Games

July 29th – Another weather threatened game. We arrived in Baltimore early and it seems everyone else did as well. We like to get there early to take pictures and walk around the outside and surrounding area. Here there were lines outside the gates 2 hours before they opened. We decided to follow the 60 Baseballs painted on the sidewalks from the Sports Legends at Camden Yard to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum. We returned to the stadium shortly after the gates opened and found our seats just in time for the grounds crew to start putting the tarp on the field. There was a 42-minute rain delay but then they were able to complete the full 9 innings but the home team lost the game.

July 27th – We were a little worried about getting this game in. The forecast was for Thunderstorms but we went prepared – rain jackets and umbrella in hand. Fortunately the lightning did not start until late in the game. This is one of the few parks we have been to where I wish we had different seats – we couldn’t see the Liberty Bell and it “rang” for Pat Burrell’s home run in the 2nd inning – other than that, they were fine. Home team won!

Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baltimore, Maryland

	Team	R	H	E
	New York Yankees	10	14	0
	Baltimore Orioles	6	15	0

Highlights

On this day when hometown boy turned legendary Oriole Iron Man, Cal Ripken was to be enshrined in Cooperstown and the O’s out hit the visiting Yankees 15 to 14; the fans were hoping for a perfect ending to their day but it was not meant to be. The O’s starting and losing pitcher Daniel Cabrera struggled with his control thru the first six innings allowing 6 runs on 4 hits with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts. Yankees’ starter and winning pitcher Chien-Ming Wang didn’t have his best stuff either but left the game after 6 innings with a 4-3 lead while allowing 9 hits with 4 walks and 1 strikeout. The game remained close thru the 7th with the Yanks holding a slim 5-4 lead but they broke it open in the eight scoring 5 times while sending ten men to the plate. The O’s got 2 back in the bottom of the 8th off a homer by Brian Roberts to make it 10-6 and even had a chance in the ninth by getting a couple of runners on and the potential tying run in the on-deck circle but long time Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera ended up striking out the side to end the game. The offensive stars for the Yankees were Johnny Damon who scored four times with a 3 for 5 day including a walk, 2 singles & a double and Hideki Matsui who collected 3 RBI’s off 2 sacrifice flies and a fielder’s choice. Alex Rodrigez who was walked 3 times on the afternoon also struck out and grounded out and to many of the fans dismay was not able to hit his 500th homer of his career. Brian Roberts collected 3 RBI’s for the Orioles on a 2 for 5 effort including a homer and a single.

Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

	Team	R	H	E
	Pittsburgh Pirates	1	6	1
	Philadelphia Phillies	8	11	1

Highlights

The Phillies fans were bummed having lost their All Star second baseman Chase Utley to a broken bone in his right hand the night before but it didn’t dissuade the team as they rocked the visiting Bucs early and often in this rain shortened affair. This was the second time in less than 2 weeks that we saw the Pirates starter John Van Benschoten and he just doesn’t seem to have the confidence necessary to be a successful major league pitcher as he gave up 7 runs on 6 hits in 2 1/3 innings. It all started in the first when lead off hitter Michael Bourn singled to center and then Van Benschoten hit Shane Victorino forcing Bourn to second. Next Jimmy Rollins worked the count full before walking to load the bases with nobody out. It seemed as though Van Benschoten might get out of it as he got clean-up hitter Ryan Howard and number 5 hitter Pat Burrell on strikes but Gregg Dobbs singled to right scoring Bourn and Victorino giving the Phils an early 2-0 lead. Van Benschoten worked a scoreless second but it all began to unravel in the third as he issued a walk to lead off batter Howard and then surrendered a homer to red-hot Burrell. Next another base on balls to Dobbs followed by a RBI double to Carlos Ruiz. After getting Abraham Nunez to ground out to second, the ageless Jamie Moyer helped his cause by delivering a single to left and driving in Ruiz for what was almost unbelievably only the eighth RBI of his lengthy career which started in 1986. Pirates manager Jim Tracy had seen enough and brought in Tony Armas Jr. who had no better luck as he quickly allowed 3 successive singles to Bourn, Victorino & Rollins that chased Moyer home for the 7th Phillies run and closing the book on Van Benschoten. Howard struck out and Burrell followed with a bases loaded walk to force home Bourn for an 8-0 Phillies lead at the end of 3. Moyer went the distance for the Phils allowing 6 hits and no walks with 4 strikeouts for the 7 rain shortened innings. The only Pirates run came in the fifth when Josh Phelps led off and reached on third baseman Dobbs error and moved to third on a Jose Castillo double to center. Pirates’ catcher Ronny Paulino followed with a single to right scoring Phelps.

