PORT ANGELES — Ichiro’s grand slam in the Seattle Mariners’ Wednesday night game not only tied him for the Japanese hit record, it won a Port Angeles couple $7,000.
“It was a miracle,” Angelo Terranova said.
The 77-year-old and his wife, Patty, became winners in 7 Cedars Casino’s “7 in the 7th” contest as soon as the right fielder’s hit cleared the outfield wall.
Ichiro’s hit meant he tied the record of Isao Harimoto, the only Japanese player to achieve 3,085 hits.
For the Terranovas to win the 7 Cedars Casino’s contest, the Mariners had to get no more and no less than seven runs in the seventh inning.
Angelo, while watching the game, didn’t know that his name had been drawn for the game against the Los Angeles Angels — which the Mariners won 11-3.
“I thought it was a joke,” when he received a late-night call Wednesday from ESPN 710 AM radio, which is a partner in the contest, telling him he had won, he said.
“I woke up my wife. All night we couldn’t sleep.”
Patty, 57, said they entered the contest about 10 days ago while they were at the Longhouse Market & Deli adjacent to the casino in Blyn.
“I was so thrilled,” she said. “We have never won anything like this.”
7 Cedars Marketing Director Judy Wald said the Terranovas are the second winners in the 3-year-old contest.
A Seattle resident won late in last year’s season, she said.
Million to one odds
And what were the odds?
“I got to think it’s over a million to one,” said Dan Zucker, the casino’s media representative.
The contest was harder this year than last. Previously, the Mariners could get at least seven runs in the seventh inning for a contestant to win.
Two more contestants can win in 2009, and the casino is still accepting entries.
Wald and Zucker said they didn’t know how many people have entered the contest this year.
Entry forms can be found at the casino, Longhouse Market & Deli and the Cedars at Dungeness golf course, 1965 Woodcock Road.
Wald said the check likely will be given to the Terranovas at a ceremony at the casino. No date has been set.
Patty said the two, who live off Social Security, will use the money to pay bills.
They splurged a little Thursday on slot machines at 7 Cedars to celebrate their win.
All the contest cost them was a stamp, Patty said.
“You know times are hard, and this is great,” she said.
“Thank you, 7 Cedars. Thank you, Mariners.
“And thank you, Ichiro!”
________
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
