Opening Day; 2029, V11

[Bumstead]

It's opening day at Land O'Lakes Ballpark for the Twin Cities River Monsters as they match up against the Long Beach Surfers. Twin Cities opened the season on the road losing 5 straight games to Calgary. Who in the world wants to go play baseball in Calgary in April? Not these guys apparently. Heck, who wants to play here in April? The current temperature is 38 degrees with blustery winds reaching 12mph out to left field at times. The announced attendance is 44,961...couldn't find 39 more people to sell out the stadium? Anyway, with the 7:05 pm start time, I'm sure temperatures will be dipping, but these fans seem pretty excited to see their new team; I can't imagine what they are excited about as this team is, well, to be blunt, terrible.

Stanley Benson gets his first BBA start, facing off against Esteban Gil. Gil is coming off a 19 win season that saw him also win the Golden arm award. On paper this is a complete mismatch, but I guess you never know.

As we head to the bottom of the 8th, the score is somehow notted at 4. Lefty Robert Hansen has returned for his 2nd inning of work. Up to the plate strolls the one-time mighty Bo Jordan. I'm not sure why they don't pinch hit for this guy here. Not only can't he hit righties, he's horrible against left handed pitchers. The first pitch is dribbled between first and second and he somehow out runs the throw for an infield single. He's a smart baserunner but he's slower than molasses going uphill so the surfers must have gotten lost in the surf on that one. Up comes Javier Barron, who does have some pop in his bat and a really cool mustache. After failing to get a bunt down twice, Barron swings away and pops one up between 3rd and short; geez, these surfers must have air in their heads as they let that ball drop and again fail to get the force out and Jordan lumbers into 2nd. Ruling: Single...hilarious. Up to the plate comes an almost major league quality player in Cesar Colon. After 2 fouled off bunts, he finally gets one down right in front of the plate and they get him at first, but the runners move up to 2nd and 3rd with one out. Sam Hampton comes on as a pinch hitter and is promptly walked to load the bases. The great Reuben Schutters promptly grounds the ball directly to the pitcher who tosses it to the catcher for the force out at home, but they can't turn the double play. Ronald White comes to the plate and grounds one deep in the hole behind 2nd base and everybody is safe and Twin Cities takes the lead 5-4.

Jose Marroquin comes on to try and close this game out and give the River Monsters their first win as a franchise. Despite allowing 2 walks, Marroquin shuts down the air-headed Surfers and Twin Cities wins it's first game on opening day here at Land O'Lakes Ballpark. What a nice thing for the fans as this probably won't happen often.

[recte44]

Congrats on beating the reigning Nebraska Award winner in your first game as a franchise.