LET’S PLAY TWO IN THE BURGH

Played an APBA series with Nick Thursday in Cleveland before heading to Pittsburgh for a double header featuring the Buccos versus the Cincinnati Reds. Grabbed a Primanti Brothers Sandwich before the game at PNC, everything’s on it from cole slaw to fries. Then met up with Nick’s cousin Ray & Captain Will who just relocated to Pittsburgh. Zach Duke was going for the Pirates in the opener, but left the game after throwing just 74 pitches. It was his first start since rolling his ankle on the basepaths. It also turned out to be his first loss of his career after a 6-0 start. He trailed 1-0 after four innings of play. The Reds added seven more runs against five Pittsburgh relievers making the final 8-2. Captain Will shook hands with former Pirate & White Sox skipper Chuck Tanner. Under the theory that nobody wins doubleheaders Nick placed a bet on the Buccos in the nite cap. It took a two run rally in the bottom of the 9th after a rain delay to prove that theory as the Pirates split with the Redlegs, winning game #2, 5-4. We all had our rally caps on, Captain Will was shaking his hat like he was making Jiffy Pop Popcorn, whatever it takes. As we were leaving PNC (my favorite ballpark) some guy yells out, “Hey Tedd!” Turns out he’s a Reds fan who remembered me from APBA’s 50th Anniversary Convention a couple of years ago in Lancaster, PA. Joe was still busting me for not winning a game in the tournament with the 1976 Cincinnati Reds. Joe is a big Reds fan and still was all over me for batting Joe Morgan 1st, Johnny Bench 2nd, & Pete Rose 3rd. Small world, huh. After the game we had some fun at a local club. At one point Nick was wondering where I’d gone, but then he looked over to see a pair of long girl legs in the air of where I was and figured I was doing okay.