Opening Day is in the books, and I can only hope it’s a harbinger of what’s to come. Jack Bauer Squared opened the season with a resounding 17-7 victory over Tulo? More Like Too High. Catcher Gene Tenace led the way with 2 homers and 7 RBI, including one of our two grand slams in the top of the 6th inning. Ryne Sandberg belted the first one to chase Mike Norris from the game after giving up 10 runs.
We also got 2 hits apiece from outfielders Kal Daniels and Garry Maddox, and even pitcher Mike Cuellar got in on the action with 2 hits himself. Cuellar was less than dominant on the mound, however. I might have given him too much rope, as he faded badly in the 7th inning in allowing 5 runs.
On the flip side of this thrashing, I feel a bit bad for my friend and opposing manager NebHusker. That’s a rough box score to wake up to in the morning, and I’ve certainly been there, too. You never want to see your ace pitcher get shelled, let alone in the season opener.
But it’s only one of 162, and we’ll be facing off again twice more in the opening series. Game 2 will be a matchup of Dodgers pitchers from 10 years apart, my 1975 Burt Hooton facing his 1985 Orel Hershiser.
