推 blueflier:沒人推Nomar...雖然是在郭版，不過還是低調推...Nomar!! 09/25 22:08
Garciaparra's Grand Slam Lifts Dodgers Past Arizona
By Steve Henson, Times Staff Writer
9:05 PM PDT, September 24, 2006
Two sweet swings were separated by five days of anguish and anxiety,
providing a salve for a reeling team and, perhaps, the finishing touch on a
homecoming that left a stadium of Los Angeles Dodgers fans delirious and two
in particular in tears.
Nomar Garciaparra topped his unforgettable 10th-inning walk-off home run
against the San Diego Padres by belting a grand slam with two out in the
ninth Sunday to give the Dodgers a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks
on Fan Appreciation Day and keep them from losing ground in the National
League West and wild-card races.
It might have been Garciaparra's last at-bat at Dodger Stadium. He knew it
and so did his parents, Ramon and Sylvia, who have attended every home game
this season, their son's first wearing the uniform of the team the Whittier
family followed for decades.
"I get calls from friends and relatives asking if they should buy tickets for
next year," Ramon said. "I have to tell them, `I don't know.' "
If the Dodgers make the playoffs, Garciaparra would get an encore. But his
status for next season is uncertain. He signed a one-year contract before the
season, grateful that his hometown team had a place for him after two injury-
filled seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
He learned to play a new position, first base, and has excelled at it. He was
the hottest hitter in the National League for months, cooled and now is
grinding his way through a pennant race with an injured left quad muscle,
creating majestic moments between grimaces and groans.
The Dodgers entered the ninth locked in a 1-1 tie. Rookie Hong-Chih Kuo was
masterful for seven innings -- giving up one unearned run -- and also doubled
for his first major league hit and scored in the fifth inning. Relievers
Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito set down the Diamondbacks in the eighth
and ninth.
Marlon Anderson, the Dodgers' latecomer who lately has led the way, singled
to lead off the ninth against reliever Luis Vizcaino and advanced to third on
a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to second. Rafael Furcal and Kenny Lofton
walked, and up came Garciaparra.
"When I see everybody else going out there and doing their best, I feel like
I have to, too," Garciaparra said. "I have such awesome teammates."
That attitude was drilled into him by his father. Garciaparra was always the
best player on his youth teams but saw a drawback to being selected as an
all-star.
"He'd ask me why other kids from our team weren't all-stars too," Ramon said.
"He understood he wouldn't be getting the honor if it wasn't for their
contributions."
The bond between Garciaparra and his parents was strengthened when he became
a Dodger. After years of mostly watching him on television, they haven't
taken the proximity for granted. They gained permission to arrive early to
watch batting practice, and Ramon doesn't miss a pitch, chomping on a
toothpick and picking apart his son's hitting mechanics.
"My dad was my coach through my whole life," Garciaparra said. "He knows my
swing better than anybody, and I still listen to his advice."
Garciaparra never fails to walk to the stands and give his parents, siblings
and assorted relatives hugs before games. And when the 49,822 cheered long
and loud after his home run, he stepped out of the dugout for a curtain call,
found his family and gave them a wave.
Then he held his hands above his head, clapping a blue streak along with the
masses.
"Playing here has been beyond what I thought it could be, I've enjoyed it
more than I could have imagined," he said. "The support has been unbelievable
from all the fans, not just my family and friends.
"There is a connection because I was one of them. I'm one of the very lucky
few who watched from the stands at Dodger Stadium as a kid, then got to wear
the uniform. I relate to the fans and appreciate them because I sat up there."
He wants to return, but after 11 seasons, including eight years with the
Boston Red Sox both tumultuous and grand, he knows baseball is a business.
General Manager Ned Colletti has been noncommittal while acknowledging
Garciaparra's sizable contributions.
Sentimental parents and home cooking, though, might not enter into the
negotiations.
"I don't know what to expect," Garciaparra said. "I can't assume anything.
Would I love to put this uniform on again next season? Sure."
His parents also must wait and wonder. For the next week at least, they'll
cheer.
"He wants to do good things in the community, but it's hard for him until he
has some answers and knows if he's going to be here," Ramon said. "But we're
Dodgers fans either way. That's how it's always been for us."
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