Day 57 -- W. Williams v. Vazquez
Trailing 1-0 going into the 5th, the Norsemen break up Vaz's no-hit bid with a leadoff hit by Woody.

Nothing good can come from giving up a leadoff hit to the pitcher.

Woodward singles, then Walker doubled to tie the game. Giles' sac fly gave the Norse a 2-1 lead.

It stayed that way until the 7th, where we find out that nothing good can come from a two-out error by Robin that loads the bases. Pinchhitter Dave Delucci's grand slam broke the game open and sent the New Orleans faithful scrurrying for something better to do.

FFN 000 020 430 -- 9 12 0
NOP 100 000 020 -- 3 8 3

Norsemen info:
Pitching -- W. Williams (W) 6 IP, Swindell 2, Smith 1
Catching -- Posada 8, Torrealba 1
HR -- Dellucci (3 on, 2 out in 7th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- N/A

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Vazquez (L) 9
Catching -- Piazza 9
HR -- Ichiro (solo, 1 out in 1st), Burrell (solo, 1 out in 8th), Ventura (solo, 2 out in 8th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Infante % and 2 AB v. R

Player of the game -- Vaz. His defense betrayed him, and while the game still mattered his offense betrayed him. He deserves better, and this is the best we can do for him.

Anti-player of the game -- What did the Pelicans acquire Piazza for? 0-for-4 with a K.

.

Day 58 -- Rainout. Doubleheader the next day.

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Day 59 (Game 1 of 2) -- Frankin v. Schilling
Curt returns two days after his great start against the Hitmen was washed away, gives up two runs in the 6th, sees his team score three in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead, and then prays.

3-2 top of the 9th, Schilling gives up a pair of singles and then makes way for Kim, who blows the save on a Brad Ausmus pinchhit squeeze bunt to score pinchrunner Pokey Reese.

Top 10, Dan Plesac is in to face Giles and Bonds. Lefties hit .120 against Plesac, so of course what happens? Giles walks and Bonds gets his giant elbow pad scuffed. It doesn't take a genius to know nothing good can come from this. Quinton McCracken promptly doubled into the gap scoring them both.

They somehow get out of that only down 2, and they have the top of the order coming up, so the Pelican faithful stay around. After all, the season is basically on the line in games like this, right?

Jeter pops out. Ichiro grounds out. Burrell grounds out.

The end.

FFN 000 002 001 2 -- 5 10 0
NOP 000 003 000 0 -- 3 9 0

Norsemen info:
Pitching -- Franklin 6 IP, Pineiro 1, White 1, Acevedo (W) 2
Catching -- Posada 8. Ausmus 2
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- N/A

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Schilling 8.1 IP, Kim .2, Plesac (L) .2, Yan .1
Catching -- Zaun 7, Blanco 3
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Infante % and 1 AB v. R, Zaun 3 AB v. R

Player of the game -- The Norsemen bullpen retired 13 of the last 14 batters they faced.

Anti-player of the game -- Dan Plesac's purpose on the roster is to GET LEFTIES OUT, NOT WALK AND HIT THEM WITH PITCHES! JESUS H!

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Day 59 (Game 2 of 2) -- D. Williams v. Rueter
Yet another great game, and other great performance by a Pelican starter wasted. The boxscore tells all.

A quick rant: You would think that having pitched to Barry Bonds all but once, and having him hit 1-for-12 with a single all series, that some good karma would be bestowed upon this ballclub. When you're playing a vastly superior team that has a manager that hasn't been beaten down all year by bad luck and a lack of clutch hits, you need breaks and clutch hits.

The Pelicans now go in search of a clutch hit on eBay.

FFN 000 001 205 -- 8 17 2
NOP 021 000 000 -- 3 8 2

Norsemen info:
Pitching -- D. Williams 4 IP, Smith 1, Swindell 1.1, Pineiro (W) 1.2, White 1
Catching -- Ausmus 9
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- D. Williams 1 start, Torrealba 1 AB v. L

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Rueter 6 IP, Plesac .1, Hasegawa 1.2, Borbon 1
Catching -- Piazza 9
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Infante %