Stretch Run

Rarely does it begin in mid-July, but with SD in town, and no one else in the NL West stepping up, it began last night. A 9-3 drubbing that was neither that close (9-0 entering the 9th), nor that much of a blowout (3 pitchers into the 9th, Buttmando Boonitez was warming up) was a great start.

Dr. Tailgate kindly took me to Section 109 for the up-close inspection. Here's what we saw:

1) Breakout game for Chad Santos (two sterling defensive stops and his first MLB HR--with 12 family members in the stands--most from Hawaii, we found out later). Anyone have some extra rooms to keep them in town through Sunday?)

2) Back-to-back-to-back HR's by Bonds (after Piazza did his leaning tower of Pisa immitation and gave him a second life), Ray-Ray, who might go by this nickname because his head has grown by a factor of 2x (Doc Tailgate calls HGH Head Growth Hormone), and a classic, meaningless dong by Peter Happy to close out the carnage.

3) Noah's renaissance. Never broke 88 on the gun, but Piazza went 0-5, with 5 harmless, weak fly outs to right. Josh Barfield (he of the league leading .369 BA on the road, was also reduced to sawdust). After 121 pitches, he had to be yanked, just two pitches from a complete game. What do you call that? How about Siyanoah?

Prospects look just fine from 1.5 games out now and 3 more with the Friars in town through Sunday. Get your ducats boys!

Did you know? Since 6/24, Ray-Ray is leading the Majors with 10 Big-Big Fly-Flies!