PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Pirates' Freddie Sanchez flies into home on an inside-the-park, three-run homer in the ninth inning of the Pirates' 9-3 win over the Houston Astros Monday, July 21, 2008 in Houston. Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, left, covers the plate.Pat Sullivan/Associated Press
HOUSTON -- As he rounded third base, his legs and lungs burning, the crowd screaming, Freddy Sanchez realized he had been in this spot before.
Last September, Sanchez tried to score on what would have been an inside-the-park grand slam against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. But the relay throw by Ryan Theriot was perfect, and Sanchez was out.
Monday night, Sanchez found himself buzzing around the bases again as the Houston Astros chased after the ball in the ninth inning.
"Remember last year against the Cubs?" Sanchez said later. "It was going through my head. I didn't want to get thrown out again."
Sanchez, in the fifth year of his career, owns 28 home runs. Some have been dramatic, such as the walk-off shot that snapped a franchise-worst 13-game losing skid in 2006.
Until Monday, they had all gone over the wall.
The Pirates had already hit two homers in the ninth inning -- Jason Bay's solo shot and Adam LaRoche's two-run blast -- to take a 5-3 lead. There were two outs and runners on first and second.
Sanchez launched a 1-0 pitch from lefty Tim Byrdak to right-center field. The ball hit near the screened portion of the outfield wall, in front of the bullpens.
"It's one of those funny bounces off those walls that they're making nowadays with the screens in them," Pirates manager John Russell said. "It hit the corner just right."
The ball caromed and rolled on the warning track toward right field. Outfielder Hunter Pence gave chase.
Third base coach Tony Beasley quickly sized up the play unfolding before him.
"When (Sanchez) hit it, he was running hard. That was the key," Beasley said. "It hit the wall and just shot out into no-man's land. I knew we were going to have a shot."
Beasley began whirling his arm, signaling, Go hard!
"Freddy touched third base and I thought he had a little energy left," Beasley said. "You don't get a chance to do it too often. I knew it was going to take a perfect throw to get him, so I figured, why not take a chance?"
Sanchez kept chugging, even though his tank was on empty.
"After I reached third, I was out of breath," Sanchez said. "I gave it all I had and the legs were dragging a little bit."
Kaz Matsui's relay throw was not as dead-eye as Theriot's had been.
"When I was sliding in head-first, I saw the ball go by," Sanchez said. "And I was like, 'Whew!' and just stayed there for a little bit."
It seemed like as good a time and place as any for Sanchez to get his breath ... and savor the feeling.
"It was an opportunity to do something rare and, fortunately, it worked out," Beasley said.
Inside information
Data about Pirates' inside-the-park home runs
Career leader: Tommy Leach, 35
Single-season (club): 26 in 1911
Single-season (player): Kiki Cuyler, 9 in 1925
Game (club): 3 on Sept. 2, 1911
Game (player): 2 (five times), last by Cuyler on Aug. 28, 1925
Oldest player: Honus Wagner, 42 years, 4 months on July 1, 1916
At PNC Park: 1, by Jack Wilson on July 2, 2004
Rob Biertempfel can be reached at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or 412-320-7811.
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