I believe in DeJesus

I just got back from probably the best baseball game I've ever attended. Not only was there a milestone hit, photo finish between running hot dog condiments, and a monumental finish to the game, but the ticket was cheap!

First, a big congratulations to Mark Grudzielanek (and yes, I did spell that without looking it up), who, on his second hit of the night, picked up his 2,000th career hit. Awesome thing to see in person, he got a nice standing ovation, and gave the crowd a wave and a tip of the cap from first. Way to go, he's always been one of my favorites (even if he played for the Cardinals, at least it was only one season), and to have him here in KC for the past few seasons has been great. A class-act guy all around. (I can also name all the teams he's played on, in order, without looking it up: Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Kansas City Royals. Here's to hoping he ends his career here.)

It was looking like that would be the highlite of the night for the Royals, after they blew a 3-run lead. The hot dog condiment race was little consolation, even if it was a close one. Here's a clip from a past game's race:



Awesome, I wish I would have been at that one

It got to be a 4-3 Mariners lead in the bottom of the ninth, so there would be no appearance by the best nickname in baseball, the All-Star, the Mexicutioner. When the first two batters got out, it was looking very bleak indeed. Billy Butler was put in as a pinch hitter, and drew 4 straight balls. When Bill "The Thrill" reached first, he we promptly replaced by the much (much much much) speedier Joey Gathright. Hope was not lost. David DeJesus stepped up to the plate, a home run would win it. Every kid's dream scenario.

Watch the video fast, before MLB pulls it down!

The atmosphere was like that of a college football game, everyone high-fiving, screaming their guts out, and chanting "Let's go Royals," all the way out to the parking lot. It was a hell of game, one that I won't forget. The second walk-off win I've seen in person for the Royals, but the first come-from-behind, game-winning, two-outs-in-the-bottom-of-the-ninth home run I've ever seen. It was incredible.