September 8, 200521 yr It's the top of the 9th and Easley steps to bat. No one is at the on deck circle. No one is on deck when the count is 1-1. Suddenly there's some guy running down the right field line. It's Josh Willingham, the only position player yet to bat. With leg guards and chest protector on, he's sprinting to the dugout. Once he reaches there the count is now 1-2 and by the time he takes off his gear, grabs a bat and reaches the on deck circle the final pitch to Easley is coming to the plate. Easley avoids making the third out, allowing a breathless Willingham his first big league plate appearance since the injury. He succeeds in knocking in a run with his first big league hit of this year. After Andino and Conine's at bats conclude the frame, Willingham heads out to left field. Aguila collects a ball from the bullpen and tosses it 10-15 feet to the right of Willingham. It skips to the wall where a security guard picks it up and hands it to one of few dozen Nats fans who stayed the entire game. So Aguila and Willingham are left with no ball to toss around. After realizing where the ball was and a short protest, Aguila stretched his legs and Willingham mimicked throws.
September 8, 200521 yr It's the top of the 9th and Easley steps to bat. No one is at the on deck circle. No one is on deck when the count is 1-1. Suddenly there's some guy running down the right field line. It's Josh Willingham, the only position player yet to bat. With leg guards and chest protector on, he's sprinting to the dugout. Once he reaches there the count is now 1-2 and by the time he takes off his gear, grabs a bat and reaches the on deck circle the final pitch to Easley is coming to the plate. Easley avoids making the third out, allowing a breathless Willingham his first big league plate appearance since the injury. He succeeds in knocking in a run with his first big league hit of this year. After Andino and Conine's at bats conclude the frame, Willingham heads out to left field. Aguila collects a ball from the bullpen and tosses it 10-15 feet to the right of Willingham. It skips to the wall where a security guard picks it up and hands it to one of few dozen Nats fans who stayed the entire game. So Aguila and Willingham are left with no ball to toss around. After realizing where the ball was and a short protest, Aguila stretched his legs and Willingham mimicked throws. 934943[/snapback] Thanks for such a heart warming account... Was Josh chewing gum or spitting tobacco last night? :mischief2
September 8, 200521 yr ...allowing a breathless Willingham his first big league plate appearance since the injury... Nope - second. He appeared in last Sunday's game and got out.
September 9, 200521 yr Author Thanks for such a heart warming account... Was Josh chewing gum or spitting tobacco last night? :mischief2 935012[/snapback] I don't know, but I nearly creamed my pants when I saw him warming up Mota for the 9th. Then Treanor came out.
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