O's fans out to do OK on 'Bucks on the Pond'

Kristyne Sharpe and Steve Zawisky are assistant district attorneys for Dauphin County in Harrisburg, Pa., and this was a much different case they were putting together.

The longtime Orioles fans are the contestants in Episode 20 of the hit MLB.com game show "Bucks on the Pond" powered by Ford. They were over at Camden Yards for a recent game, thanks to season tickets in Sharpe's family, and the chance for extra cash was a bonus when you're watching a contender in a vanguard setting.

"I grew up coming to Orioles games and love the team," Sharpe said. "It's definitely a place you have to come to -- to see the Warehouse, to go to Pickles Pub, Sliders, everything else in and around the park. It's amazing."

And what did she think about being approached by MLB.com on Eutaw Street? "Not a chance I wanted to do this," she said with a laugh. "I wanted to run away. But I had fun."

Whether she and Zawisky did the D.A.'s office proud or might have to explain an unfortunate strikeout at a ballpark is for you to decide based on the video evidence here.

"Bucks" is hosted by Jeremy Brisiel, and you might be a part of it this season when you least expect it. Fans at the ballpark interact with MLB.com's studio through the magic of technology in conjunction with game action inside. In creating a new experience for fans, MLB.com is giving people a chance to earn bucks while they spend bucks at the ballpark.

Contestants are asked a trivia question -- general knowledge and baseball -- on each pitch during a half-inning of baseball. Get the question correct and win money. Get the question wrong and it's a strike. Three strikes and you're out.

The questions' difficulty and value increase with the number of outs in the on-field action: $5 easy questions to start, $10 medium-difficulty questions after one out, $20 hard questions after two outs. If the contestant lasts longer than the team's at-bat, they win the bucks in their bank.

Here's the new wrinkle: Cross the $100 mark during the show and it's time for "Say The Word" powered by Ford SYNC. You can wager any part of your bank on the next question, which is asked each episode by 2014 Hall of Fame candidate Frank Thomas. Answer correctly and you win, answer incorrectly and you lose that amount … and it's another strike.

If by chance Sharpe and Zawisky failed to last even long enough to have the Big Hurt ask that question, then guess what -- you would have a chance to win something right now. Be sure to watch until the end of the episode to know if you're involved all of a sudden.

There were no legal questions for these contestants. Topics covered in this episode include continents, fruit, Orioles pitching leaders, Italian fare, U.S. states, arachnids, movie directors, Orioles sluggers, Will Smith, seismology, Asian dynasties and goats.

This is the MLB-leading fifth episode for Baltimore, with a quartet of fans winning $290 just last month. Previously, there was the premiere episode in 2012, the couple who struck out and the British Invasion.

Would Sharpe and Zawisky join the winners, or join that pair who whiffed? Watch the video and find out. Either way, Zawisky considers it another great memory in a season that he hopes will be loaded with them.

"I think last year was a great year and this year will be hopefully as good, if not better," he said. "I'm just a big Orioles fan and this was a great experience. I was nervous at first, but then it was fun. Glad I did it."

This is the 49th overall episode, covering 23 MLB parks. In addition to the Orioles, teams visited by the "Bucks" crew include the Angels, Astros, Athletics, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, D-backs, Dodgers, Giants, Indians, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Padres, Pirates, Tigers, White Sox and Yankees. Bookmark MLB.com/bucks and be on the lookout for the "Bucks" crew at your ballpark.