Sweet Sound Of Santana

With two out and Santana closing in on just the second complete game of his career, Alex Gonzalez chopped a ball high to the pitcher's left, demanding a series of athletic acts that no video game could prepare him for, a series that, if not executed perfectly, could result only in error or injury. Santana turned his back to the plate, took two broad steps and jumped, catching the ball over his shoulder like Willie Mays as Gonzalez flew down the line. Santana landed on his left foot and began to fall toward third and, while tottering, gathered the ball and whipped it sidearm to first: a strike. Gonzalez out by five feet. Santana put his head down and went straight for the dugout. He didn't need to celebrate. He knew. The game was his.