Games

Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles, California

	Team	R	H	E
	St. Louis Cardinals	7	12	0
	Los Angeles Dodgers	9	11	1

Highlights

For those of us who observed Derek Lowe at the end of his stay with the Red Sox, this was eerily reminiscent. However, due to the more than inefficient pitching of the Redbirds, he was able to pick up his fourth victory despite leaving the game after throwing100 pitches with only 1 out in the top of the sixth. He breezed thru the first inning and two-thirds with only 1 harmless single allowed to the number 2 hitter Chris Duncan, but then with 2 outs in the second he seemed to lose his concentration as he often did during the 2004 regular season with the Bosox. He then surrendered a walk to the number 7 hitter Yadier Molina and a single to the number eight hitter David Eckstein. He was able to get out of the inning by getting the pitcher to hit a weak grounder in front of the plate that was handled easily but the catcher. The brain cramp continued into the third when he issued a leadoff double to Adam Kennedy but then retired Chris Duncan on a grounder to second. He then allowed the next four batters to reach on a single, a walk, a double and another single that plated four runs for the inning. Then he regained consciousness and retired 8 of the next nine batters (the 9th—Albert Pujols reached on an error on third baseman Andy LaRoche with 1 out in the 5th). Then the fog lowered itself down around his ears again as he gave up 2 singles to the 7 & 8 hitters again. Grady Little perhaps having learned a lesson the hard way had seen enough and lifted Lowe before any more damage could be done. Joe Beimel came in to record the final 2 outs of the inning but the Cards made it interesting by scoring 3 runs in the top of the 7th of reliever Hong-Chih Kuo. Jonathan Broxton & Takashi Saito finished up the game without any more runs being scored. The Dodgers offense was spread around to everyone as they scored all 9 of their runs while they batted around the order twice in the first 3 innings. Most notably however, was shortstop Rafael Furcal’s 4 for 5 effort including a bases loaded triple accounting for his 3 RBI. It was his third straight game with 4 hits, which increased his average from .228 to .297 during the three-day span. The catcher Russell Martin was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI as well.

We arrived in downtown San Diego in time to walk around the historic part of the downtown – The Gaslamp Quarter before heading to the ballpark. At the ballpark it was 70’s Retro Night. A radio station was giving out 70’s black afro wigs, some of the fans were dressed in disco style clothing and the team was wearing their “throw back” uniforms. As each Player came to the plate, his picture was displayed on the jumbrotron but it had been digitally altered to have a70’s look – some had huge mustaches, some had huge afros and others had the long hippy hair look. Prior to the start of the game, the Navy ROTC Color Guard presented the flag and the Catholic Schools All-Star Choir sang the National Anthem. Between two innings they had “Dress your Pet” presented by Petco – on the jumbotron they showed pictures of pets sporting their Padres’ attire. Oh, they had a different way of painting the lines on the field here. They sprayed them on (see the picture). Have to say, the fans were really into the game and the 7th inning stretch singing of “Take me out to the Ballgame” was the most rousing rendition to date.

Petco Park
San Diego, California

	Team	R	H	E
	St. Louis Cardinals	0	3	0
	San Diego Padres	7	10	1

Highlights

This was a totally one-sided affair and unfortunately for the world champs it was in the home team’s favor. The Padres’ Russell Branyan provided all the offense that would be necessary when with one out and one on base in the bottom of the 2nd, he laced the first of two 2-run home runs. Then the friars’ young right hander Jake Peavey proceeded to yield only 3 hits while striking out 9 and walking 2 Cardinal batters over the first 7 innings. Branyan was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI with the pair of homers and third baseman Khalil Greene drove in 2 including a solo shot in the third. Reliever Kevin Cameron finished up the last 2 innings without yielding a hit.

Not a lot of hoopla here. This is a nice stadium in downtown Phoenix. It has a retractable roof, which was open for this game. On the scoreboard prior to the start of the game they show the “roof status” and it shows that it was 87o outside and 74o inside for this game. There is a pool in the outfield and there were people “watching” the game from the pool. Leslie Pools is one of the advertising sponsors – thus the pool.

Chase Field
Phoenix, Arizona

	Team	R	H	E
	Philadelphia Phillies	3	7	0
	Arizona Diamondbacks	4	10	0

Highlights

Zzzzzzz. Despite the score, this one was a yawner. A very subdued crowd of 19,562 had little to cheer about through most of this game. However, there were a few bright spots not the least of which was D-backs center fielder Chris Young who went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and a run scored. Young also showed some leather in the field with a pair of defensive gems. It began with a fine running/sliding catch of leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins’ blooper to short center field to start off the game and then in the 6th he made a running/leaping catch just to the right of the 413’ mark in deep center off Phillies clean-up hitter Pat Burrell. D-backs starter Doug Davis breezed thru the first 6 innings yielding only 3 hits but began to tire in the seventh and left with nobody out with one run in and another on 2nd base after giving up back to back doubles to the number 7 & 8 batters Abraham Nunez and Carlos Ruiz.

The Phillies were able to get the tying run across in the 7th but the D-backs manufactured another run in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead 3-2. Both teams swapped single runs in the 8th to account for the final score.

Coors Field is located in the Lower Downtown part of Denver. Clay picked us up at the campground; we had lunch and then went to his apartment to watch the Boston Red Sox game for a while before taking the train into the game. Coors Field is a great stadium with a view of the mountains in the distance. Outside the stadium there is an archway of baseballs. I have posted a picture but still haven’t found out exactly what it is all about. Each of the balls is decorated. I will keep searching and will update this post if I find out more about it. Inside the stadium, the row of seats that is exactly 5280’ is purple. The Rockies lost the game but we had a great time anyway.