lasted six hours and six minutes so if anyone questioned a spouse about their late arrival home, it most likely was valid.

The Jackals finally won 5-4, but not before the lead changed or ties were created nine times from the sixth inning on. New Jersey scored the game's first run in the sixth, Worcester tied it in the seventh, went ahead 2-1 in the eighth and the Jackals pulled even again in the top of the ninth.

Then it really got fun. Innings 10-15 were scoreless, both teams scored in the 16th and again in the 19th. Tiring, huh? Thirty-three runners were left on base, New Jersey pitchers combined for 21 strikeouts (compared to only eight for Worcester) and the two leadoff hitters--NJ's Marcus Sanders and Worcester's B. J. Weed combined to go 9-for-19. Sanders had four singles and a home run in 10 official at-bats.

Sanders and Weed have used the game as a springboard for great offensive runs. Sanders, a 22-year-old second baseman out of Saratota (FL) Community College, has 11 hits in 22 at-bats in the last four games, including the marathon, to jump his rookie professional average from .303 to .333. Weed, who has been roaming Can-Am diamonds for several seasons and Monday was named Player of the Week, has gone 12-for-23 in the same stretch to climb from .328 to .357. He shares fourth in the league batting race while setting the pace in hits (55), doubles (17) and extra base hits (21).

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