Breaking News: I-Cubs Get to Play!
Just by taking the field today the Iowa Cubs snapped their three-game skid at the hands of Mother Nature. Then they proceeded to hand Oklahoma City its first loss in a week by whipping the Redhawks 5-2 in the first game of a twinbill at Principal Park with a little help from rehabbing Kyuji Fujikawa.
A wind-breaking homer by Josh Vitters was the winning blow on a day that seemed balmy compared to the snow and rain that have plagued Des Moines since mid-week. In the top of the 2nd this contest was delayed by umpire attrition. The poor bastard behind the plate caught one in his sour spot and had to leave with a pair of badly fouled balls. By the time he got to his feet, received a wincing ovation and determined he wouldn't be able to do justice to called third strikes ten minutes had elapsed. Then it was another ten or fifteen before one of his two colleagues could dash to the dressing room under the outfield skyboxes and return girded for reassignment in the direct line of fire.
Fujikawa pitched the 6th and protected the lead he inherited by authoring a scoreless, hitless inning. He fanned two, one swinging; one not, and walked one. In the pressbox they opened the partition to a luxury suite to accommodate the small entourage of Japanese paparazzi assigned to chronicle Fuji's comeback. We'll see if they leave it open for Garza's noontime start tomorrow which I also plan to attend.
Speaking of authoring (and awkwardly contrived segues) I've got a new book releasing this week and the Kindle edition is already up @ Amazon. Versus the Demons is historical fiction with a jumping off point of the first nighttime ballgame ever played under permanent lights, an event that happened right here in Des Moines on May 2, 1930. It's the story of a journeyman bush leaguer. If you're curious here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Versus-the-Demons-ebook/dp/B00CMF7K54/ref=sr_1_2?…
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