These Rebels still have some fight in them. After being down by three runs for much of the game, they rallied in the eighth to tie the contest at five. Several extra innings and departed fans later (they were all leaving to see Nelly performin the Grove, obviously), Austin Anderson cranked a three-run shot into the visitor's bullpen to seal the 8-5 victory.
The home run itself though came under pretty unique circumstances, and by that I mean that I don't think I've ever seen a home run, let alone a base hit come from a batter who is being intentionally walked. If you missed it, here's how it went down:
- With the game tied at 5 in the bottom of the 13th, the Rebs had runners on second and third with one out.
- Auburn opts to walk Austin Anderson to force a double play.
- The catcher motions outside to get the intentional ball, stands up, all that jazz.
- The pitcher though, he just sorta floats the ball right over the plate. Not up and away by four or five feet as is customary, but just kinda tosses it right in Anderson's wheelhouse.
- Anderson says "see y'all tomorrow," rips it, and wins it.
If you watch the highlights, you'll see that Anderson knew that the game was over as soon as he hit it. Even if it doens't go out, it scores a run on a sacrifice. I'm sure the fact that he goes down as a dinger for him, though, will be particularly sweet.
So today's games are a DOUBLE HEADER due to inclement weather in the region for most of the weekend. Here's to hoping the Rebs can get the series win, and here's to hoping that we see some of y'all out there today.