Kansas City Royals 7, Minnesota Twins 8
(10 Innings)

Friday, August 3, 2001, 7:05 PM, Metrodome

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Wow! What a great game! This was the most exciting game -- and certainly the most exciting finish -- I've seen in a long time. It was back and forth, touch and go, and somehow felt like a very important game for the team.

The weird play had to be the very last play of the game. To set it up: The Twins led 6-5 going into the ninth inning, but Hawkins blew the save opportunity by giving up his first homerun in over a year. The Twins were mute in the bottom of the 9th, and the Royals scored in the top of the 10th to make it 7-6. In the bottom of the 10th, Mientkiewicz and Ortiz combined for a run, and Chad Allen was sent in as a pinch runner for Ortiz.

With two outs, Jacque Jones came up and hit a one-hopper (probably hitting directly off the plate) which came down between the mound and first base. Allen broke from second and didn't even slow down as he rounded third. Hernandez, the pitcher, fielded the ball and the race was on. Hernandez decided to go for a tag on Jones instead of running directly to first, but missed the tag as Jones slid toward the base. But Jones also missed the base. Everyone was looking to the umpire for a call, but the play clearly was not over.

Then everybody lunged for the base, and Jones won. With a big safe sign from the umpire, Allen's run counted and the game was over. This after playing back and forth for 10 innings. At various times the game was tied at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6. The Royals led at one point 4-0, then again at 5-4. The Twins led 6-5. Back and forth. When the Twins celebrated the win at home plate, it looked like a World Series pile-on, they were so excited.

Late in the game, Tom Kelly approached the mound and everybody came in. I'm not sure what was said, but I have to believe it was more motivational speech than strategy. I don't know why, but this felt like a very important game to win. For one thing, it put them back in sole possession of first place in the AL Central. But for another, momentum has definitely been working against them. None of the breaks have been going their way, including a couple of calls earlier in the game which looked for a moment like they might erupt into some sort of brawl.

Dad and I went, parking in my favorite lot just off the north edge of the Dome, and sitting in my favorite section 227. We had some Dome dogs, and I had a late-inning Malt Cup, just like old times.

Don Shelby announced the game as Bob Casey was off in Cooperstown for the induction of Kirby Puckett this weekend. He made a few blunders, making me wonder if that job is really tougher than it seems. A nice thing was that the Metrodome's sound system was delightfully muted. We could talk easily and I never felt the urge to plug my ears (which I frequently do). I still couldn't understand a single word of any of the commercials (which seem to be less pronounced and less frequent than at the start of the season -- blessedly so), or any of the promotional things that went on. This is yet another reason to stick with this section.

During the 10th inning, Twins mascot TC came out with a drum to get the crowd going. I have to believe it was distracting to the players because it was such an odd sound, but maybe it helped.

It was a great game, and great to spend time with Dad doing something we both enjoy.