[AZTarHeel]

Hamilton didn't see any action in the first inning, defensively or offensively. Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly walked Pirates lead-off man Brady Anderson, but confined the rest of Pittsburgh's hitters of the inning to the infield.

In the bottom of the first, LA brought five players to the plate. Since Hamilton was in the No. 6 spot, his turn would have to wait.

Jose Guillen made Hamilton hustle in left in the second inning with a double down the line. Fortunately, the Dodgers had turned a double play the batter before. The Pirates eventually left Guillen stranded at second, and Hamilton wondered if he played the ball well enough as he trotted off.

But he didn't have too much time to kick himself and replay the at-bat. He was up first in the bottom of the second! He worked Jeff Weaver to a nice 2-1 count and ripped the next pitch toward left. But alas, Pittsburgh 3B Fernando Tatis gobbled it up and threw Hamilton out by a few steps. As coaches like to say, "It was nice contact but right at someone."

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Catcher-turned-first-baseman Paul Lo Duca led off for LA with a single down the third-base line. Mike Piazza grounded into a fielder's choice, getting Lo Duca off the base paths. Eric Young singled, putting men at first and second for Josh Hamilton's second at-bat.

Hamilton wore a determined look as he faced Jeff Weaver for the second time. On a 2-2 count, he again made great contact, sending another screamer toward left field. But this time, no one was there to scoop it up for the out. Hamilton made his turn at first and steamed toward second. He looked up to see both Piazza and Young celebrating at home plate. Dodgers 2, Pirates 0.

Hamilton's first Big League hit had been a memorable one — a two-run double! Hamilton then plated the third run of the inning for LA after a single by Edgar Renteria. Hamilton knew as soon as the ball left Renteria's bat, he was going to try for home. The third-base coach didn't try to stop him, and the 19-year-old made it in standing up. What a night this was turning out to be.

Meanwhile back in an Albuquerque restaurant, Andrew Zarzour and his Dukes teammates were whooping for joy watching the game on TV.

"We can all say we knew him when," Zarzour joked... "He's going to be a star..."