Texas A&M fans torment Texas pitcher with incredible ‘ball 5’ chant
By David Wasson
Published:
The new ABS system in Major League Baseball now has all fans thinking they are back-seat umpires. But at Texas A&M, Aggies faithful take it to the next level.
Texas starter Ruger Riojas was serenaded/tormented with “Ball Five” and “Ball Six” chants from the 7,664 that packed Blue Bell Park in College Station on Friday night as he struggled to find his control early in Game 1 of a pivotal SEC series between the second-ranked Longhorns and 18th-ranked Aggies.
Aggies traditions are like nothing else. Check out the scene below:
Riojas issued a four-pitch walk to Nico Partida to put Aggies on first and second with no outs in the second inning when the ruckus began – and continued – with Terrence Kiel II at the plate. Riojas finally found the strike zone after five straight misses, as Kiel was able to lay down a bunt and move the runners to second and third.
Riojas was further able to master the situation, getting Jorian Wilson to strike out swinging and Bear Harrison to fly out to left to avoid any damage.
Texas A&M (26-7 overall, 8-5 SEC) was able to hold off a late Longhorns rally to earn a 9-8 victory over Texas (26-7, 9-4) in a pivotal SEC series opener. The Aggies look to clinch the series in Game 2 on Saturday (3 pm ET, ESPN2).
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
