For One Night

After years of dedication, I will admit the Kansas City Royals had finally tested my limits as a fan. Entering this spring, I was not as up-to-date with the team as I usually am. I didn't know who had a good spring, which pitchers were going to be my favorite to make fun of, or who the new Angel Berroa was we had playing shortstop.

With that being said, there was no way I was not going to watch this year. I still gravitate toward Channel 34 every time the Royals are about to play. After watching the Royals squander yet another Zack Greinke lead, this time 4-1, I knew it was baseball season again. Because the season can't kick off until Greinke pitches a gem and the bullpen blows it for him. Now it's time.

But that hasn't squashed my faith. Really, I survive on my humor. I learn to appreciate the quality plays because they are few and far between. I grab onto favorites. And by favorites I mean pitchers or batters that should never be on a Major League roster, let alone starting. I try to make the most of having John Buck as my catcher. How else could you learn to cope with this misery?

I have already declared reliever Robinson Tejeda my favorite pitcher because of his wild control and his awesome last name. I like to call it "Tejeda Time" when he enters the game, and call him "crafty" when he allows the lead-off batter to reach base, only because he is "setting up" the other team for the double play, which inevitably never happens. Still, I think he is just playing with the other team's emotions.

So last night when Luke Hochevar was dealing and we had a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning, somehow I knew something was bound to go wrong. Then manager Trey Hillman called upon Joakim Soria for the dreaded 4-out save. It never works. Soria gave up a solo blast in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

I was for sure we were doomed when Tejeda was pulled from the game, in favor of Kyle Farnsworth. As predicted, Farnsworth promptly gave up a single to shallow left field with a runner on second base. But, you see, we have Scott Podsednik as our left fielder and the runner turned third base and scored. Where was the throw? Oh, well you see Podsednik had 2-hopped his throw from left field to the shortstop. Yes, he is our starting left fielder and he can not even get a throw into the infield. Delightful.

But I still had hope. How can you not with the modern-day version of Murderer's Row coming up in Alberto Callaspo, Billy Butler and Rick Ankiel?

Sure enough, Callaspo turned on a fastball and lined it down the right field line. I started screaming, along with everyone else at the Pumphouse, and even louder when it barely got over the top of the fence. Closest thing to pandemonium you can get as a Royals fan. Then more magic struck. Billy Butler reached. And then Rick Ankiel laced a double into the gap into right-center. It was going to be a close play at the plate, but it never came. Pinch runner Willie Bloomquist strided across the plate without any contest. What happened? Well, it turns out the Tigers' second baseman dropped the relay throw. What a come-from-behind 11th-inning victory.

Ah, how sweet the victory. We win because the other team screws up. Hey, we'll take it. For one night, it felt good to be a Royals' fan. 1-1 has never felt this good.