Angels 10 Tigers 0

“Now, there’s a big league play I’m positive you will never see again,” laughs a rabid Angeles fan pointing to first base. Under a crystal clear, sun-drenched, aqua-blue sky, it's the top of the forth inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. Angel fans enjoying an outstanding day of baseball. Temperatures reached the high 80s at game time. This afternoon time stood still as patrons basked in the glory of the first inning.

The bottom of the first saw 13 Angels hitters come to the plate. The hits just kept coming, Pujols smacks one to center field, Mark Trumbo drives one to right field, and Kendrick lines one up the middle. With the based loaded, Mike Trout steps to plate, his fifth pitch - a 79 mph curveball - from the hand of Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello. Trout launches one high and deep to center field, “touch-em’ all,” his first career grand slam! Nine runs would cross the plate before that first inning would mercifully end for the Detroit Tigers. Josh Hamilton files out to the center fielder Austin Jackson.

. . . Back to the forth inning - the magic of baseball, fans leap from their seats when they witness plays never seen before. Prince Fielder struts to the plate, now granted, this guy has a career .287 batting average, 264 home runs, with 880 career strike outs, the 5 foot -11 inch, 275 pounder - a power hitter, not a fast runner. Ok, Tigers fans are waiting for Fielder to get things going, something to change the momentum of the game. The fourth pitch from Richards, an 85 mph slider, with a savage swing Fielder strikes out. The ball gets away from the catcher, dribbling to the backstop. Now, there is a quirky rule in baseball, if the catcher drops the ball on strike three, the batter, provided they can run fast enough and not thrown out by the catcher, is awarded first base. Believe it or not this monster of a guy makes it to first. Maybe this twist of fate is just what the Tigers need to turn the tide of the game.

Sorry Tiger fans, next batter, Victor Martinez strikes out to end the inning.

The Angles would go on to shut-out the Tigers 10-0. Maybe this Angels fan was right after all, it's doubtful Prince Fielder will ever reach first base again on a strike-out, who knows - but that’s the joy of baseball.

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