RED BARONS TAKE THE LEAD!

6-4 Victory full of great defense!!

Evan Thomas didn't pitch great, but he pitched well enough to earn his 2nd victory in the postseason and give the Barons the advantage in their best of 5 series. Thomas was rocked for 3 runs in the top of the 1st, but the Barons scored twice in the bottom half, getting on the board quickly with Reggie Taylor's leadoff homerun. Gene Schall tied the game in the 3rd with an RBI single and David Newhan gave us the lead for good with a 2 RBI double. Later in the game, the Red Barons tacked on an insurance courtesy of Newhan and P.J. Forbes. Only 3,845 people came to game 1, but they witnessed some great defensive plays. Reggie Taylor gunned a man at the plate on a single, Dave Doster threw out a runner at home who tried to score on a grounder, and of course there's "THE PLAY." I'll turn it over to Randy Shemanski of the Times to describe this one.

Leading 5-3 in the fifth, Indianapolis had a runner on first with one out. Kurt Bierek bounced sharply to second baseman David Newhan, who bobbled the ball and then threw it over first baseman Gene Schall's head.

What happened from there may never be replicated in baseball history.

Hustling on the play, catcher Fausto Tejero fielded the throw when it caromed off the dugout railing. He chased Bierek towards second before throwing to shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who chased Bierek back to first.

Bierek avoided the tag by Rollins and headed back towards second only to be greeted by, of all people, Tejero. Ball in hand, Tejero started after Bierek, but Lyle Mouton broke for home from third. Tejero whirled and fired a strike to third baseman David Doster to nail Mouton at the plate for the second out. WHEW! That's exhausting to read, but it was a turning point in our game 1 triumph!! Game 2 is tonight at 7:00. David Coggin (3-2 4.34) will be taking the hill for the Squadron. He is opposed by Kane Davis (3-1 3.93). THIS IS BIG! WIN THIS AND IT'S ALMOST A LOCK!!! O'BAGELO'S!!! P.J. FORBES!! EVERYONE BACK HOME! GET TO EVERY GAME YOU CAN! AND CHERISH IT! LIKE THE FAT KID IN BILLY MADISON! CHERISH IT!!!