Last summer, I was lucky enough to be in the crowd at Yankee Stadium when the Astros used six pitchers to no-hit the Yankees at home for the first time in forty-something years. It was the best baseball game I’d ever seen.
It’s now second-best.
Tonight I was at Minute Maid Park for the most exciting, most nail-biting, most incredible, most nerve-wracking, most FREAKING AMAZING BASEBALL GAME I HAVE EVER SEEN.
Brandon Backe, a kid from Galveston who was in the minor leagues 4 months ago — eight innings, one hit. Woody Williams, the veteran from Houston pitching for the enemy — seven innings, one hit. Brad Lidge, the lights out closer — one inning, no hits. Carlos Beltran, the guy who’s so hot that last night he golfed a pitch a foot off the ground for a home run — an incredible, gravity-defying center field catch. Jeff Kent, the country boy in a bit of a slump — bottom of the ninth, three-run game-winning walk-off HOME RUN.
Astros win! Astros win! Astros win!
