Dodgers v Yankees 5/7

Those of us in the "media" had discussed it in the press room prior to Thursdays Ribbons double header and to a man we all agreed, the nights games would most likely feature a game ending early due to the mercy rule and one that would be a nail biter with the underdog possibly pulling out the win. This reporter will go on record and say that in predicting the future, he hadn't quite
seen this coming......

Historic first inning event overshadowed by unexpected Dodger Loss, 6-4
Andross, Lawson and Turner hit consecutive homeruns but Yankees refuse to give up, scraping together a victory.

Saxon Andross predicted it. He wanted it to be known that he had called the back, to back to back homerun sequence that had catapulted the Dodgers out to an early 3-0 lead against the Yankees of the Victorville National League. He mentioned that as he sat in the dugout in the second inning of what appeared to be another lopsided Ribbons win over the Nationals. The attitude in the dugout should have tipped someone off as to what would result.
Few players were watching the game, even fewer were interested in the opposing pitcher. Like many little leaguers, and for that matter 11 and 12 yearolds, they were caught up in the big league moment of the first inning. It was a game they expected to win, they brought the focus into the game, but the 3 homerun explosion changed every players attitude. It was pretty dang amazing.
After Corey Elder worked a scoreless first inning in his first start of the season, and a Jeremiah Lorick strikeout, Saxon Andross stepped to the plate in the midst of a somewhat average season, at least by Saxon's standards. Andross then proceeded to take a belt high pitch over the center field fence to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Reggie Lawson came to bat next, home run to left center field, 2-0. Eric Turner, splitting the two and a little deeper, 3-0. The dugout was buzzing, coaches were contacting Guiness, players were replaying each of the home runs, the game was pretty much over, any opponents would have had their spirit crushed by such an event.
However, the Yankees decided to go ahead and play out the rest of the game. They were here anyway and figured what the heck we'll keep going. A wise move on their part. The Dodgers would not score again until the fourth inning. Spencer Jaangard walked and moved ahead to second on a Christian Moore single. After a Lorick walk Andross would plate his second run of the evening with a grounder to third that scored Jangard. But with one out and two on, Lawson hit a soft liner to short, and Turner just missed his second homerun of the game, flying out to Center.
Meanwhile, the Yankees had tied things up earlier knocking Elder out of the game in the third after a pair of Yankee one out singles, and a host of errors including one in center on a grounder, one from SS Eric Turner on a throw to third, one on Corey off the mound as he underhanded a throw to first and one on Andross at first base, (playing the position due to an injured foot). Reggie Lawson entered the game and quickly ended the inning with a strike out.
After an inning that saw Turner picked off first and Zach Barnes thrown out at home, the Dodgers started to notice that these Yankees were actually still thinking they could win. A discovery that may have came a little to late.
In the top of the fourth, Lawson lost control of his pitches for the first time all season. as he walked the first two batters. The third hitter grounded to first, but with runners at third and second, Corey Elder elected to go home with the throw rather than get the out at first. Everyone ended up safe and the Yankees took the lead. Another Lawson walk loaded the bases. Reggie appeared to settle in, striking out the next two batters he faced. The Dodgers were one strike away from getting out of the inning having given up only the one run, but with two strikes on the Yankees cleanup hitter, Lawson left one a little too much on the plate and it was softly lined into right field, scoring two and giving the Yankees a 6-3 lead. The Dodgers got out of the inning defending the double steal perfectly, with Andross gunning down the runner at the plate.
The Dodgers would cut the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the inning. Lawson then proceeded to strikeout six of the final seven batters he faced.
Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Andross came to bat with two outs and dropped a single into center, his third hit of the game. Lawson followed it up with a ringing double down the third base line and it appeared the Dodgers might escape with a win after all. But no Yankee hung his head, not one gave up assuming the Dodgers with Eric Turner coming to bat would snatch victory from them as the Padres had earlier in the season.
A homerun would end the game, Turner was more than qualified to deliver the big fly. But this day belonged to the Yankees, after battling and fouling off numerous pitches, The Yankee pitcher ran one in on Turner that he failed to get his hands around on. The pitch was jammed off the bat, resulting in a soft liner to the first baseman. The Yankees win. THHHHEEEEE YAANNNKEEEEESSS WWWINNNN! Great game coach way to keep the kids convinced they could do it.
A tough loss for the Dodgers. Coach Tye apparently took it the worst as he booked himself onto a skydiving trip this weekend and had yet to decide whether he'd be using the parachute or not. Hang in there Dodgers, these things happen, even to Coach Tye.