It was hard to get a good picture of this stadium. If you have ever seen a Blue Jays game on TV, you know there are hotel rooms that face the ball field. Before the game as we walked around trying to get picture of the stadium, we saw the Canadian Idol show setting up to film. Inside the stadium, they have vending machines for baseball cards-that was something different. It was also different to see the people watching from their hotel rooms. The CN Tower literally towers over the field. From where we were sitting, we could watch the elevators going to the top. Although the stands never looked full, the attendance was 30,640.

Rogers Centre
Toronto, Ontario

	Team	R	H	E
	Minnesota Twins	0	6	0
	Toronto Blue Jays	7	8	0

Highlights

Jays starter Dustin McGowan pitched the third shut out of their recent four game win streak as he scattered just 4 hits thru 7 1/3 innings. The only real threat that the Twins were able to muster came in the 4th when with one out Tory Hunter worked the count for a walk. McGowan then got Jason Kubel on a fly ball to center for out number two but Rondell White followed with a double to deep center. Vernon Wells fielded the ricochet off the wall and fired the ball over the cut off man’s head prompting Hunter to attempt to score all the way from first but the ball rolled directly to McGowan who wheeled and threw to the catcher Gregg Zaun who held on to tag out the sliding Hunter for the final out of the inning. The Jays scored the only run they would need in the 3rd when Aaron Hill led off with a double and moved to third when Zaun singled. He scored on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by John McDonald. The Jays made it 3-0 in the 4th when Wells smashed a 2 run shot to left center and he would end up the night with 4 RBI’s while McDonald collected 2.

July 20th – What a ballpark! Looking at the stadium from the outside, there is no doubt as to what team plays there – Tigers are everywhere and it is beautifully done. Once inside the stadium, we enjoyed walking around the statutes in the outfield honoring Willie Horton, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline. From there we walked around to the Home Plate entrance where we found the Big Cat Court, which is a food court just inside the entrance with a Detroit Tiger Carousel in the center. Of course I had to ride it!! This was the start of the Negro League Weekend and the Tigers were honoring Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. His family members were presented a plaque before the game and through the evening various “Did you know facts” were shown on the Jumbotron. For example, Country Singer Charlie Pride played in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Memphis Red Sox in the early 1950’s. The game got off to a great start with Gary Sheffield hitting a home run in the first inning but the Royals would not be denied.

Comerica Park
Detroit, Michigan

	Team	R	H	E
	Kansas City Royals	10	15	1
	Detroit Tigers	2	5	3

Highlights

The Royals with their chests puffed out coming off a 2-1 series win over the Red Sox and the Tigers perhaps a little over confident after their sweep over the Twins and the fact that they were playing the Central Division cellar dwelling Royals combined for what turned out to be a rout for Kansas City. Detroit starter Kenny Rogers struggled at times as he allowed 6 runs off 9 hits thru 6 1/3 before giving way to Jose Cappellan who gave up a single to Billy Butler but then got David DeJesus on strikes and Emil Brown to fly out to right to end the inning. He pitched to four batters in the eighth but then got into trouble in the ninth as he surrendered 4 successive singles to Mark Grudzielanek, Mark Teahan, Butler and DeJesus accounting for the final four runs of the game. Jason Grilli came in to stop the bleeding with two grounders to short and a strike out. Butler finished the evening with a 4 for 5 effort and 4 RBI’s. Gil Meche was impressive going 7 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits while walking none. The Tigers runs came on a first inning solo shot by Gary Sheffield and a sixth inning pop fly into no man’s land in short center by lead off hitter Curtis Granderson who came across 3 batters later when left fielder Emil Brown misplayed Magglio Ordonez ‘s single. Zack Greinke & Ryan Braun each pitched to the minimum batters in the eighth & ninth respectively.

July18th – We were afraid this might be our first rainout but it turned out to be a hot, humid cloudy day and the game was completed without any weather problems. It was Indians Lunchbox giveaway day for those under 14 and it was also Super Cuts Haircuts for Charity day. This was a first for us – haircuts at the ballgame but why not. The stadium is very nice and we enjoyed walking through Heritage Park in the outfield, which is like a hall of fame for the Indians. It was a colorful day a the ballpark as there were many daycare and summer camp groups in attendance and most groups had colored T-shirts to identify their charges. Everyone enjoyed the Hot Dog Derby – I believe Onion won. Unfortunately the home team lost. After the game, we walked to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and enjoyed walking around there before leaving the city.

July 16th -This is a beautiful stadium with a great view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Allegheny River. The scoreboard in the outfield is another unique one-for each game they show not only the score but also the number of outs and when players are on base. Before the game, the Seneca Valley High School Baseball Team was honored at home plate. They are the 2007 PIAA “AAAA” State Champions. Ronald McDonald threw the ceremonial first pitch, as it was McDonalds Monday Scratch-off night. Mrs. T’s Pierogies Race was held at the end of the 5th inning and after one of the other innings the mascots tossed hotdogs into the crowd. The actual game was the longest one so far – it started at 7:05PM and it was 9:47PM before we reached the 7th inning stretch!