The 23rd Out
My Dad's favorite song before he passed was by a band called O.A.R. The title of the song was "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker." After the conclusion of last night's game, I couldn't help but think, "That was a crazy game of Baseball." Bearett's face says it perfectly.
Here's why:
Yesterday was Adam's fifth start of the 2016 season. The Fish had just won their fifth straight game the previous night in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, concluding their series sweep around 10:30PM. The team got onto their chartered plane and flew through the night to Milwaukee, landing their heads on their pillows at seven AM yesterday morning - just 12 hours before their series opener with the Brewers would begin. However, before they departed LA, and just minutes after their victory, a teammate was suspended 80 games for illegal use of performance enhancing drugs.
So, they showed up to the field yesterday and nobody really knew what to expect. They were (probably) exhausted, frustrated, feeling betrayed, and maybe bummed. And still, possibly enjoying - somehow - their fifth win in a row. I can't exactly speak for any of them, but I can try my best and put myself into their shoes, and likely, those are plausible emotions. And since Adam flew out earlier that day to Milwaukee, he didn't really know what to expect either.
So, he took the ball and tried his best to relieve the stress and exhaustion and emotional boulder from the shoulders of his teammates.
Three innings in, and he was perfect. No hits. No walks. No runs. No nothing. That's when your mind starts thinking. Nine up, nine down - hey, this is exciting!! Hopefully the boys were feeling that way too! Then, bottom of the Fourth: error. Then two walks. Bases loaded, nobody out. Bye bye perfect game. But Adam locked in, struck the next guy out, and got the guy after him to bounce into a double play. Still, no hits.
I think it was the next inning, we'd see history being made. Our Right Fielder - Ichiro Suzuki - stole his FIVE HUNDREDTH bag of his career. An ENORMOUS accomplishment. The man's a living legend!
Mixed somewhere in between this baseball insanity was a triple play by the Brewers and 5 RBIs and TWO homeruns belted by our first baseman Justin Bour.
By the time any of us could take a breath, it was the Seventh inning and Adam still hadn't given up a hit. And so, with 100 pitches under his belt, Manager Don Mattingly let Adam take the hill for the Eighth - only 6 outs away from a piece of history that few have tasted: a no-hitter.
Adam recorded his seventh strikeout to open the 8th. Ok, maybe this is actually going to happen - we need a few quick outs to get him to the Ninth!!! And then, he walked the next hitter. By then, Adam had walked FOUR on the night and his pitch count was climbing rapidly. With his 116th pitch, he got his second out of the Eighth inning.
And that was the end of what would be Adam's best start of his MLB career.
116 pitches. 7 2/3 innings. No hits. No runs. 4 walks. 7 strikeouts.
And just 4 outs away from a no-hitter.
As I watched Adam walk off the mound last night - to a standing ovation at Miller Park - I was filled with pride. I was also upset, relieved, and emotionally torn in two. Watching my husband throw a no-hitter would've been...well, I don't know the word for that - all the descriptive words I do know for an emotion like that are too weak, overused, cliche, and super lame. So, of course I was upset. And if not for it being my Grandmother's TV, I might've thrown the remote at it. However, I did agree with the call - it was in everyone's best interest for Adam to leave the game, history or not. Adam knew it too.
I can't say for sure, but maybe even better than watching Adam record his own no-hitter last night, was watching him walk off the field beaming with integrity, poise, and the grace of a man who plays this game, not for his own name, but for the name of Christ.
(Except, maybe you would've gotten your no-hitter if you hadn't walked all those guys!)
;)
The Marlins went on to win the game 6-3, giving Adam his first win of the season. The Marlins took their no-hit bid into the ninth inning, but eventually surrendered a hit with one out. From there, the boys took us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, bringing up the winning run to the plate with two outs. But, we gritted our teeth and came away with our sixth straight victory!
OH, WHAT A DAY!
Just to recap those 24 hours:
Adam flies to Milwaukee
Marlins win Five games in a row, sweeping the Dodgers
Second Baseman suspended 80 games
Marlins fly to Milwaukee
Marlins finally get to the hotel at 7AM
Marlins play 7PM game
Bour hits 2 homeruns and records 5 RBIs
Ichiro steals his 500th bag
Marlins hit into a triple play
Adam takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning
Adam throws 116 pitches and is taken out with 23 recorded outs
Milwaukee scores three in the Ninth, making it 6-3
Milwaukee loads the bases with two out in the Ninth
Milwaukee brings winning run to the plate
BUT THE MARLINS GET THE OUT AND WIN SIX IN A ROW!
Holy. Smokes.
GO FISH!
What a team effort!
But seriously, anybody need a nap?!
Articles:
http://www.foxsports.com/florida/video/adam-conley-on-his-sensational-start-042916
Last, but certainly not least, I will be following up this blog post with another separate post regarding Adam's comments on him being taken out of the game. There's been much talk and speculation about this decision and he wanted to publicly address his feelings on the matter.
Last, but certainly not least, I will be following up this blog post with another separate post regarding Adam's comments on him being taken out of the game. There's been much talk and speculation about this decision and he wanted to publicly address his feelings on the matter.
And we like that idea, Dada. Almost as much as snickerdoodle cookie-making!
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