Little Things Make Big Differences in Giants Opening Day Victory

The Tiburon Peninsula Giants finally their season yesterday, shaking off the rust from weeks of rain to defeat the Twin Cities Red Sox 5-3.  After missing two games and at least as many practices from rain and resulting field closures, the baseball gods provide a sunny day and more importantly a turf field, allowing the Giants to finally play baseball.

Terrell rips a hit

Francis goes deep

Notwithstanding their lack of practice, the Giants appeared to be in mid-season form, committing only two errors.  Seven pitchers combined to allow only 2 earned runs on 7 scattered hits, striking out 9.  On offense, the Giants’ 5 runs came on 8 hits spread over 6 players, with Trenton Francis and Ethan Terrell getting two apiece.  Francis doubled in the third to knock in Ryan Dudgeon and later scored on Jeffrey Kolthoff’s sacrifice fly.

Throughout the game, the G-Men successfully accomplished the “little things” and paid close attention to each play.  In the top of the third, George Dalzell-Piper was at the plate with two outs and Terrell at second.  GDP alertly picked up the bunt sign and legged out a great bunt, keeping the inning alive and getting Ethan to third.  Both he and Terrell would score before the inning ended.  Those runs put the Giants ahead to stay, and GDP scored what would prove to be the winning run.

Attention to defensive details consistently frustrated the Red Sox.  Three times the Sox tried to score on passed balls and three times they were out at the plate. 

Coach Oscodar considered walking runners to first and balking them to third in order to set up this play, but  decided against this strategy.  

The play of the day, however, came in the fourth.  Terrell tried to pick-off a runner on first and overthrew Casey Skinner.  The runner ran hard to second and was rounding the bag on his way to third on what looked like an easy two base error.  Right fielder Trenton Francis alertly backed-up the play and without hesitating threw the ball to Terrell as the cut off.  He got the ball to Ethan so quickly, that the runner had no chance of making it to third and was thrown out trying to retreat to second.  

Beyond that play and throughout the game, players hustled and played hard.  

In post game interviews, Trenton Francis was asked about his success at the plate.  He responded that he patterned his game after Ichoro Suzuki.  In some ways, the resemblance is uncanny.

"Anyone seen my orange clipboard?"

Coach Oscodar was also asked if such good play despite so few practices indicated that he was of little use to the team.  Although he did not comment on that question, he did ask several reporters, players and coaches if any of them knew the whereabouts of his clipboard.

The Giants next face off against the Mill Valley Cubs at Alto Field in Mill Valley.  First pitch is at 4:30 with players arriving at 3:30.  Please drive carefully and use public transportation if at all possible.