Tuesday, April 10, 2001
He spent part of the day trying to retrieve his home-run ball
By ROB TODOR
VINDICATOR SPORTS EDITOR
PITTSBURGH -- Sean Casey isn't just a good baseball player. When his career ends he has a future in negotiations.
Casey, a native of suburban Upper St. Clair, had the biggest day of anyone at the inaugural regular season game at PNC Park.
The Cincinnati Reds first baseman went 4-for-4 with five RBIs. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Reds a lead they would not relinquish. He added an RBI single in the sixth inning against a drawn-in infield, then put on the finishing touch, a two-run double in the ninth.
"I had to get 25 extra tickets for today's game," joked Casey following the game. "[The Pirates] probably won't give me as many from now on."
The first: In Casey's first at-bat, against Pittsburgh starter Todd Ritchie, he sent the second pitch, on a 1-0 count, to more than halfway up the bleachers in right field.
"As I was rounding the bases, I was thinking, 'that's awesome,' " said Casey. "I was just hoping to get the first hit in PNC Park. I never tried to hit a home run; if I had, I would have probably grounded out to first."
The home run was the final of a rather odd trio of historic hits for Casey. He hit the last home run in Milwaukee's County Stadium and got the first hit last Friday in Miller Park, the Brewers' new home.
"Every day [so far this season] it's seemed like Opening Day, what with all the pageantry and ceremonies," said Casey. "That's nice, but it will be good to get back to normal."
After Casey's home run, he made several ill-fated attempts to retrieve the historic ball.
"I guess they threw it back onto the field, but [Reds right fielder Alex] Ochoa threw it back," he said.
"So, I went to Junior [Ken Griffey Jr.] and had him sign a ball, figuring I'd offer that. I thought that would be a good trade.
"But, I still don't have it. I told Griffey I'd be back for a [signed] bat."
Starter, winner: Reds starting pitcher Chris Reitsma said he was pleased with his performance, which resulted in his first win of the season.
Reitsma went six innings plus three batters, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out five hitters and walked one.
"It was good to go out there with the lead [after Casey's home run]," he said.
"I didn't have my best fastball, but I had my breaking ball, and the change-up is always going to be my best pitch."
Reitsma said he had to slow down his pre-game warm-up because of the Pirates' tribute to Willie Stargell.
"I had to pause a couple of times for the Stargell tribute and the national anthem," he said, "but other than that I went through my normal routine."
He called the experience of pitching in the Pirates' first game in their new home "fun" and "exciting."
Lauds park: "It's a beautiful stadium and I considered it an honor to open the park on the mound. I was able to calm myself down, though, and made pitches."
Reitsma said a play by third baseman Aaron Boone helped. It was on a hard hit grounder by Pittsburgh catcher Jason -- in the third inning.
"That gave me a lot of confidence to keep throwing strikes," he said.