Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Road Guest Vol. IV, V, VI

Just a couple short weeks ago I embarked on an exploratory tour of the east coast that included visiting three different MLB stadiums.  Here are the accounts:

Score:  Chicago Cubs 12, Milwaukee Brewers 7

Venue:  Wrigley Field

Game Day:  June 16, 2011

Roadmates:  Ben (friend)

MVP:  Kosuke Fukudome 3-5, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R

Recap:  I hate when the wind blows out of Wrigley.  It takes a perfectly good baseball game and makes it in to a circus.  I had attended eight games at Wrigley prior to this game and never once was the wind blowing out.  It was every bit as awful as expected.  Everything was a home run.  The Brewers took advantage early hitting homers in the first and second innings, the Cubs followed suit hitting home runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings.  Brewers pitchers Zach Greinke, Daniel Ray Herrera and Sergio combined to suck.  Beautiful day, Ben's first game at Wrigley.....ruined by wind.



Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 4, Boston Red Sox 2

Venue:  Fenway Park

Game Day:  June 18, 2011

Roadmates:  Flying solo

MVP:  Randy Wolf 1-0, 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 K

Recap:  First things first, Fenway is baseball heaven.  Sorry St. Louis, sorry Chicago, but Fenway was like no other.  It has the historic charm of Wrigley, with out being an out dated pile of crap.  Due to the game time change to accommodate the Bruins Stanley Cup parade I had to leave after the third inning to catch my train to Providence, RI.  The three innings were highly entertaining as all six runs were scored in those frames.  I was seated next to a couple incredibly knowledgeable fans.....Brewers fans!  Boston was awesome, Fenway was awesome, Randy Wolf was awesome, I'll definitely come back, maybe for a whole game next time.



Score:  Washington Nationals 1, Seattle Mariners 0

Venue:  Nationals Park

Game Day:  June 23, 2011

Roadmates:  Katie (friend)

MVP:  Jason Marquis  8 IP, 0 ER, 4 K

Recap:  It had been quite a while since I had attended a baseball game in which I did not have a rooting interest and I was treated to a stress free experience of my favorite baseball score, one to nothing.  Both teams pitched very well led by starters Michael Pineda and Marquis.  I was more well wishing for Seattle, as the Brewers originally were a Seattle franchise.  A late pinch runner for Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak forced Adam Kennedy to play first in the ninth.  Kennedy's inexperience cost Seattle as he was unable to catch a playable foul ball and made a poor throwing decision resulting in a fielder's choice, no out that set up a bases loaded, one out situation for former Brewer Laynce Nix.  Nix delivered a sac fly and the Nats walked off winners.  Bizarrely Nats manager Jim Riggleman also walked off...off the job, following the game.  It was a well played game in the Nats generically new stadium.  I'll probably go back to see the Brewers play there, but other than that the Nats are not much of a draw.

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