THE GRAND-OLE BALLGAME

Early in the 2011 BARB campaign, Worcester’s Mark Teixeira set a league record with four homers in a single game. In late April, one outfielder threatened to tie that mark.

The Los Angeles Isotopes, playing host to the St. Francis Friars, have struggled early in 2012, as they were 10 games below .500 before April was out.  April 29 had a poor beginning, with Matt Garza allowing seven runs in two-plus innings. The Isotopes got a few runs back in the bottom of the third, though, as Starlin Castro singled with two away to bring up Curtis Granderson, who LAUNCHED a ball DEEP to right-center at Jackie Robinson Field. GONE.

A Carlos Santana two-run single brought LA within three runs, but A.J. Pierzynski’s fifth-inning double extended the lead to four at 8-4. Granderson stepped to the plate again in the bottom half of the inning, this time with one out and no one on—and did it again. The solo shot brought Los Angeles closer, but after the Friars scored three times in the top of the seventh, the game appeared over.

With the 11-5 lead, Friars reliever Randall Delgado got the go-ahead to pitch to red-hot Granderson leading off the 8^th. The first pitch? A souvenir for a fan in the right-field bleachers. Yes, three home runs in the game!

But would he have a chance to hit his fourth? Two doubles scored another run in the eighth, leaving Granderson due up fourth in the ninth. Two quick outs were recorded before Travis Snider pinch-hit for Castro against Jason Motte and reached on an infield single, bringing up Granderson. Another first pitch fastball was thrown. Again Granderson met the ball and hit it HIGH, DEEP and

OUTTA HERE!

Curtis Granderson hit his fourth home run of the game! Alas, his team was still behind, 11-9, which is how it ended one batter later. But quite a show for the faithful in Los Angeles. Granderson’s four home runs accounted for six RBI. Coincidentally, Teixeira also drove in six in his four-homer game in 2011…

Elsewhere in BARB:

Tim Hudson’s first start of 2012 was successful for him and his Casselton Horned Toads. Hudson pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 10 and leaving with a 1-0 lead. He did not, however, earn the victory. The Arizona Rattlesnakes scored two unearned runs off Brad Ziegler to take the lead in the eighth. The lead was short-lived, as Lucas Duda’s two-run shot in the ninth inning gave Casselton a 3-2 win.

Brooklyn benefitted from two solo home runs by Adrian Beltre and three RBI from Julio Borbon to hold on for a 6-5 win over New England…although Neftali Feliz almost gave up the game by allowing two runs and a hard-hit lineout in the bottom of the ninth.

Ryan Vogelson earned his third win against no losses by shutting down Yuma’s offense for one run over eight innings. Robinson Cano backed up the stellar pitching with a homer and all three Worcester RBI in the 3-1 victory.

Riverside beat Frostbite Falls, 1-0, on Michael Cuddyer’s bloop single in the 10^th inning. Cole Hamels and Ervin Santana matched zeroes for eight innings, with Hamels facing the minimum (one hit allowed—though the runner was subsequently caught stealing) and Santana allowing four hits and two walks.