Imitation Bonds

I remember this –

Once Shawon Dunston hit a ball that bounced off Barry Bonds’ glove
and fell into the basket of the outfield wall, landing
like leaves in flower boxes
hooked along the edges of a porch railing
somewhere in Italy

What I remember is this:
Bonds cracked a grin.

Because today Cardinal hitter Randal Grichuk swung a bat
like a golf club
hitting the ball into the outfield

The fielder, Keon Broxton, ran toward the outfield track
He leaped
The ball bounced off the heel of his glove
and fell
softly into the grass
above the wall

He slammed his glove
against his leg
As Grichuk trotted the bases
(And as Grichuk passed teammate Brandon Moss on the base paths –
but no matter, no one for Milwaukee called it at the time)

Broxton did not smile.

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