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Senators Use Late-Inning Heroics to Beat Blue Caps |
July 1, 2008. Fairfax, Va. -- Since Gunnar Terhune has come to the Vienna Senators, many players have talked about the leadership that he brings to the team. They have talked about how he keeps the team loose, and up-beat. Terhune displayed those characteristics as well as a knack for the dramatic, in leading the Senators to a heated 10-4 victory over the Beltway Blue Caps Tuesday night.
In a heated Clark-Griffith League game, it was Terhune that stood out as he propelled his team to victory. Terhune hit a grand slam home run in the top of the 10 th to spark a six-run inning that proved to be definitive.
“I was 0-2, so I just tried to spread out and try to put something deep to get a run in and put us up. I got lucky, because he hung one and I was able to capitalize on it,” said Terhune.
While the game did end in an uplifting fashion for the Senators, there were many moments of anguish and anxiety prior. The controversy began in the eighth inning with the Senators leading 3-2. Mario Williams was at bat with two outs, and appeared to swing through a breaking ball in the dirt to strikeout to end the inning. However, the umpire ruled that Williams had foul-tipped the ball, allowing Williams to stay alive in the at-bat. Williams laced a single to center on the next pitch. Williams then stole second, and eventually came around to score on an Alfred Rodriguez RBI single.
The Senators appeared to have the game in hand, with reliever Kyle Hald continuing his recent dominance. Hald, who pitched two perfect innings last night, pitched three more perfect innings in relief of starter Ian Kadish. Senators manager Chris Burr allowed Hald to come out for a fourth inning, and to try to close out the Blue Caps in the top of the ninth.
Hald walked Max Eckert to start the inning, and then allowed a pinch-hit double to Shane Brown, one of the league's best hitters. Brown's double put runners at second and third with only one out. Burr went to his closer, Jimmy Duggan, to try and get out of the jam. Mike Lenox stepped in against Duggan and grounded a slow roller to shortstop Alfred Rodriguez, who threw to first for the out. However, both runners were moving on the play and Brown attempted to come home and score the tying run.
First baseman Blake Tagmyer gunned the ball home, and catcher Eric Walker appeared to have blocked the plate. Yet Brown was called safe and the score was tied at 4. The Senators argued that Brown hadn't touched the plate, pointing to the fact that Brown came back to touch the plate after his initial slide into home. However, their protestations were to no avail.
Duggan got Blue Caps shortstop Ryan Baione to pop up to end the inning, but the damage was done. Yet as the Senators walked off the field, Terhune set the tone for the next inning.
“It doesn't matter guys, we'll just win it in 10,” shouted Terhune to his teammates. Terhune's confidence was not unfounded.
Senators centerfielder Kevin Hall started the inning off with a perfectly-placed bunt single up the third base line. Eric Walker then dropped a sacrifice bunt attempt, but the Blue Caps tried unsuccessfully to get Hall at second base. Pinch-hitter Wes Joy then dropped a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners. Alfred Rodriguez was intentionally walked to load the bases for Terhune, who was 1-4 coming on the day prior to that at-bat.
Terhune drove an 0-2 pitch deep over the left field wall. Both the Senators dugout and their faithful fans erupted in celebration.
“It felt great to come home and touch that plate,” said Terhune. “I needed that because I rolled over on a couple of balls. It really felt like a weight off of my shoulders, to come through for the team and give us a win.”
The Senators were not done however. After Blake Tagmyer walked, Matt Goulas hit an even deeper home run to left field to break the game open. Blue Caps leftfielder Chris Duffy could only turn and watch as the ball sailed well out of the ballpark and into the dark night.
Chad Johnson, normally a setup man in the Senators bullpen, came on to pitch a scoreless bottom of the tenth.
The Senators got a number of key contributions from some unlikely heroes. In addition to Terhune's home run blast, Brandon Padula filled in admirably for the suspended David Harris. Padula, hitting in Harris' #3 spot and playing left field, reached base five times, including two hits.
“With this type of team and this type of character, if we have a couple of vocal leaders say, ‘we're going to be okay,' and then we have some good at-bats and get some bunts down, we should be all right,” said Terhune. “We just needed someone to put a little reassurance in with all the craziness we had tonight.”
Andrew Struckmeyer
Vienna Senators