The Machine pitcher arrives late, takes mound, strikes out four, doubles, drives in run, finds wedding band and saves orphans from burning building in 9-4 victoryBy Eric New England
RBI Machine Gazette correspondent
Was there anything Derek Gale couldn’t do Sunday against Balls Out?
Probably. But the RBI Machine doesn’t want to find out what that might include after watching him do a little of everything in a 9-4 Machine decision for the squad’s first victory of the 2006 summer season.
Gale relieved captain Jorina Fontelera and pitched five solid innings, allowing just one run, one walk and striking out four. The four Ks were good enough for second all time in RBI history behind Fontelera’s back-to-back, six-strikeout performances in summer, 2005.
But this Sunday was all Gale, all the time, including on offense. The wiry associate editor for
Hotels also had a double and a sacrifice fly in the game.
Adding to his hero status, Gale somehow found Fontelera’s wedding band, which celebrity guest scorekeeper Gidal Kaiser had lost during the previous week’s game vs. Monkey Knife Fights. Kicking around the dirt, Gale miraculously pulled out the white gold ring, leading to a choke hold of a hug by Fontelera.
Of course, no hero is without his supporting cast, and the rest of the Machine was sexy on defense and timely with the hits. First baseman Brian “Big Sexy” Bigelow continued the hot streak that is almost as steamy as his monicker. With his solo home run and triple, he has yet to make an out in the summer season, improving to 5-for-5.
Extra hitter Mark “Waggle, Waggle, Thunder, Gaggle, Boom-Boom-Boom” Wegren made his first appearance for RBI since the inaugural campaign, and had two doubles and two runs batted in just 10 days after taking a fastball to the face in a Chicago Metropolitan Baseball Association game.
Outfielder Karen Meagher ripped a run-scoring triple in the second and second baseman Steve Rodriguez had a double in the sixth. Third basewoman Martel Sardina, EH/cat humanitarian Jeff Yoders and catcher Christine Cava each drove in a run, as well.First And last names bolded on first reference for machinery.
Defensively, second baseman Geoff “Big Daddy” Weisenberger showed his flair for the dramatic. After attempting to field a ground ball up the middle while hung over, Weisenberger bobbled the ball, bent over to pick it up, collapsed and still managed to commando roll to second base for a key force play.
