The Riders start the season at Chicago.
Game 1: The opener is a wild one, and hopefully not an omen of things to come. The Goats take an 8-0 lead in the fifth, batting Mike Smithson around, but the Riders cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth. No matter, Chicago answers with four of their own in the bottom half. Milwaukee does make up some ground in the seventh, scoring three times to Chicago's one, then explodes for seven runs in the eighth to take a 14-13 lead. Nick Esasky's three-run homer is the highlight of the inning. Rick Sutcliffe allows only a one-out walk in the eighth, and Rich Gossage enters the game in the ninth still clinging to a one-run lead. Brian Downing: walk. Jim Morrison: single. Thad Bosley: single. Uh oh. Chris Brown comes to the plate. BOOOM. Grand slam. Goats win, 17-14.
Game 2: Results are much better on Day Two, as the Riders duplicate the 14-run effort of the opener while allowing 10 fewer runs, sending the manager home happy with a 14-7 victory. Damaso Garcia has five hits for Milwaukee; Tim Raines hits one of the Riders' four home runs.
Game 3: Nick Esasky hits two home runs, including a two-run shot that sparks a five-run ninth, as the Riders take their first series of the season, beating the Goats 8-2.
The home opener will be against Minnesota.
1/19/2011 11:34 PM (edited)