Rusty Priske - Future Hall of Famer

[rpriske]

April 10th, 1993

One win is a start.

Today the Pirates are pitching Todd Stottlemyre.

The Giants have Bryan Hickerson.

I am hitting seventh.

The home team opened the scoring in the 1st as Dean Palmer crossed on a Jose Canseco fielder's choice.

Pirates lead 1-0

I came up in the 2nd with two out and Otis Nixon on 1st. I walked on four pitches.
We were stranded.

In the 3rd we got a pair of solo dingers by Ruben Sierra and Alvin Davis.

Giants lead 2-1

I came up in the 4th with one out and Otis on 1st. I lined one to left for a single. Otis went to 2nd.
We were stranded again.

Antonio Nellum tied it up with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 4th.

Game tied 2-2

I came up next with one out in the 6th and dropped another ball into left for a single.
I stole 2nd and went to 3rd when Tony Pena threw the ball away trying to catch me.
Antonio Martinez walked.
I scored on a sac fly by pinch hitter, Eduardo Perez.

Giants lead 3-2

Joe Boever took the ball for us in the bottom of the 6th.

I took care of a Canseco fielder's choice ball for the 2nd out.

Bip Roberts scored on a balk by Joe.

Game tied 3-3

I came up in the 7th with two out, pinch runner Matt Mieske on 2nd, Otis on 1st, and Larry Andersen pitching. I flew out to Marcus Carter in centre.

Mark Ross took over for us in the 8th.
I handled a Canseco grounder for the 3rd out.

We turned a Naehring - Priske - Davis double play to end the 9th.

I came up in the 10th with none out, Otis on 1st, and Mike Stanton pitching. I lined out to John Valentin at short.

Mike Perez took the ball for us in the bottom of the 10th, with Joe Hall also taking over at catcher in a double switch.

Speaking of Joe Hall, he led off the 11th with a home run!

Giants lead 4-3

I handled a Nellum grounder for the 1st out in the bottom of the inning.
With one out and men on the corners, Matt brought in Kip Gross.
Canseco scored on a Carter sac fly to re-tie the game.
Dave Nilsson scored when pinch hitter Josh Boone out hustled an infield single.

Pirates win 5-4.

I went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base.

We are 1-4

[rpriske]

April 11th, 1993

As a team we are off to a terrible start. Personally, I am off to a great one.

I am batting .467 with an OPS of 1.112 and an OPS+ of 191.

0.4 WAR in only five games.

Today we are trying to take the series split against the Pirates, and go to 2-4.

They are pitching Mark Gubicza (1-0, 1.12).

The Giants have John Burkett (0-1, 21.60).

I am hitting seventh.

Dean Palmer homered to open the bottom of the 1st. Two pitches in and John is already behind.
A handful of batters later, Bip Roberts scored on a Jose Canseco sac fly.

Pirates lead 2-0

I led off the 3rd by grounding out to John Valentin at short.

In the 4th, Dave Nillson scored on a Marcus Carter triple.
Then Carter scored on a Gubicza sac fly.

Pirates lead 4-0

I came up with two out in the 5th and grounded one up the middle for a single.
Stolen base #4.
I was left there.

Bret Lachemann took over the for us on the mound in the 6th.
We turned a Priske - Grebeck - Davis double play behind him.

I came up in the 7th with one out and Ken Caminiti, Alvin Davis, and Craig Grebeck filling the bases. I popped out to Valentin at short.
Brutal. we scored nothing.

I got the final out of the 7th off a grounder by Steve Aastrom.

We finally got on the board in the 8th when Bryce Bernadin got a pinch hit triple and scored on an Otis Nixon sac fly.

Pirates lead 4-1

Joe Boever took the ball for us in the bottom of the inning.

I caught a Nilsson liner for the 2nd out.

I came up in the 9th with two out, Craig on 1st, and Mike Stanton on the mound. I grounded out to Valentin again.

We lost and are now 1-5.

I went 1 for 4 with a single and a stolen base.
But that pop out in the 7th haunts me.

Tomorrow we have got our home opener against one of the expansion teams, the Florida Marlins.

[rpriske]

April 12th, 1993

We are off to a wretched 1-5 record, but today is our home opener and we get to face one of the expansion teams!

The Marlins are pitching Scott Kamienicki (0-1, 9.45).

The Giants have Al Leiter (0-0, 12.27).

Two pitchers who are looking for a better day.

I am hitting 7th. (and .421)

The Fish scored first as Scott Brosius hit a two run homer in the 2nd.

Marlins lead 2-0

In the bottom half, Alvin Davis answered with a solo blast.
I came up with two out and the bases empty. I lined out to Gerald Young at short.

Marlins lead 2-1

In the 3rd, Dion James scored on a Chris James single.
I got the 1st out off a Joe Oliver grounder.

Marlins lead 3-1

I made the 3rd out in the 4th, handling a Mike Bordick grounder.

I led off the bottom of the 5th by flying out to Elvin Paulino in centre.
That inning Antonio Martinez scored on a pinch hit single by Eduardo Perez.

Marlins lead 3-2

Bret Lachemann took the ball for us in the 6th.

We tied things up in the 6th when Manny Ramirez scored on a pinch hit single by Bryce Bernadin.
I came up with one out, Alvin on 2nd, and Bryce on 1st. I dumped a pitch into left to load the bases.
We were left that way.

Game tied 3-3

Kip Gross took the ball for us in the 7th

I caught a Paulino pop for the 3rd out in the 8th.

I came up with two out in the bottom of the 8th and Tom Browning on the mound. I reached 1st on an error by 2B Chris Donnels.
I went to 2nd on an Antonio single.
We were stranded.

Mike Perez took over for us in the 9th.

We went to extras and the first batter got on in the 10th, so Matt brought in Mark Ross.
Antonio threw out two attempted steals and we got out of the inning.

I led off the bottom of the 11th, now facing Darren Holmes. I hit one up the middle for a single.
Antonio walked.
We both moved up on a sac bunt by Mark.
But we still couldn't score.

With two out and two on in the top of the 12th, Matt brought in Russell Garside.
I handled a grounder by Chris James to end the frame.

The Marlins took the lead in the 13th when Brosius scored on a Paulino double.

Marlins lead 4-3

I came up in the bottom half with none out, Tim Naehring on 1st, and Bob Scanlan on the mound. I walked.
I was erased and Tim went to 3rd on a fielder's choice by Antonio.
Once again, we could not score and we had the loss.

1-6

I went 2 for 5 with a pair of singles and a walk.

Worse, Otis Nixon pulled his hammy in the game and is going in the DL.

Ryan Klesko is being called up.