That Day
Scranton was stop number two on our first minor league road trip. We (my son, older daughter and I) drove to Scranton from Binghamton, NY, about an hour drive, the morning of April 25, 2000, for a game that evening. We spent a few hours that afternoon touring an old coalmine.
When we arrived at the stadium, we went to our seats, then after a few minutes I got up to walk around and take some pictures. There was a huge crowd at the Red Barons� bullpen, so I went over, and who do I see warming up but Curt Schilling, who I learned was the starting pitcher, making a rehab start.
Whenever Schilling took the mound, a helicopter would fly into view way out in the distance in the outfield. Schilling pitched 5 innings, gave up 9 hits, 1 walk, 2 earned runs, with 7 strikeouts. Also playing for the Red Barons were Jimmy Rollins (0 for 4), Marlon Anderson (1 for 3 with a BB) and Pat Burrell (0 for 4), who are all now in the majors. For the visiting Ottawa Lynx, Montreal�s Triple A affiliate, Milton Bradley (3 for 5) and Brian Schneider (3 for 4 with an intentional BB), both of whom are also in the bigs, were the stars. Schneider was a HR short of the cycle. With a man on 2nd and 1 out in the 9th, he was intentionally passed.
The Red Barons scored a run in the 3rd on a HR by catcher Gary Bennett. The Lynx took a 2-1 lead in the 5th, scoring 2 runs on 4 hits off Schilling. He did strike out the side, though. The Red Barons tied it in the bottom of the 5th, when Ken Woods, pinch hitting for Schilling, doubled home a run. The game stayed that way until the bottom of the 9th. Burrell lead off with a strikeout. The Red Barons then loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Once again, Gary Bennett put his team ahead, this time for good, with a single. The final was 3-2, Red Barons. It was a great game, and a pleasant surprise to see Schilling. |
